Watership Down

Bibliography: Adams, R. (1975). Watership down. New York: Avon.

Genre: Fantasy – Adult crossover

Reading Level/Interest Age: 12 and up

Reader's Annotation: Fiver says that something bad is going to happen, and Hazel has had enough experience with his brother's premonitions to take them seriously. But when the chief rabbit of Sandleford warren dismisses Fiver's fears, Hazel must learn to be a leader if he is to guide his followers to safety.

Author: Adams was born in Newbury, England on 10 May 1920. After serving in WWII, he received a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1948 from Worcester College, Oxford and of Master of Arts in 1953. Watership Down, originally published in 1972, was his first of nearly 20 novels. Today, he lives with his wife in Whitchurch, England, within 10 miles of Newbury.

Plot Summary: "Fiver could sense danger. Something terrible was going to happen to the warren - he felt sure of it. So did his brother Hazel, for Fiver's sixth sense was never wrong. They had to leave immediately, and they had to persuade the other rabbits to join them. And so begins a long and perilous journey of a small band of rabbits in search of a safe home. Fiver's vision finally leads them to Watership Down, but here they face their most difficult challenge of all." (back cover)

Critical Evaluation: Rarely have I encountered something that so beautifully blends realistic animal fantasy with human interest. Adams's extensive research into the lives and habits of rabbits shows in every part of the text. The rabbits never slip into seeming like humans in rabbit skins the way that Kenneth Grahame's Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger do. They are always rabbits with a particularly rabbit perspective, like when Hazel and Bigwig worry that one of the does might be frightened into eating her young. This is seldom a concern for human mothers. And yet, Hazel's thoughts and feelings about his followers are realistic and sympathetic for human readers. His deftness at recognizing and making use of each rabbit's strengths, and his ability to minimize conflict and adjust strategies to account for individual weaknesses make this novel a must-read for anyone involved in team management. What is more, the characters are all believable and beautifully rendered so that it is easy to keep track of who they despite their ever-increasing numbers. However, perhaps the best part of the novel is the complete system of mythical tales and vocabulary that works as back-story to give a realistic depth that is seldom achieved outside of Tolkien. I will read this again and again.

Curriculum Ties:

Book Talk Ideas:
• focus on Fiver's premonition of danger
• adapt the scene of the departure from Sandleford
• describe the rabbits that make up the Watership Down warren
• adapt the scene when they release the hutch rabbits
• adapt Holly and Bluebell's description of what happened at Sandleford
• focus on the warren of the snares or maybe just the effort to free Bigwig from the snare

Challenge Issues: violence, clairvoyance

Challenge Defense:
• Be familiar with context of issues
• Explain library selection policies
• Provide reviews of the book from reputable sources
• Explain library challenge procedures
• Offer challenge form

Why was this text included in this project? This has always been a favorite of mine, and it is commonly included on school reading lists.