Raccoons and Rabbit Holes

by Loralee Evans

What do raccoons and rabbit holes have in common with Harriet Tubman?
Jax, Julie, and Ani wouldn't have thought much at all, until the three kids go exploring near an old house in the woods that local legends say is haunted. The kids don't believe in ghosts, and don't expect to find anything scary. But when they meet a raccoon that's acting a little weird, they start to suspect that something strange is about to happen. Especially when a rabbit hole opens up in the roots of a tree big enough for the kids to climb down inside...

Genres: Fiction

185 pages, Paperback

Published July 27, 2018

About the author

Some of Loralee Evans’ earliest memories are of sitting with her mom or dad while they read her stories like The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, or Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. These memories, along with many great teachers who got her excited about reading, are what helped her develop a love of books, and of writing. She has lived in Missouri, Texas, and Utah, and even spent a year and a half in Japan.

Reviews

[Stjepan Cobets · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating 4.5

Children's Story “The Raccoons and Rabbit Holes” by Loralee Evans is a cute story about three friends who have traveled through time with the help of a raccoon. Julie doesn't have many friends when new neighbors Jax and Ani arrive, Julie starts to meet them. They immediately make friends and Jax and Ani call her to see a treehouse, made by Julie's ex-neighbor. When they see a large house not far in the woods, they decide to go and explore it. But then a strange raccoon emerges and soon leads them on a journey into a past in which their friendship deepens. This is a fun story for children that goes through the serious subject of slaves who worked in the cotton fields in America's past. The writer, through a children's story, shows us a not-so-ancient story where slaves existed and lived in inhumane conditions. It's good that stories like this exist so that something like that would never happen again.

[Cathleen Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raccoons and Rabbit Holes is a fun read. In places it reminded me a bit of Alice in Wonderland, but in a good way, not as a pale echo. The sense of wonder (a quality that is all too rare) and the feeling that anything could happen was similar.

The story is beautifully told in a line-edit sense—there are no unwise word choices or awkward phrases to jolt a reader from the story. It’s solidly middle-grade; the kids live in a child’s world where parents are mostly part of the setting.

And it’s great that one of the characters is Harriet Tubman. She has always been one of my personal heroes, so that added a lot of interest to the book for me.

As you might have guessed from the trivia snippet above, this book plunges you back into pre-Civil War times, in Maryland. It’s a good glimpse for children of how things have changed since.

Recommended for kids who are old enough to learn about the Civil War.

[B.B. James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story so much. For fans of children’s literature this is a fine tale of creative imagination and education woven into an intriguing and exciting journey.

It is light, easy to grasp and well crafted with an element of time travel, which I loved.
The author takes you on a journey with a trio of friends who become even more closely bonded after the experience they share. The author keeps you guessing as to what might happen next.

The characters are well rounded and the enthralling plot includes an excellent educational element covering the history of slavery. An entertaining and provocative read for children, and one from which I believe many adults too might profit by learning more about that dark period of human history.

[Lynn Helton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new neighbor is moving in, and Julie hopes they have kids her age. Little does she know when she crosses the street that she'll soon be drawn into an incredible adventure with her new friends Jax and Ani.

This delightful chapter book takes readers on a great and educational adventure. With raccoon craziness, a house that's rumored to be haunted, and rabbit holes that are more than they at first appear, there's plenty to keep a reader hooked, eager to see what happens next. Along the way, the three kids - and the reader too - learn a little bit of history of the state of Maryland, U.S.

The story meshes the fantastic with some history in an easy, enjoyable read. It's well written and very suitable for its elementary to middle-grade audience. It's a fun read for adults, too.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raccoons and Rabbit Holes by Loralee Evans is a delightful chapter book full of adventure and insight into a significant moment in history.

Julie is excited to find new neighbours moving in across the road. The two children, Jax and Ani, show Julie their treehouse, and when Ani rushes off to explore the old haunted house in the woods, Jax and Ani follow. Soon all three children find herded into the house by the strange behaviour of a raccoon (or maybe two). Before they know it, they find themselves back into the past to the time of Harriet Tubman and the underground railway.

