The Rabbit's Gift

September 15, 2022
Grades 4-7 Quincy resides in the magical warren where rabbits take part in the miraculous cultivating of the Chou de vie--cabbage-like plants that sprout human babies. It's part of an age-old tradition: the rabbits deliver a Chou to a human family in want of a child in exchange for rare purple carrots that the animals thrive on. With carrots growing scarce, Quincy resolves to steal seeds from the humans in order to give the rabbits their own food and freedom. When Quincy nicks them from a young girl desperate for a sister, the girl tails the thief back to his warren and steals a Chou. The rabbit and human worlds are thrown into chaos, and the two enemies realize that they're the only ones who can put things right. The compelling story, based on a French fairy tale, features meticulous mythology, high adventure, and deepening introspection, giving equal attention to the two opposing main characters. An enchanting exploration of the importance of perspective and what it means to lead with an empathetic heart.

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September 1, 2022
A privileged girl and a starving rabbit unwittingly endanger their interdependent communities. Longing to be a hero, Quincy Rabbit lives with his family in the Warren, where cabbagelike plants called Chou de vie, each containing a human baby, are grown and transported nightly to humans of Montpeyroux in exchange for purple carrots the rabbits need to live on. With Chou deliveries declining due to decreased human demand, the rabbits are starving, prompting Quincy to surreptitiously leave the Warren in search of purple carrot seeds, which he locates in a garden shed, unaware Fleurine d'Aubign� is watching him. The spoiled only child of the governing Grand Lumi�re, presumably White 12-year-old Fleurine is trying to grow purple carrots on her own in order to acquire a longed-for baby sister. Spying Quincy stealing her seeds, she secretly follows him to the Warren, where she steals a Chou, oblivious to how her actions will impact the Warren and Montpeyroux. Discovering his own actions accidentally led Fleurine to the Warren, Quincy knows he must undo the damage he's caused. Narrating their stories in alternating voices, Quincy and Fleurine pass the blame as she desperately tries to protect and hide the stolen Chou while Quincy valiantly attempts to rescue and return it to the Warren. Both walk a fine line between hero and villain in this original tale based in part on European folklore. A clever tale of rabbits, cabbage babies, purple carrots, mistakes made, and lessons learned. (author's note) (Fantasy. 8-12)

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Starred review from January 1, 2023

Gr 3-7-Quincy Rabbit just wants to prove himself and make his family proud. In the magical land of Montpeyroux, some of the hidden warren take care of the Chou (cabbages in which human babies are grown), while others take the dangerous job of delivering almost ripened Chou to human cities. Humans then harvest their little ones and give the Rabbits rare, purple carrots in return. Quincy is worried about the dwindling supply of purple carrots, which the Rabbits desperately need for survival; he and the other rabbits are starving. Quincy leaves in the middle of the night to go find some seeds of his own. He just knows he'll come back a hero, and everyone will be pleased. Meanwhile, Fleurine, daughter of the human matriarch, wants nothing more than to study botany and avoid her mother's succession education plans. She desperately seeks a way to grow a Chou of her own so she can have a baby sister who will take on her mother's focus and leave her in peace. When Quincy appears in Fleurine's garden and pilfers some purple carrot seeds, Fleurine follows him home, sneaks into the rabbit warren and makes off with a Chou. This sets off a dangerous mission for both parties, in which their worlds collide, and everyone is racing across the countryside to save the baby Chou. Told in alternating viewpoints, this lush and colorful fairy tale is sure to be a delight for middle grade readers. Vitalis explores themes of privilege, responsibility, friendship, honor, and being true to oneself. VERDICT This is a thought-provoking read that will stay in readers' heads for years to come. Recommend to fans of Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon.-Terry Ann Lawler

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