YA/ Kids Fantasy. Self-aware narrator speaks directly to the reader. 3 kids stay at relative's house for summer, large tree in yard. Mom is dead; underworld. Bunnies. Read 2008-2009.

[Molly]

Upfront: it's been 10-15 years since I read this book, and I was a kid at the time, so I don't really remember the details of the plot. The thing that sticks in my memory is that the narrator "broke the fourth wall" by talking directly to the reader and talking about their power to control what's happening in the story. The metaphor used was that it's like being in a catwalk over a stage and seeing the show and the backstage at the same time. Plot elements I remember are listed below - I'm saying SPOILERS now because I can't say for sure that they aren't!

-story opens with three kids arriving at a relative's house for the summer
-there's a large tree in the front yard (maybe an oak?) that's important, but I don't remember why
-the mom is dead (maybe also the dad?) and there's some Orpheus-style plot about traveling to the underworld to meet/rescue her
-there are bunnies. I don't remember their role in the story, but there was a picture of one on the back cover, so I know it was important
-I'm almost positive the bunnies were killer bunnies

I'm aware this is not much to go on, but thank you in advance!

[SBC]

Molly, what is SoUE?

[SBC]

Anything likely on the list Books in which characters know they're in books? https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

[Molly]

Sorry - SoUE is A Series of Unfortunate Events.

[Molly]

I don't see any likely candidates in the list of Books in which characters know they're in a book, but thank you!

[Molly]

After a bit of math, I think I read this in '08 or '09 in the Midwest USA. I got the book from the library and it was in pretty good condition, so I'm guessing it was published sometime 2000-2005. It was a hardcover book with a fairly colorful cover - the back had the bunny on a solid color, plain background (I'm thinking pink, purple, or orange, but I have almost no confidence in that).

Also, knowing myself, I'm guessing it had a funny/quirky/eye-catching title or else I wouldn't have picked it up.

[Kris]

Molly, I copied book details to the topic header. Feel free to edit it.

Can you describe the location (e.g., small town, by the beach, large city)? Which country?

[Kris]

A long shot - The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh?

[Rainbowheart]

Another long shot, How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found?

[Rowan]

I don't know if the details match but the timeline and general vibe does - Black Rabbit Summer

[Rainbowheart]

Don't think it's Black Rabbit Summer. No fantasy in that, as far as I can recall.