The Rabbit's Gift

by Jessica Vitalis

When the delicate balance between the people of a small country and the mythic rabbits of age-old lore is broken, putting everyone at risk, a young rabbit and a young girl must overcome their prejudices and learn to trust each other.

Quincy Rabbit and his warren live a simple yet high-stakes life. In exchange for the purple carrots they need to survive, they farm and deliver Chou de vie (cabbage-like plants that grow human babies inside) to the human citizens of Montpeyroux. But lately, because of those selfish humans, there haven't been enough carrots to go around. So Quincy sets out to change that--all he needs are some carrot seeds. He'll be a hero.

Fleurine sees things a little differently. As the only child of the Grand Lumière, she's being groomed to follow in her mother's political footsteps--no matter how much Fleurine longs to be a botanist instead. Convinced that having a sibling will shift her mother's attention, Fleurine tries to grow purple carrots, hoping to make a trade with the rabbits. But then a sneaky rabbit steals her seeds. In her desperation to get them back, she follows that rabbit all the way to the secret warren--and steals a Chou.

Quincy and Fleurine have endangered not just the one baby inside the Chou, but the future of Montpeyroux itself--for rabbits and humans alike. Now, they'll have to find a way to trust each other to restore the balance.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Animals, Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Juvenile

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2022

About the author

JESSICA VITALIS is an award-winning, Columbia MBA-wielding middle grade author with Greenwillow/HarperCollins. Her books have been translated into three languages, received multiple starred reviews, been designated as Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections, and appeared on “Best Book” lists for Kirkus and CCBC. Her latest novel, Coyote Queen, won the Reading the West Book Award and the Women Writing the West 2024 WILLA Literary Award in Children’s Fiction and Non-Fiction. It is also a High Plains Book Award and SCBWI Crystal Kite Book Award finalist. A historical novel in verse, Unsinkable Cayenne, is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection arriving October 29th, 2024. Jessica has American and Canadian citizenship; she currently lives and writes in Ontario but speaks at schools, conferences, and festivals all over North America. Connect on Instagram at @jessicavauthor and at www.jessicavitalis.com.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borne of a French myth in which babies grow in cabbage plants and are delivered to their human families by rabbits, THE RABBIT’S GIFT is a powerful story about the tenuous and magical place where the human and animal worlds intersect. Fleurine, the daughter of Montpeyroux’s leader, wants a sister with all her heart. Quincy Rabbit wants to prove himself by saving his family and community from the hunger caused by a human-made carrot shortage. When Fleurine's and Quincy's choices bring them into direct opposition with one another, they must ultimately recognize the ways their worlds are connected, and learn to trust one other to bring about the changes they both seek. These pages are suffused with gorgeous imagery about plants and the natural world. You can taste and smell and feel it: the potential in the seeds, the variegation in the leaves, the loam of the soil. And the mythology is seamlessly woven into the world-building, from the humans’ and rabbits’ deities (Grand Maman in the Moon and Great Maman Rabbit) to the beautifully built themes around privilege and the need to work together for the collective good. A gorgeous companion to Jessica Vitalis’ debut, THE WOLF’S CURSE. My thanks to the author and to Greenwillow for the eARC.

[Alysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happiness is a new book from the beautiful imagination and heart of Jessica Vitalis!

What a wonderful counter-point to her debut THE WOLF’S CURSE. While WOLF was a gentle and wonderous exploration of life (and the end of life) RABBIT explores terrain at the opposite end of the spectrum-- the mysteries, myths, and wonders of the beginning of life.

Told in dual POV through the eyes of Quincy, a determined young rabbit, and Fleurine, daughter of the Matriarch of the human society, this is a wonderous tale that explores the interconnection btw people and nature, myth and society, and the assumptions we make and the real truth.

With vivid imagery and lush prose, this is a beautiful exploration of privilege, the myths we build our entire societies around, and the very important and fundamental need to always look out from our own burrows.

A story that is at once mercurial and deeply grounded, THE RABBIT'S GIFT makes for a delightful, rich, and thought-provoking companion to THE WOLF'S CURSE!

Thank you to Greenwillow and the author for the opportunity to read an e-arc.

