The Great Rabbit Rescue

November 15, 2011
Barely pausing from their labors, recounted in The Great Hamster Massacre (2011), Anna and Suzanne return to sow more mayhem. Again, their focus is pets; this time, it's Joe-down-the-street's New Rabbit. Joe's obsessed with protecting it from harm, but now that he's moving in with his dad, whose landlord prohibits pets, Joe must leave New Rabbit behind. Because her family's New Cat was the indirect cause of Old Rabbit's demise, Anna is determined to protect its successor. Joe's strategy of standing guard with a Super Soaker to repel predators is not an option, but the girls are up to the challenge. Aided by Anna's little brother, Tom, they concoct a splendid, if very complicated, plan to keep New Rabbit safe. (Clandestine visits to mean Miss Matheson's compost heap, technical assistance from retired police officer Mrs. Rotherham and a working knowledge of Beatrix Potter are involved.) The plan appears to work until New Rabbit gets sick. Joe isn't doing well, either. Could they be pining for each other? While reintroducing characters slows the pace at first, once underway, this gentler sequel again showcases Davies' laconic style and deadpan humor, so well-matched to the chapter-book format. Neatly complementing the text, Shaw's sly, witty illustrations, pie charts and graphics are a treat. A welcome return for the indomitable Anna. (Fiction. 8-12)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

January 1, 2012

Gr 3-5-Nine-year-old Anna loves to play make-believe games, so she really gets into the role of "rabbit bodyguard" when Joe-down-the-street moves in with his father and has to leave his rabbit at his mother's house. Deserting his pet is a huge source of anxiety because he fears the worst will happen if it is unprotected. Anna, her little brother, and a friend decide to take up guard duty, but in the process they unwittingly nearly kill the animal. Tense middle-of-the-night drama ensues, but fortunately all ends well. Making the ending even happier is the fact that Joe will be moving back in with his mom, which is where he wanted to live all along. Readers will enjoy Anna's narration, which has an animated, slightly rambling style that really sounds like how a nine-year-old would tell a story. It's also a joy to read about a group of children who spend most of their time playing make-believe games rather than parking themselves in front of a screen. Line drawings pepper the text, giving the book a "Wimpy Kid" feel. On the downside, animal lovers may have a hard time reading about the rabbit being sick. Also, it seems odd that Anna, Suzanne, and Tom don't express guilt or remorse over almost killing the rabbit. Overall, this sequel to The Great Hamster Massacre (S & S, 2011) is a nonessential purchase.-Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NY

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