Julie, Jax and Ani are great characters and the portals to the past unique (with maybe a hint of the wood between the worlds in Lewis' Magician's Nephew). I liked the clear portrayal of how the realities of the past and the difficulties and dangers of being suddenly transported there, especially for Jax and Ani, who might be mistaken for runaway slaves. Harriet Tubman is one of my favourite historical figures and it was great to meet her. I did feel that getting the children from first meeting to the old house and then to the past (so that the adventure could happen) took up a lot of the book, but then this could easily be the first book in a series, hence the focus on setting up the time travel aspect.

Overall, an engaging read which transports young readers to an important moment in history which young readers would enjoy.

[Margaret Standafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raccoons and Rabbit Holes is a charming story with a history lesson thrown in for good measure. When Julie gets new neighbors, she’s thrilled to learn she finally has kids her own age close by. Shortly after meeting one another, Julie, Jax, and Ani find themselves swept up in an adventure none of them saw coming.

Jax and Ani are intrigued by an old house nearby, one that is slated for demolition, so Julie agrees to show it to them. Before long, they’re joined by a curious raccoon who seems almost human in his actions. The three wind up travelling back in time to a southern plantation where Jax and Ani run the risk of being identified as run-away slaves. History comes to life for the three when Julie has to try to protect her new friends.

The story teaches lessons on slavery and educates children on the life of Harriet Tubman. It’s told in such a way that the action keeps readers engaged but the lessons are there, nonetheless.

I found this to be a delightful tale with enough substance that it should appeal to both kids and parents equally.

[Scott Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming adventure that moves swiftly along in a very satisfying way. Julie is excited when a pair of children move in next door, because now she'll have some new friends to play with. Little does she know the adventure that's in store. The three children are just getting to know each other when they're swept away together to a different time. They're caught up in the midst of slavery and the underground railroad!

The story is told in a way that's both gentle yet exciting, perfect for a young audience. The pacing is great and keeps you turning the pages. Other readers have mentioned that it's similar to the Magic Treehouse, and I would agree; readers of Mary Pope Osbourne will find much to enjoy in this story.

[J.P. Willson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an absolutely delightful book.
I found it quite unique the way Ms. Evans first sparked the readers imagination with this tale of, (well I can't tell you that or I'll spoil the story) and then deliberately turned it into a history lesson, and a very important history lesson at that. I think to go along with this premise, most children of the age demographic she is intending are not going to realize this right away either. It's hard enough to get kids of this age to read in the first place but read history, forget it.
Combining the two as is done here I'm sure is not a new thing, but the fashion in which this tale is woven I found enthralling.
And hey, who doesn't love raccoons!

[J.E. Rowney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice in Wonderland meets Kindred

I enjoyed this time-slip story. I feel like it was aimed at a younger audience, but some of the language was perhaps a little above that level. However, the story itself and the message behind it is easy to understand and well written for younger readers.

The young characters tumble down a rabbit hole - or more accurately they voluntarily enter a (raccoon?) hole into a civil war era plantation. The book addresses issues of slavery and racism in an accessible way whilst maintaining an interesting story. It would be a good educational introduction and discussion starter for young readers.

Enjoyed the storytelling and would recommend.

[Vanessa Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute children's book! There was a nice flow to the writing, which made this story about time travel easy to read. The raccoon with human traits reminded me of the niffler from Fantastic Beasts - adorable. It's educational as well since it teaches children about slavery and the true story of Harriet Tubman.

[Brooke Bent · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a creative way to get young readers interested in history! I loved books like these as a kid and I loved this book! I am excited to be able to share it with my kids and instill in them the same love of historical fiction and literature in general. A well-written, captivating book for young readers that also teaches about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad during the Civil War era. I highly recommend this book for kids and also believe it would make a great addition to any classroom studying this era of history with this level of reading!

