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The Green Ember #1
The Green Ember
My place beside you, my blood for yours. Till the Green Ember rises, or the end of the world.
Heather and Picket are extraordinary rabbits with ordinary lives until calamitous events overtake them, spilling them into a cauldron of misadventures. They discover that their own story is bound up in the tumult threatening to overwhelm the wider world.
Kings fall and kingdoms totter. Tyrants ascend and terrors threaten. Betrayal beckons, and loyalty is a broken road with peril around every bend.
Where will Heather and Picket land? How will they make their stand?
Heather and Picket are extraordinary rabbits with ordinary lives until calamitous events overtake them, spilling them into a cauldron of misadventures. They discover that their own story is bound up in the tumult threatening to overwhelm the wider world.
Kings fall and kingdoms totter. Tyrants ascend and terrors threaten. Betrayal beckons, and loyalty is a broken road with peril around every bend.
Where will Heather and Picket land? How will they make their stand?
365 pages, Paperback
First published December 12, 2014
About the author
S.D. Smith
16 books1,754 followersS. D. Smith is the author of The Green Ember Series, a million-selling adventure saga featuring heroic #RabbitsWithSwords. The Green Ember spent time as the number one bestselling audiobook in the world on Audible. He is also the author of the madcap Mooses with Bazookas: And Other Stories Children Should Never Read as well as a fantasy adventure novel co-authored with his son, Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key. Smith’s stories are captivating readers across the globe who are hungry for “new stories with an old soul.”
Smith is a founder and owner of Story Warren, a publishing, events, and IP development house based in rural West Virginia. Story Warren exists to serve families as “allies in imagination.”
S. D. Smith lives in Grandview, West Virginia with his wife and four kids.
Smith is a founder and owner of Story Warren, a publishing, events, and IP development house based in rural West Virginia. Story Warren exists to serve families as “allies in imagination.”
S. D. Smith lives in Grandview, West Virginia with his wife and four kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,151 reviews
April 16, 2022
This series-starter opens with a brother and sister pair of dressed rabbits playing together in the field by their family home. Their friendship is evident, and reading about it invites us into a bigger story of family, friendship, and things worth fighting for. When tragedy strikes a few pages later, these two rabbits must flee, and all that they can take with them is each other. Confused and terrified, they are running away from a pack of evil wolves, and they have no idea where to go. As they run, they are unknowingly pursued by friends as well as foes. When their friends reach and rescue them, they are taken to not only a place of safety but a whole new way of life and a whole new family.
This exciting and poignant story is more Mistmantle or Narnia than Watership Down.
Before our story begins, the rabbit king of Natalia, King Jupiter Goodson, has been betrayed and killed by a consortium of wolves, birds of prey, and traitorous rabbits. At the invitation of a small group of traitorous rabbits, Morbin Blackhawk, leader of the Lords of Prey, combined forces with King Farlock and his pack of wolves to kill King Jupiter, and to also devour, enslave, and torture all of rabbit-kind.
“In the old tradition, a king made his succession clear by passing the [Green Ember] to his heir. The prince kept it as a down payment of his future inheritance and a sacred stewardship to guard while he awaited the day of his own rule. So if the crown of flames falls… the Green Ember rises.” - The Blackstar of Kingston, p. 84.
At his death, King Jupiter left behind an uncle who had always wanted the throne, a brother who was willing to betray him for the throne, and a young son to whom he had bestowed the Green Ember. In the time since the fall of King Jupiter, the lords and captains of Natalia have kept the Green Ember (the prince) hidden and safe while they worked to unite the warrens and citadels, and prepare for war with Morbin and his allies.
When Uncle Wilfred and Smalls rescue Heather and Picket from the wolf attack, they lead them to a hidden retreat called Cloud Mountain. It is here that the brother and sister learn the awful history of their family, the tragic history of their people, and make the decision to take their place in the battle against the evil that is mounting against rabbit-kind.
Part of what makes this story special is that Sam wants to invite us into the hardness of the cause without marring our hope. In an effort to help us understand what the rabbits are preparing to fight for, he brings these rabbits to the one retreat that is unlike all the other citadels and warrens. This place is special and designed to preserve and protect that which is good, true, and beautiful about the rabbit way of life. This is a place of refreshment, but it is also a place of healing and holy inspiration. The wood of Natalia has been wrecked and nearly ruined, and they are fighting to mend it.
“...there’s another kind of mending that must be done. This place is full of farmers, artists, smiths, weavers - workers of all kinds . . . this is a place dedicated to the reasons why some must fight. Here we anticipate the Mended Wood, the Great Wood healed . . . We sing about it. We paint it. We make crutches and soups and have gardens and weddings and babies. This is a place out of time. A window into the past and the future world. We are heralds . . . and we prepare with all our might, to be ready when once again we are free.” Ch 25.
One of the things that appeals to me about these books is that the relationships between the characters are very human and relatable. Heather and Picket love each other as siblings do, but they also have disagreements and get frustrated with each other.