[Lindsay Currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this inventive novel by Jessica Vitalis. Vivid imagery and magical storytelling combine to make an instant classic for me.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delicate balance exists between the humans who long for babies and the Angora Roux rabbits who cultivate them. In exchange for bunches of purple carrots, the Angora Roux bring Chou incubators to waiting human parents who are ready to welcome a child. But when the balance shifts and the rabbits are no longer receiving adequate compensation for their important work, the precarious relationship begins to crumble. And the question arises: will a human girl and an Angora Roux be able to see past their differences to reconcile the challenges they face before it is too late?

This heartfelt story is told from two perspectives: one human, one Angora Roux. Both characters are the heroes of their own stories, but each of their behavior adversely affects the other as the story progresses. Readers are immersed in a world over which the Great Maman presides, where humans and nature must work harmoniously together in order to survive. Carefully crafted details make this setting come alive, and readers will find themselves in a curious blend of Alice in Wonderland and King Louis XIV’s France, all under a unique and fantastic umbrella. Utilizing a blend of both real and creatively fictional French words, this story takes a familiar French term of endearment—mon petit chou—to a charming and unexpected destination.

While this story is a companion to The Wolf’s Curse, it is a standalone novel that readers can enjoy in any order. Many moments of the narrative are connected to events happening in the real world, from conflicts over goods and services to religious beliefs to the treatment of nature. On its surface, this book tells a fantastic interpretation of how human babies are made; beneath that, it is a guide for readers to look past their individual experiences to spend time walking in others’ shoes. Only by empathizing with others will humans gain the perspective necessary to make the changes that will protect the Earth in the long term. Middle grade readers will appreciate the footnotes peppered throughout the book that provide greater context for the story, and the lengthy chapters will especially appeal to more confident readers who enjoy immersive tales. This is a thought-provoking title to include in library collections for middle grade readers.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woooooowwww! I LOVED this book so much! This was such a unique story in so many ways. Incredibly imaginative, & while reading it, you have the feeling of reading a much loved classic. A mythical tale of where babies come from-this might be a 1st encounter for me reading, & that makes me love it even more! Definitely an appropriate way to talk about birth of life for MG readers in a cute make believe way. In the authors note the author explains the French version of our stork mythology-babies instead coming from cabbage plants(she goes into more detail, always read authors notes!). The author wanted rabbits to be the ones to deliver the babies as well, & I love everything she wove together from several things to create this beautiful story of hers. Some great details include the rabbits themselves & their backstory, the warren, the Chou, purple carrots, & so much more. We alternate POV between Quincy the rabbit, & Fleurine, who is the daughter of basically a governor/mayor of sorts of this place. A woman from their family has always ruled from generation to generation. Fleurine did annoy me a lot at times, with her selfishness & casting blame everywhere but at herself. But it's easy to see how much her deep loneliness, & being forbidden to do anything with science, plants, or any of the things SHE truly cared about, had affected her. She had some great character growth through the book though, & I became so proud of her. Quincy has my heart though. Poor little thing, feeling like he had so much to prove, & feeling a little lonely/ invisible himself. Such a brave "skunk". I think his coloring sounds beautiful. He is so brave, & so wants to be the hero of his story, for his family. This has politics, family, friendship, science, magic, rabbits! lol, strong female characters, & more. Has great adventure, is thought provoking, charming, so heartwarming, & full of great messages. Lots of great discussion with plants established by sciences, such as botany, agriculture, pollination, etc. Also, the women like 1 of Fleurine's mothers advisors & Fleurine herself who wanted to study the sciences is such a huge thing, because like the author mentions, during the Renaissance, women were, for the most part, prohibited from formally studying many sciences. I absolutely loved the ending, & gave this a big book hug. HIGHLY recommend. STUNNING cover by Anna & Elena Balbusso too.💜

[Kathie]

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

Fans of The Wolf’s Curse will love revisiting the well-crafted world that @jessicavauthor introduced us to in her debut novel. Although this book is a standalone, it has a similar feel to it. This fantasy features a rabbit named Quincy and a girl named Fleurine as its main protagonists. Quincy wants to help save his community from starvation but a decision to steal some purple carrot seeds from the humans results in Fleurine following him to get them back and her theft of a chou (a baby that grows in a cabbage plant) from the rabbit’s crop. The resultant anger on both sides sets off an imbalance between their worlds that the pair must try to set right again.