[Sarah Mensinga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raccoons and Rabbit Holes is an inventive, inviting introduction for young readers to the incredible life of Harriet Tubman. Its time-travel approach to historical fiction reminded me fondly of The Root Cellar, a book that I found inspiring as a child. I also thought Loralee Evans handled the subject of slavery in a sensitive, age-appropriate way that would encourage readers to want to learn more. I can see both my eleven-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son being captivated by this well-paced, well-written story.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story, beautifully told. Raccoons and Rabbit Holes takes young readers on a fun adventure back in time. The well developed characters and dialogue will keep kids wanting to read more while the story teaches them the history of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. This is the best kind of book for an early reader - the kind that makes them want to pick up more books!

[Joe Eagleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raccoons and Rabbit Holes by Loralee Evans is a wonderful story about three kids magical adventure. They were guided through a rabbit hole back in time by a friendly raccoon. Their adventure begins as Julie ventures across the street to meet the new neighbors who are just move in. When Julie discovers that she will have new playmates, Ani and Jax, she invites them to explore an old plantation that reportedly is haunted.
A friendly raccoon leads them down a rabbit hole where they meet Harriet Tubman who is in the process of leading slaves through the Underground Railroad. The author is good at making the whole adventure seem plausible.
This is a delightful tale that teaches a history lesson. It is a magical tale that may be appealing to children of all ages.

[A.L. Sowards]

I read this with my twins and it was an enjoyable, quick read. Three friends go back in time to pre-civil war America and have a quick adventure with Harriet Tubman.

This book doesn’t quite feel middle grade, but it feels older than a chapter book. It’s kind of in the neighborhood of the I Survived Books—not very long, accessible to the younger end of middle-grade readers, and still interesting for older children because of the topic and the action. A great choice for readers aging up from chapter books and struggling to finish longer middle grade books.

[Elaine Gardiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read

You want a fun read. This was written for children but I though it was a fun and cute adventure. A must read for all the children young and old.

[Neil Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trickster

A family of four moves next door to Julie. The children are Jax and Ani, who is fearless but has a phobia about small animals. Julie has a strong sense of personal responsibility.
There is an ancient ruin of a plantation mansion nearby. Jax and Ani’s curiosity leads them to dare approach the ruin, led by fearless Ani. They are accosted by a slightly sinister, yet comic, raccoon who chases them into the mansion, where they come across various openings leading to paths which they navigate to find themselves time-travelled back to the Civil War era.
Julie and Jax are fascinated by Harriet Tubman and her exploits in helping slaves flee plantations in the south via her Underground Railroad. The children are discovered in the woods by horsemen, but Julie leads them away from the black kids, who the horsemen might suspect are runaway slaves.
The horsemen turn out to be a middle-aged gent and his young son, Daniel, 14. The latter is rather impatient at the delay caused by Julie’s presence, as there is a reward out for some runaway slaves currently at large and he wants to be involved in the hunt.
Jax and Ani watch Julie leaving - will Julie get back to them so they can all get out of this timewarp somehow? A bush speaks to them and presently a dark-skinned person appears. Jax finds her face familiar - is it Harriet Tubman, his hero?
Harriet seems to conclude Julie got them thus far and left them in the care of Harriet to move them, along with the family of slaves in her care to the next station on the Underground Railway, but Jax insists they must rescue Julie first. A struggle with Harriet and her clients ensues in which Jax and Ani grapple with the problem:
How do you explain time travel to someone probably not familiar with the concept?
The racoon is a trickster spirit in the mythology of the indigenous peoples of North America. Trickster is a manifestation of the messenger god, Hermes, guide of Souls, and the god most friendly to man. Although the trickster’s tricks discombobulate the ‘victim’ at first, there is usually a payoff: the spirit’s long term aims are to make things easier for humankind by using his supernatural powers.
Even if they don't remember their adventures, the subconscious mental and emotional nourishment inculcated will stand all three children in good stead in the years to come; equipped to fight the good fight, they have seen great things, participated in wonders.
This is a delightful tale of time-travel and connection with history. The writer is adept at creating characters and vivid set pieces with minimum brush strokes; the children are animated, intelligent, and uniquely individual.
5 stars minimum, of course!

