Watership Down Review

Review by Kate Marie

Pages: 474 Stars: ⅖ Ages: 10+

Synopsis: Watership Down is the story of a handful of rabbits in search of a new warren. One of the rabbits, Fiver, has an ominous dream that convinces him the rabbits must leave the warren. The Chief Rabbit is unmoved, but 9 rabbits flee the warren with Fiver and his brother under the leadership of a rabbit named Hazel.  

Along their journey, the rabbits tell stories of a legendary rabbit, El-ahrairah, and his many adventures.

Rabbits find a very nice place called Cowslip’s Warren. They tell a story about El-ahrairah in a competition that has an unsettling result. They quickly move on, joined by a new rabbit, Strawberry, when they find out that there is a farmer who is snaring the rabbits.

Next, they find a beautiful field, Watership Down, with everything they need except for does.  Holly and Bluebell, from their original home, find them and tell them their warren has been poisoned.  Kehaar is a wounded bird they make friends with and get him to search for does.  He finds some at a place called Efrafa, and they set out to bring some back. 

This does not go well and the rabbits come home hurt and scared of the leader of the warren, General Woundwort.  Convinced they must have the does, they create a plan to sneak nearby and send Bigwig on his own into Efrafa, posing as a wild rabbit to free some does. With help from Hyzenthlay and Kehaar, they all escape from Efrafa. They are tracked by a patrol from Efrafa, however, and General Woundwort and his officers pursue them. 

Hazel oversees work to defend the warren, Dandelion & Blackberry release the dog from the farmhouse, and Bigwig faces General Woundwort and miraculously defeats him. In the end, there are three happy, full warrens and Hazel lives a long rabbit life.

Parents: Cowslip’s Warren is disturbing and General Woundwort displays traits of a psychopath. I worry about this book for younger readers as it is intense, but not necessarily inappropriate.