Not only is this story imaginative and unique (based on a French myth), but there are some important lessons about interdependence and how taking too much of what doesn’t belong to you can have a negative ripple effect. I would love to read a third companion novel and spend more time in the lush world the author created.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored Jessica Vitalis's THE WOLF'S CURSE and have been eagerly awaiting this one. Enter Quincy Rabbit and the creative, original world of this story. In exchange for the purple carrots they need to survive, the rabbits farm and deliver Chou de vie (cabbage-like plants that grow human babies inside) to the human citizens of Montpeyroux. I don't think I'd encountered a middle-grade book dealing with a mythical origin for where babies came from and I was quite amused! The story is heart-warming, thought-provoking, and in the end, equally compelling as Jessica's first book. Highly recommend!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This didn’t quite click for me. The main characters seemed to complain a lot, and the plot boils down to rabbit and girl try to do something. It doesn’t work out so they put everything back and everyone resolves to be nicer, which fixes everything. The end , and I didn’t find that satisfying.

Also I was very sad about the extinction of the giant rabbits.

[belle ☆ﾐ (thisbellereadstoo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

told in dual perspectives–quincy the rabbit, fleurine the human, the rabbit’s gift is inspired by the french myth of which babies are grown in cabbages and once ready, the babies are transported to the humans by the rabbits. when quincy realized that the rabbits are starting to receive less carrots produced by humans, he wants to be the hero. that action resulted in a human trespassing into the rabbits’ realm. fleurine, desperately needing a sister, took the opportunity to steal a cabbage baby, thinking that the rabbits wouldn’t miss it that much. quincy wanting to right the wrong went chasing after fleurine.

i enjoyed the two perspectives. quincy always wanted to be the protagonist of the story while fleurine burdened by her future wanted a baby sister to be less lonely and take her mother’s focus away from her. a rabbit and a human have to work together to safeguard each of their people.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rabbit's Gift by @jessicavauthor is such a fun, sweet book, and I loved it! This truly could be a @Pixar movie - adorable characters, a beautiful world, and a truly imaginative story about family and friendship, and realizing that while you're the hero in your own story, you might be the villain in someone else's story!

[J.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a delight! Magical rabbits, great STEM elements (including nerdy botany), and underdogs making things happen! I can’t wait for the world to discover this magical story.

[Jaiden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book! I didn’t think it was possible for anyone to ever match the genius of The Wolf’s Curse, but she managed to! This is incredibly well done and I highly recommend it for everyone!

[Payal Doshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely cannot wait to read this companion novel to The Wolf's Curse! And with Vitalis's prose, I know I'm in for a treat!

[Rebecca Petruck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vitalis did it again! This companion novel to The Wolf's Curse is beautifully lyrical and fun, with such imaginative world-building! I'm in awe.
I love the exploration of an origin folktale, the meaning of friendship, and the power of perspective to move communities to a greater good for all.
I love Quincy and Fleurine, and I hope Vitalis gifts us another novel soon!

[Eileen Schnabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to read an early copy of this BEAUTIFULLY written new story by Jessica Vitalis about friendship and family, myth, belief and trust when twelve-year-old Fleurine and a runt rabbit named Quincy embark on an unforgettable adventure!