[G.J. Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story for children around nine years old. It has adventure, mystery and maybe magic all rolled into one, with a short history lesson thrown in. Julie has recently met Jax and his little sister, Ani, who appears to be fearless – apart from small furry animals like cats and raccoons! A particular local raccoon causes the three kids to fall down an ancient, hollow oak tree.

Upon finding themselves the unwilling explorers of an old, supposed haunted house, the trio wind up travelling back in time, to the American Civil War. Her new friends have to hide from runaway-slave hunters and meet Jax’s heroine Harriet Tubman, the ardent abolitionist. This is written so well that anyone, child or adult, becomes fascinated enough to want to discover more – as did this reader. The obvious question of black persecution and racism is there but handled well by the author so that the lessons are subtly sympathetic. Meanwhile, a raccoon is directing the action with human-like behaviour, demanding the attention and curiosity of readers, young or older.

Each child has a distinct character and the dialogue is believable. There is enough excitement and tension around the incident involving the slave hunters to engage young readers while learning about the previously more dangerous times for the black minority peoples of America.
Despite a frequently occurring editing issue this book is highly recommended.

[Mary Elizabeth Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raccoons and Rabbit Holes


Julie, a 10 year blond kid with a pony tail, watches with interest as a new family moves in across the street. Before the moving van has even unloaded, she has met the two kids (Jax and Ani) and taken off with them into the woods! Adventures follow as they explore a reputedly haunted house, meet a couple of decidedly strange raccoons and are propelled down a large rabbit hole.

We're a fair way into the story before Evans mentions in passing that Jax and Ani are black, which is kind of refreshing. (I hadn't looked at the cover.) Jax is reading a book about Harriet Tubman and has found a hero. Harriet Tubman is the most effectively delineated character in the book.

From Chapter Two on, Rabbits and Rabbit Holes rolls along at a lively pace. Chapter One seemed to promise stories that were never told. It didn't seem connected to the rest of the book, but upon further reflection I think I saw the point.

This book is written for kids, so I wasn't expecting profoundly complex or highly nuanced characters. But Evans gives them distinct personalities with little touches. Julie is the responsible one, torn between obeying the rules and pursuing adventure; Ani has a phobia about animals but otherwise is completely fearless; Jax is a reader, and of course, wears glasses.

Evans has a nifty gift for dialogue but her descriptive passages can be a little confusing. Admittedly, describing weird rabbit holes would be a challenge. However, I am picky about overused vocabulary and “trotted” occurs nine times and “galloped” crops up three times. And one surely never “heaves a breath”.

I approached this as a grandmother, as if I were shopping for a book for ten year old grandchildren and I would likely recommend it. It's a sweet story, but somewhat marred by occasionally awkward and repetitive language, which is why I would give it four stars. I am still wondering why Evans chose raccoons.

[Terry Birdgenaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raccoons and Rabbit Holes by Loralee Evans is a sweet, early-reader chapter book that will engross young middle-grade readers. The main plot begins when ten-year-old Julie meets two kids, Jax and his younger sister Ani, who have just moved in across the road. When Jax suggests they play in their new backyard treehouse, Jax and Ani notice an old house in the forest behind their yard. When Julie mentions that the old plantation house may be haunted, young Ani leaves the treehouse and rushes towards the dilapidated mansion, forcing Jax and Julie to follow. While investigating the old building, the kids are frightened by an oddly acting raccoon. While trying to avoid it, Ani falls into a rabbit hole by a tree next to the house, and the older kids follow her. When the rabbit hole they entered closes, the kids are forced through another passage, which turns out to be a portal to an earlier century. The story continues with non-stop action, high-stakes consequences, and age-appropriate story and character arcs. Well-written, with few editing errors and just a little unneeded repetition, it is a story worth reading. The book is highly recommended and will appeal to young kids seeking an adventure with historical significance that teaches about a time in Maryland when slavery was robust.

