Intro
Yes. I know what you're thinking. "I had enough Peter Rabbit in Kindergarten." But if you'll kindly give us a chance to explain, we'll change your mind about this. That is a promise.
Author: S.D. Smith
Illustrator: Zach Franzen
Published: 2015
Series: The Green Ember series
Synopsis:
When rabbit siblings Heather and Picket are thrown from their comfortable lives into a calamitous situation, they begin to realize the broken state of their world. They journey to a secret haven of the mending, and try to discover their places in the looming war. The events surrounding their family name complicate their search for answers. Though many secrets are kept from them, they must discover the truth in time to save the cause, and redeem their family.
The Green Ember is a fantasy series written by Christian author S.D. Smith. It is written in a third-person viewpoint, and is now part of a four-book series. Soon after publishing in 2015, the book became astonishingly popular, particularly among homeschooling and large family circles. It has spent time as the best children's book of the year, and has overall received amazing success for a first book.
The Green Ember is fantasy, and more like Tolkien or Lewis in that it relies on a strong plot, characters, and world-building to bring the book to life, rather than a fallback magic system like many book series. Indeed, no magic is mentioned in the book, but the incredible characters, well developed backstory, and non-stop twists and action keep readers enthralled.
The book begins in the serene setting of Nick Hollow, but quickly changes to back up the intense action, as the rabbits travel through caves and underground caverns to escape their enemies. The majority of the book is spent at Cloud Mountain, a secret citadel of the rabbit resistance. It is the perfect place to highlight the change in the characters as they learn about their mysterious past.
While the next book focuses on the war the rabbits are fighting, this book focuses on hope, and the reason they are fighting. Scenes of beauty, accented by encouraging quotes, are common in this story. But it will be sure to keep even the most action loving boys interested, as the characters are thrown into one dangerous situation after another.
This book is my fourth favorite book that I have ever read. My next three favorites are are - you guessed it - the other three books in the series. Smith did such an incredible job on this book! At first glance - or first chapter - you will think, "Oh, this is just another book where the heirs of the kingdom are sent away, with no idea of their identity, only to discover it later and save the world.", but the plot is so much more complex than that! If you have just finished The Chronicles of Narnia, and are searching for another series that will "Set even the faintest heart on fire."*, you've found it.
This book can be enjoyed by anyone. From 6-year-olds, to 60-year-olds, everyone will find themselves fighting for the cause beside the rabbits of Natalia. Though the later books become more intense, and a little frightening for younger children, this book truly can be enjoyed even by two-year-olds. Get your whole family involved in read-aloud time! I am a teenager, and I LOVE these books, so make sure nobody is allowed to skip!
Bottom Line (the point of the review... also the literal bottom line):
This book is amazing, and you should read it.
*S.D. Smith, in Ember Rising