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What worked:
The author adds interest and helps expand the vocabulary of young readers through footnotes. Quincy, the main character and Angora Roux rabbit, uses some descriptive, mature words and the author provides additional context or meaning for them at the bottom of the pages. These footnotes are shared from the perspective of a rabbit and they aren’t necessarily definitions of the words. For example, Quincy states human hands have inadequacies and apologizes if we’re offended that our hands aren’t designed for digging. Another time, the word myriad is used and Quincy says it’s a much more interesting word than variety. This technique adds playfulness to the rabbit’s narrative while potentially broadening the language of young readers.
The relationship between the rabbits and humans is highly unusual. They both believe in supreme beings, the Great Maman Rabbit and the Great Maman in the Moon, who have created a symbiotic relationship between the two groups. The humans provide rabbits with the purple carrots they’re dependent on while the rabbits provide cabbage-like plants called Chou containing babies for the humans. The rabbits will try eating clover when they’re desperate but purple carrots, not other varieties, are the basis for their diets. Humans in other parts of the world still have mothers giving birth to live children as readers might expect but Montpeyroux relies on rabbits for human reproduction.
The story is told from contrasting points of view that highlight the two main characters’ internal conflicts. Quincy admits he may have stolen from the humans first but he views Fleurine as the thief who ignites a clash between the two groups. Quincy seeks recognition from his family and warren so he sets out on his own to find purple carrot seeds. He hopes growing his own crop of this vegetable will make the rabbits independent of needing help from the humans. Fleurine’s mother is the Grand Lumiere among humans in Montpeyroux and Fleurine is unhappy with the demands and expectations of being her daughter. Fleurine would rather pursue a study in botany instead of becoming the next leader.
What didn’t work as well:
I find myself wondering throughout the plot if Fleurine and Quincy will ever realize they share a strong interest in plants and gardening. It seems like an obvious connection but it’s not fully explored during the story. Quincy’s thoughts set everything in motion and Fleurine’s insight results in a solution to the main conflict.
The Final Verdict:
This book exceeds my expectations as the characters and issues add depth to the story. The internal conflicts of Quincy and Fleurine are catalysts for their actions and the plot has relevance to concepts in the real world. Poverty and hunger are examples of problems addressed. Overall, this book is quite enjoyable and I recommend you give it a shot.

[eve.lyn._.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

🐇☀️🥬The Rabbit's Gift🥬☀️🐇
Quincy the Rabbit wants to show the rest of the rabbits that he is capable of many things despite being a runt. He has spent a lot of his life in the Warren, where the rabbits raise the Chou. Chou are special cabbage-like plants that produce human babies, and are delivered to humans. In return, they must leave out five purple carrots. Recently, the supply has been dropping, and the rabbits have been starving. They look to the Grand Maman Rabbit for answers, telling tales of the grand Angora Rex. Fleurine will inherit the role of being leader of her country. Fleurine doesn't want the position and instead longs for a sibling. Yet no matter how hard she tries, she cannot grow purple carrots and instead steals the Chou. Now she is on the run, Quincy following her every move.

"Once, I would have told you that she is the villain in this story. A stubborn, selfish, thoughtless villain. And I would have been partly right. But I would have been partly wrong, too. Because I've learned that sometimes the only difference between a hero and a villain is which side you're on."
-Quincy
The Rabbit's Gift was a warm and cozy fairytale-like fantasy. I was drawn to the cover and synopsis. I had read The Wolf's Curse before, and although I didn't necessarily enjoy it, this one did quite the opposite. I finished it in one sitting. Jessica Vitalis has a very memorable writing style that reads like a fairytale. The footnotes with the characters' thoughts add an authenticity to the story.

The concept of Chou and purple carrots were all extremely interesting to me. The sort of plots that spark my interest are the ones that are the most whimsical and unique. Quincy was a great protagonist, an underdog searching for appreciation. I tend to love animal systems like Warriors Bravelands, and Bamboo Kingdom. So I loved Quincy's perspective the most.

Fleurine suffers under the pressure of her mother. I liked how her character was written. Her journey stealing the Chou along with Elodie was interesting. This story showed how good vs evil depends on perspective, and the reader was able to understand both sides. This was a great fantasy read!
☑️PLOT
☑️PLOT TWISTS
☑️CHARACTERS

[Michelle Smith-Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quincy, a magical rabbit charged with growing cabbage babies for humans, is unhappy with his limited food supply. The humans haven't been giving the rabbits the number of purple carrots they need to thrive and he is set on figuring out how to grow purple carrots on his own. The humans and rabbits seem to have had a life-giving relationship for centuries, but what if things are not quite right in the balance between their worlds? Quincy breaks the rules and heads to the human world through a transport tunnel that only transport rabbits are meant to travel through to find out what is happening and find purple carrot seeds. He ends up meeting a human, Fleurine, who may end up holding the key to all of the purple carrot problems.

The author, Vitalis, has done it again in her second novel which takes you into the world of Angora Roux. These magical rabbits bring humans, of all classes, their babies in the safe form of cabbage. Much like the myth of storks, rabbits are nature's secret deliverers of life. This story also draws inspiration from an old French tale about fairies leaving babies for the humans in the cabbage garden. Overall this book is a brilliant magical fairy tale that will engage readers in a rich fantasy about birth and life. The author has succeeded in creating a world that is both inspirational and humorous.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rabbit's Gift is a uniquely beautiful story and will make a great addition to our school library. You do not need to have read The Wolf's Curse in order to enjoy this one, but they are lovely companions. (And if you haven't read The Wolf's Curse you really should do that.) In this story inspired by French folklore, a rabbit named Quincy and a girl named Fleurine both long to make a difference in their communities but feel stuck and unappreciated in their current roles. The chapters alternate perspectives as their lives connect in a surprising way.