[Christine Goodnough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alice in Wonderland meets the US South. Three children exploring an abandoned plantation house encounter a raccoon that acts frighteningly human--a touch of CS Lewis--and chases them into the house. Escaping via a nearby tree branch, they fall down a rabbit hole, travel back a hundred years and meet up with a group of runaway slaves led by Harriet Tubman.
This fantasy tale, well written, compelling, and full of action, gives children a tiny glimpse of the Underground Railroad operation. The author has made it realistic in that the children are dressed as at home; the brother has glasses and a watch. The brother and sister are black, so they have good reason to fear in this setting and, as with most time-travel tales, the question, "Can we get back?" looms over their adventure.

[Thomas Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raccoons and Rabbit Holes is a middle-school book about three children who travel back in time, courtesy of some magical raccoons, to meet Harriet Tubman and learn about her activities on the Underground Railroad. Julie is a white girl, while Jax and Ani are black, allowing the exploration of different perspectives about slavery. All agree that it's bad, but Julie is horrified to realize that if the locals discover her friends, they'll be taken for escaped slaves. The book is clearly written, and the story is engaging. The threat to Jax and Ani is real, but not overpowering for a young reader. All-in-all, the book should provide a good introduction to an era in American history that might be difficult for some parents to discuss with their kids.

[Sam Fury · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something magical about that old house...

or at least that’s the rumor.

Well, Julie and her new friends are going to find out.

A raccoon tricks them down a rabbit hole and when they come out it's a different era - transported back to the days before the civil war.

In a time and place where hunting runaway slaves was the norm, Julie, Ani, and Jax will need to use their wits to survive.

Will they be able to find their way back to their time?

There’s only one way to find out...

You’ll love this time-traveling adventure, because it gives you a sense of childhood wonder while mixing in a history lesson.

Get it now.

[Cearúil Swords · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun romp into the past with enough adventure to keep children wondering what will happen next.

The story glides along at an even pace and is well told for the age group it is targeted at. Though I found myself a little lost in the descriptions when the children are knocking around the eponymous rabbit holes – maybe it was a little over explained?

On the whole though, the story is well written, with interesting characters and gives a history lesson in a fun way, while getting right the tricky balance of being age-appropriate and truthful, at the same time.

[Amanda Stuntz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julie meets her new neighbors, Jax and Ani, and the adventure begins. While looking at an old abandoned house in the woods that is thought to be haunted, they are chased by a raccoon and soon find themselves jumping down a rabbit hole that takes them back in time. It doesn’t take them long to figure out what happened and they are soon running through the woods where they meet Harriet Tubman.
A will written story that is sure to keep the attention of a young audience. There isn’t a dull moment in this book, and I can’t wait to see what other adventures Jax and Julie go on.

[Juliette Godot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the premise of Raccoons and Rabbit Holes. This is a time-travel story about three kids, two of them have dark skin, who find themselves the in pre-Civil War South. There, they meet Harriett Tubman! How great is that to teach kids, in an adventure story, about such tough topics. Just wonderful.

The writing is spot-on, the characters are lovely. I highly recommend this middle-grade adventure.

[Florian Armas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Racoons and Rabbit Holes is a novel of many things: book for children, time travel adventure, history lesson, and a little too much desire to be on the ‘trend’.
The start is enigmatic; the haunted house and the mysterious racoon, everything well done to keep a child’s attention. Then it turns in a history lesson, which feels (dialogues and story) too advanced for the intended target.
In the end, it seems that the three young friends find the adventure they all wanted, and a little more.

[David Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant YA Historical Fiction Time Travel Adventure for Middle School Audiences.

Loralee Evan's Racoons and Rabbit Holes is a well written fast paced adventure which will appeal to children ages 8 to 13. Kids will easily relate to the characters Julie, Jax, and Ani as they go back in time and become part of the Underground Railroad. A real page turner, kids will be well entertained with the children's adventure going back to the past and will learn some history in the process. Well done.

[Gene Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I opened this book knowing only the title, content to just discover whatever the story happened to be. Turns out, Raccoons and Rabbit Holes is a charming children’s story that sends three kids on a trip to the 1800s. It’s a sweet adventure, even though it deals with serious subject matter, appropriate for kids of any age.

[Jessica Fullmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute very short little trip back in history. Looking forward to reading others. And very intrigued to read about Harriett Tubman now.