"Watership Down" by Richard Adams

A young rabbit named Fiver sees a vision of blood and death–danger is coming to the rabbit warren! Thus begins this classic fantasy book for middle school and teen readers. Fiver tells his brother Hazel and they flee, along with nine other rabbits.

The first several days of travel out in the open are harrowing, but they think their luck has changed when they happen upon another warren. Unlike the overcrowded warren they left behind, this one has plenty of room and they are invited to stay. Only Fiver senses that all is not as it seems. When one of their band almost loses his life, they learn the warren’s deadly secret and must leave.

Eventually they find the perfect spot for their own warren, a large hill called Watership Down. However, Hazel soon realizes they have a problem: without female rabbits to have babies, the warren won’t last long. They come up with a solution, but carrying it out will test Hazel’s leadership and the mettle of all of the rabbits to their limit.

This middle school book tells an exciting story and is beautifully written. The lovable characters range from Hazel, the thoughtful leader who learns not to overreach himself, to Bigwig, the aggressive fighter who faces death more than once, and Fiver, the gentle, otherworldly psychic whose visions guide the group. One great charm of Watership Down is that tales of a legendary rabbit hero are sprinkled throughout the story. Whenever the rabbits face a dilemma and need inspiration, they lift their spirits with tales of a rabbit’s courage, cleverness, and derring–do.

Richard Adams had a hard time finding someone to publish this book for middle school readers. Publishers thought that a story about rabbits was for babies, but that the writing style was for adults, so who would read it? Lots of people, it turned out. In 1972 a small publisher took a chance on the unusual novel and it’s still in print. I love Tolkien, but this is my favorite fantasy novel. I can’t count how many times I’ve read it.

Reading level: Ten and up. Good readers of 10–11 should do fine with it, unless the more adult writing style is off–putting. From comments I read online, many parents read this book aloud to their children and it is enjoyed and discussed by all.

"Watership Down" by Richard Adams