Alice's Farm: A Rabbit's Tale

Like the denizens of E.B. White's Charlotte's Web, these characters--animal and human, predator and prey--are lovingly observed. They are a deeply engaging, mostly endearing bunch whose natures may put them at odds but who share a world... Stoutly non-speciesist, this is an effervescent delight.

Venturing, as the author readily acknowledges in her afterword, into Charlotte's Web territory, Wood crafts a tale of interspecies cooperation in a rural setting that is lit up with exhibitions of uncommon courage, loyalty, humor, and tolerance--not to mention extreme cuteness. ... Along with worthy values aplenty, this bustling tale offers a villainous real-estate speculator to hiss, a cast bustling with talking animals, and a long-eared protagonist who goes on to a fitting end (for a rabbit) and well merits her valedictory: 'Farewell, sweet Alice! A bunny among bunnies, indeed.' Terrific.

Fans of Cynthia Voigt's Young Fredle will feel right at home, and readers of Charlotte's Web will delight in several sly echoes. An excellent choice for a family or classroom read-aloud.

This captivating, wry novel opens with the revelation that the longstanding antagonism between farmers and rabbits is rooted in vegetables, which "farmers love to grow, and rabbits love to eat." After Alice, a curious rabbit kit, watches the Harvey family move into a deserted farmhouse, she and her brother sneak onto the property and overhear disconcerting news: a greedy developer is intent on buying the property from the Harveys, city folk determined to become farmers. As the young rabbits plant and tend to a thriving vegetable garden in hopes of helping the family make a go of it, the Harveys' intuitive dog, Foxy, becomes their ally, at one point musing that properly running a farm is "a subject much too vital to leave to her humans." Into this heartwarming portrait of animal camaraderie (which is shared by a fox, a bald eagle, and other wildlife), Wood (the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series) weaves the story of 10-year-old Carl Harvey's rocky adjustment to his new life, burgeoning self-confidence and maturity, and paramount contribution to his family's triumph. A resonant cross-species saga of perseverance, loyalty, and magnanimous friendship. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Brooks Sherman, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. (Sept.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 3-5--Farmers and rabbits have a great literary history as enemies, but what might they accomplish if they worked together? Wood offers a fanciful twist on Peter Rabbit, toggling between the rabbit world and the human world, tracking a pair of adventurous kits and a young family that has moved from Brooklyn to try their hands at farming. The pace is a bit slow and some of the jokes (about hipsters, primarily) may be better suited to an adult audience. That said, the focus on the natural world, quirky characters, and whimsical adventures make this a good read-aloud candidate for fans of Charlotte's Web or other gentle farm stories. VERDICT Not a first purchase, but a sweet option for those looking for a slower-paced animal story.--Gesse Stark-Smith, Multnomah County Lib., Portland, OR

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

A 2021 Charlotte Huck Recommended Book

"Delightful and quirky and full of good will... necessary for some kids right now." —The New York Times

"Alice's Farm is a restorative read, tender and wonderful. It's a fantasy, it's real, it's just a joy. And absolutely a book for our times." —Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medalist