Years ago when I took French in high school we learned the expression "Mon Petit Chou" - which literally translates as "my little cabbage" and is a term of endearment for someone who is loved. I hadn't known then about the French folklore about a fairy who can make and deliver babies out of cabbage heads in the garden, but I was a fan of the Cabbage Patch Dolls of my youth. In this story, certain rabbits are the caretakers and deliver the cabbage babies to humans in exchange for purple carrots. It is a magical, delightful idea and one that Vitalis deftly uses to weave a story like no other. Highly recommend!

Thank you to the author for sharing an advanced copy with #bookposse.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers of Vitalis’ The Wolf’s Curse will appreciate the connection to that thorough world-building and those who have not yet read it will likely do so after reading The Rabbit’s Gift. Both stand alone but with clear connections to the culture and community created in both. A French myth about babies being born from within a cabbage plant and the rabbits who cultivate them in exchange for unique purple carrots form the basis for an intriguing tale told from the POV of one of those rabbits and a young girl who yearns for a sibling. Woven throughout are themes of finding your place in community and looking beyond your own small world as well a significant nod to environmental sciences. Targeted for a middle grade audience, many will find the unique culture intriguing, but the vocabulary, chapter length and lack of intense action may make this more appealing to mature readers looking for a more thought-provoking read. No profanity, sexual content or violence. Races in the Montpeyroux are not clearly expressed, but families are diverse with some having one parent, others two and both same sex and traditional male-female present. Various economic levels are also clearly established.

Thanks for sending #BookAllies a print arc, Jessica Vitalis.

[Apostol Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cartea „Darul iepurașului Quincy” s-a dovedit a fi o poveste mitică despre locul de unde vin bebelușii – autoarea m-a condus pe urmele unei mitologii franceze unde ajutată de imagini vii m-a transpus într-o lume a fantezii încărcată cu basm. Am aflat despre iepurii Angora Rex cu marsupiu care au sarcina de a crește și supraveghea asupra plantelor de varză pentru a se coace și a aduce pe lume bebeluși. De asemenea s-a conturat legătura dintre oameni și animale, o forță care doar împreună pot face ca lucrurile să funcționeze în echilibru. Și da, pot spune că „Darul iepurașului Quincy” pe lângă faptul că a fost o carte plină de căldură care m-a făcut să aprofundez lectura tot mai mult mi-a adus în față o aventură grozavă provocându-mi gândurile să se muleze cu lumea fermecătoare a Jessicăi Vitalis. Încărcată de mesaje grozave această lectură mi-a plăcut foarte mult și o recomand cu drag. Sunt convinsă că o să vă placă, cu mic cu mare!


link blog: https://vorbepentrusufletblog.wordpre...

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Wolf's Curse, to which this book is a companion, but you don't need to have read Jessica Vitalis' first book in order to enjoy--and love--this one. The Rabbit's Gift is narrated by two charming, unique characters: Quincy, a rabbit, and Fleurine, the human daughter of the ruler. As they both want to make changes in their lives and their worlds, their paths intersect in fresh and unexpected ways. The writing in this middle grade is full of lush descriptions with the kind of world-building and narrative authority found in classic stories. Yet it's groundbreaking in terms of theme, including the matriarchal societal structure, making this novel feel incredibly special and contemporary. Given the French-inspired setting, I liken The Rabbit's Gift to a "souffle of a novel." You'll want to treat yourself to this one!

[Joseph Pizzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a reader can discover an author whose point of view is quirky but steeped in fantasy, the discovery is golden. Open Jessica Vitalis's work THE RABBIT'S GIFT and discover a world based on the French myth that states that babies are grown in cabbages. (The idea for Cabbage Patch Kids actually came from this myth.) A young rabbit named Quincy is a bit overwhelmed by his lack of size and his struggle to be a force in his community. When he wanders too far from the animal world and crosses the mythical line where the human world begins, his fate becomes entwined with that of Fleurine, who is the daughter of the leader of Montpeyroux. Will the human world be too much for Quincy to handle, or will he find a way to discover his heroic side? I guess you'll just have to read this magical fantasy to find out.

