greysonk's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
ladykatka's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Cute story. Merely scratches the surface of deep topics and issues such as racism and land rights. It is a book for kids though.
ljrinaldi's review
5.0
Aimee is a non-binary Anishinaabe middle school puple. The Anishinaabe people are an indigenous group who come from the area of what we call the Great Lakes region.
Aimee is part of an indigineous students association that are going on a field trip to visit Paayehsag, known as water spirits to give offerings to them. Aimee is totally not engaged, because they are playing a game on their phone, and don’t want to be distracted from it.
So, still playing their game, they wander off, and meet first a white rabbit, then a mad hatter, then an evil queen, who wants to take all the water, and all the land, and all the hunting rights, and anything she can from the people.
Sometimes Aimee helps, other times, as kids do, they do things stupidly.
But it is a strong story, and uses the Anishinaabe language thrown in, so we can learn a few words, such as thank you, and yes, and strawberries.
A fine addition to any library, because representation matters, and it is good to learn that you are not alone, or, as an ally, what others go through.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review,
Aimee is part of an indigineous students association that are going on a field trip to visit Paayehsag, known as water spirits to give offerings to them. Aimee is totally not engaged, because they are playing a game on their phone, and don’t want to be distracted from it.
So, still playing their game, they wander off, and meet first a white rabbit, then a mad hatter, then an evil queen, who wants to take all the water, and all the land, and all the hunting rights, and anything she can from the people.
Sometimes Aimee helps, other times, as kids do, they do things stupidly.
But it is a strong story, and uses the Anishinaabe language thrown in, so we can learn a few words, such as thank you, and yes, and strawberries.
A fine addition to any library, because representation matters, and it is good to learn that you are not alone, or, as an ally, what others go through.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review,
pay10hughes's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded up to 4 because I’m a big softie. Ioved the characters and the concept, I just wish there was more!! It felt incomplete somehow.
zepysgirl's review against another edition
2.0
Confusing. I don’t know why this story was pasted onto the framework of Alice in Wonderland. I didn’t really get anything out of it.
katelynsbooknook's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mezzythedragon's review
4.0
This book should have a higher rating. Really enjoyed this Anishinaabe, nonbinary reimagining of Alice in Wonderland.
elizabethlk's review
4.0
Rabbit Chase by Elizabeth LaPensee, art by KC Oster, and Anishinaabemowin translations by Aarin Dokum, is a middle-grade graphic novel that puts nonbinary Anishinaabe middle-schooler Aimee into an Alice In Wonderland inspired story.
The story offers up an Alice in Wonderland story that is mixed heavily with North American Indigenous history and with Anishinaabe culture in particular. The Queen of Hearts figure is stealing the land in a similar fashion as white governments have done to Indigenous people in North America (and globally) by getting legal land rights through force and deception and manipulating Indigenous people in a court system that wasn't designed to protect them. Those who hold the land already are figures from traditional Anishinaabe stories, like the trickster rabbit who asks Aimee for help. The art style is really enjoyable and cute, and the animals depicted are drawn in a way that pulls from traditional Anishinaabe art. Aimee is a relatable protagonist who deals with school bullies, transphobia and misgendering (definite content warning for this, although it isn't exploitative and makes a fair representation of a difficult subject in my opinion), and feeling like a misfit. Seeing their emotional journey as they go through their literal journey is lovely.
I do really wish the story had been longer. Some of it just happened so fast that I felt like I might have enjoyed it more if there had been more time to explore each of the events, but I also recognise that I'm an adult reader engaging with a children's book, so I'm sure that many readers in the target age group will find the shorter length to be more appealing and enjoyable. Additionally, while there was a translation guide at the end for all of the Anishinaabemowin words used throughout, I do wish that they had put that at the beginning or placed translations of the words at the bottom of each page.
Overall, Rabbit Chase is a cute and fun story that packs a punch with serious subjects but offers them up in a way that can help introduce kids to difficult subjects. The art is just as engaging as the story being told. It also has great nonbinary and Anishinaabe representation.
The story offers up an Alice in Wonderland story that is mixed heavily with North American Indigenous history and with Anishinaabe culture in particular. The Queen of Hearts figure is stealing the land in a similar fashion as white governments have done to Indigenous people in North America (and globally) by getting legal land rights through force and deception and manipulating Indigenous people in a court system that wasn't designed to protect them. Those who hold the land already are figures from traditional Anishinaabe stories, like the trickster rabbit who asks Aimee for help. The art style is really enjoyable and cute, and the animals depicted are drawn in a way that pulls from traditional Anishinaabe art. Aimee is a relatable protagonist who deals with school bullies, transphobia and misgendering (definite content warning for this, although it isn't exploitative and makes a fair representation of a difficult subject in my opinion), and feeling like a misfit. Seeing their emotional journey as they go through their literal journey is lovely.
I do really wish the story had been longer. Some of it just happened so fast that I felt like I might have enjoyed it more if there had been more time to explore each of the events, but I also recognise that I'm an adult reader engaging with a children's book, so I'm sure that many readers in the target age group will find the shorter length to be more appealing and enjoyable. Additionally, while there was a translation guide at the end for all of the Anishinaabemowin words used throughout, I do wish that they had put that at the beginning or placed translations of the words at the bottom of each page.
Overall, Rabbit Chase is a cute and fun story that packs a punch with serious subjects but offers them up in a way that can help introduce kids to difficult subjects. The art is just as engaging as the story being told. It also has great nonbinary and Anishinaabe representation.
readingrobin's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
erinsbookshelves's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0