Watership Down
Author Richard Adams
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Story
When they realise that their warren is about to be destroyed, Hazel, Fiver and a small group of rabbits set off on a long and dangerous journey to find a new home. As they travel they face danger, loss and betrayal and discover the value of friendship, community and courage.
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Why we chose it
Watership Down is exciting, moving, and beautifully written. Its tale of refuge in the face of environmental crisis remains powerfully relevant today.
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First published
1972, Rex Collings Ltd, London
In the Museum
Story Reviews
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Fiver the rabbit can see into the future. He senses that something awful is going to happen to the warren but is ridiculed by the other rabbits. He decides to leave with his brother Hazel and a few other rabbits and they set off into the wide world to find a new place to live. On their journey they face foxes, rival warrens, bad weather and danger before succeeding to find somewhere else to live. My favourite character is Kehaar, a sea gull, who they find injured. The rabbits bring Kehaar worms to eat and he becomes their friend and helps them out when they try to help some female rabbits escape from a rival warren. He is very useful to the rabbits. My favourite part was when the rabbits first leave the warren and have no idea what they will face and they are very apprehensive. I loved seeing them earn their freedom and the book went on. I would recommend it to a friend even though I found the book a challenge (although I still really enjoyed it). I am sure that several of my friends would enjoy it because it is about animals. Lizzie