Watership Down

Hazel an “outskirter” rabbit from Sandford Warren, and a small band of rabbits leave their home warren to escape the destructive dangers foreseen by another rabbit, Fiver. On the way to start a new warren they meet many dangers: rats, stoats, other Elil and finally Efrafa.

Watership Down
by Richard Adams
(The four pictures) Illustrated by David Parkins
©1972
ISBN 978-0-141-38222-7
Type of book: Hardcover, 474 pages
Reading Level: 10 and up
Awards: Carnegie Medal, 1972

Negative Elements
The rabbits have a “god” called “Frith”. There is no bowing down and worshiping “Frith” But they do tell storys about how he created the earth. The rabbits also take the name of their “god” in vain. There is mild bad language but it is in Lapine (rabbit language) and does not need to translated. There is fighting and some of the rabbits get hurt or wounded. Also rabbit tragedies happen where rabbits get shot at and some rabbits get snatched by predators. I found though, that nothing was described in too much detail. Fiver has visions.

Positive Elements
The rabbits are always loyal even in the most dangerous situations. One of the rabbit tries to be cheerful no matter how bad the situation. Some of them risk their lives to save other rabbits even when it’s not necessary. They try to be peaceful and fight only if necessary. The rabbits always think their plans through very well and come up with some wonderful plans.

Our Take
I love this book! It is one of my very favourites. I think the good points out weigh the not-so-good. The heroes in the the story have character traits worth copying.

Rating
Buy it!

Learning Opportunities
This novel would make an interesting study on how government affects society. There are also many formal novel and unit studies available for this book. We found one online that looked interesting here. Check google for ones you can purchase.

About the Author

Richard Adams was born in 1920 in Newbury. He served in the British Army during World War II and then went on to University, where he recieved a master’s degree in Arts. After university, he took several positions in the British Civil service. It was during this time that he told stories to his two daughters about a group of rabbits living in the countryside of Newbury. The girls insisted he write the stories in novel form and Watership Down was born. After 13 rejections from publishers, the book was finally published in 1972. The novel went on to earn him the Carnegie Medal. Other books followed, including a sequel, Tales from Watership Down, written in 1996, but none have been as successful as his first, which has sold 50 million copies worldwide. He now lives, with his wife of fifty years, Elizabeth, near Newbury, where the story was set.

Where you Can Buy It:
Sonlight
US Amazon

Reviewed by LittlePage1 (12)