[Tristann Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magical tale that explores the blurred lines between what it is to be a hero and a villain. The Rabbit's Gift is based on the French myth where babies grow inside cabbages and rabbits care for and deliver them.

The Rabbit's Gift features a dual POV (point of view): the story bounces between a rabbit named Quincy and a human girl, Fleurine. Misunderstandings and adventure make for a lot of fun as Fleurine and Quincy struggle against each other to achieve their objectives and make their version of the world better.

I highly recommend this sweet, imaginative story that highlights so many lessons about family, friendship, sacrifice, and seeing the world from other's perspective. As we come to see, while you could be the hero in your own story, you might be the villain in someone else's story!

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly imaginative tale with impressive worldbuilding! Told from the dual points of view of Fleurine, a privileged young girl who desperately wants a baby sister, and Quincy Rabbit, one of the Angora Roux who tend human babies growing inside cabbages and then deliver them to people. The grateful parents leave them purple carrots in return. But the purple carrots, the rabbits' only source of food, are now in short supply. How the two opposing protagonists learn to work together is fascinating, as are the details about gardening and science. I was also impressed by the matriarchal society Vitalis has created, especially their deities, Great Maman Rabbit and The Grand Maman in the Moon. Stunning imagery!

[Emily Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved Jessica's debut novel, The Wolf's Curse, and was highly anticipating her sophomore novel. I thought the idea of this being her 'birth' books following Wolf being her 'death' book was a clever idea, and these two books really do well as companion novels while also remaining their own distinct stories. Overall, it was an interesting read as we explored STEM and magic in this French inspired fantasy world where babies are grown in cabbage-like plants called Chou, delivered to the human world by rabbits in exchange for purple carrots that the rabbits need to survive. The Wolf's Curse felt a lot richer in world building and prose than this book, which might be why I was a bit underwhelmed while reading this. The descriptions of Chou were super cute, though!

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetic and surreal. 

I'm a middle age reader who loves middle-grade novels so what I take from this story may be different from what kids will. 

To me it was very beautiful, the despair of a human wanting a child and the anguish of a rabbit wanting recognition, showing that being a villain depends on how you are willing to understand someone's motivations behind actions. All leading to acceptance.

This is my first contact with this author's writing. It flows very well. The concept of the story is quite interesting and made me curious about the first book. 


Two points of view, the human and the animal, but their voices aren't different, they seem to respect and love the same concepts. 

The injections of humor in the footnotes are a cute addition. 

[Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quincy is a rabbit who decides to save his family and other members of the Warren from starvation as he tries to solve the mystery behind the lack of purple carrots that humans give them for harvesting Chou de vie, cabbages that become human babies, for the people of Montpeyroux. Quincy inadvertently allows Fleurine, the heir apparent, of Montpeyroux to follow him into the Warren where she steals a Chou, so she can have a sister. Quincy goes after her to return the Chou and Fleurine discovers that those who are assisting her in trying harvest the Chou are suffering under her mother's rule and must decide what is best for her friends and for the rabbits. The story alternates between Quincy and Fleurine in this fable. Recommended for 8-12 year-olds who like animal/human fantasy stories.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed The Wolf's Curse and thought this book was even better (not always something I say for the second book an author publishes!) Although it is a companion novel to The Wolf's Curse, it is a stand alone novel and the companion book does not need to be read to enjoy this story. I liked that the book was told from both Quincy and Fleurine's point of view and I felt transported back to my childhood when I spent hours playing a board game where babies came from a cabbage patch :) 4.5 stars for The Rabbit's Gift.

[Mickey Agee · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book read or 2025 and I Loved this book so much! I know it’s for middle school age kids but I’m an adult who loves rabbits ! Magic rabbits who deliver cabbages with human babies - love this plot! Would love a sequel or whole series continuing the story. Great world building and characters! Would also love to see as a graphic novel!

Themes of friendship, leadership, doing the right thing, and adventure!

Felt reminiscent of watership down except with magic rabbits and built for a younger audience.

I hope I dream about this book !