“Picket couldn’t really explain, even to himself, why he resented Smalls. Part of him was ashamed of the way he was acting, but he just couldn’t stop. It felt so very right to be angry, and there was Smalls, just asking for it.” Ch 16.
Picket spends a good portion of the book hating Smalls. He is angry about the loss of his parents and baby brother, he is angry about the wolves and his family history, and he is angry about an injury he sustained in his flight. This young rabbit who rescues him is stronger than he is, more mature than he is, and much more capable. Smalls, who has never done anything to deserve Picket’s ire, takes all of Picket’s anger without complaint, and that just makes Picket hate him more. Picket needs a vent for his anger, and Smalls is the nearest target. This is human. This is something most of us can probably relate to. And Sam doesn’t let it stay that way. He uses that and transforms it into something profound. By the end of the book, there will be few whom Smalls will trust more than Picket, and hardly anyone that Picket will love more than Smalls.
“How many times in the last two days had she believed she was at the end of her strength, only to somehow find more?” Ch 17.
When Heather and Picket arrive at Cloud Mountain, we are treated to some delightful chapters on the beauty of the culture, the richness of the history of Natalia, and the well-developed backstories of many characters who will be essential to the series overall. But, the peace is quickly attacked. A traitor lets the enemy into the retreat as a distraction while springing a brutal trap for a key character elsewhere. Heather and Picket spring into action and do what is needed. They dig deep into their souls and find a strength they did know that they had, and a courage they never knew they would need. They rise to the occasion, and they become heroes. The second half of the story is incredibly exciting, a lot of fun to read, and full of goodness for our moral imagination.
I have read this particular story five or more times, and my children spent two years falling asleep to it every night. I could not have sent them into dreamland with better companions.
Readers of this story sometimes come back to me and tell me they didn’t love the first half of the story. Some give up on it partway through. I do understand that complaint. While I enjoyed the story, I did think that the second half was richer and more compelling than the first half. I mention that only because I think it is important that readers know that this book and The Blackstar of Kingston sometimes have mixed reviews. However, the rest of the series is beloved by so many for good reason! Like we see with so many beloved authors, first offerings are often sweet for their own reasons, but are not the pinnacle of the author’s writing. As each subsequent book was released, I felt like the stories got better, the writing itself was more confident and compelling, and the characters became more endearing. I am a particular fan of the Jo Shanks books, which are some of the later offerings. And, Prince Lander and the Dragon War, may be my favorite of them all.
I am deeply grateful for Sam’s stories. I have truly enjoyed the world of Natalia, and love how it has inspired and nourished my children. I cannot recommend these books more passionately.
This exciting and poignant story is more Mistmantle or Narnia than Watership Down.
Before our story begins, the rabbit king of Natalia, King Jupiter Goodson, has been betrayed and killed by a consortium of wolves, birds of prey, and traitorous rabbits. At the invitation of a small group of traitorous rabbits, Morbin Blackhawk, leader of the Lords of Prey, combined forces with King Farlock and his pack of wolves to kill King Jupiter, and to also devour, enslave, and torture all of rabbit-kind.
“In the old tradition, a king made his succession clear by passing the [Green Ember] to his heir. The prince kept it as a down payment of his future inheritance and a sacred stewardship to guard while he awaited the day of his own rule. So if the crown of flames falls… the Green Ember rises.” - The Blackstar of Kingston, p. 84.
At his death, King Jupiter left behind an uncle who had always wanted the throne, a brother who was willing to betray him for the throne, and a young son to whom he had bestowed the Green Ember. In the time since the fall of King Jupiter, the lords and captains of Natalia have kept the Green Ember (the prince) hidden and safe while they worked to unite the warrens and citadels, and prepare for war with Morbin and his allies.
When Uncle Wilfred and Smalls rescue Heather and Picket from the wolf attack, they lead them to a hidden retreat called Cloud Mountain. It is here that the brother and sister learn the awful history of their family, the tragic history of their people, and make the decision to take their place in the battle against the evil that is mounting against rabbit-kind.
Part of what makes this story special is that Sam wants to invite us into the hardness of the cause without marring our hope. In an effort to help us understand what the rabbits are preparing to fight for, he brings these rabbits to the one retreat that is unlike all the other citadels and warrens. This place is special and designed to preserve and protect that which is good, true, and beautiful about the rabbit way of life. This is a place of refreshment, but it is also a place of healing and holy inspiration. The wood of Natalia has been wrecked and nearly ruined, and they are fighting to mend it.
“...there’s another kind of mending that must be done. This place is full of farmers, artists, smiths, weavers - workers of all kinds . . . this is a place dedicated to the reasons why some must fight. Here we anticipate the Mended Wood, the Great Wood healed . . . We sing about it. We paint it. We make crutches and soups and have gardens and weddings and babies. This is a place out of time. A window into the past and the future world. We are heralds . . . and we prepare with all our might, to be ready when once again we are free.” Ch 25.
One of the things that appeals to me about these books is that the relationships between the characters are very human and relatable. Heather and Picket love each other as siblings do, but they also have disagreements and get frustrated with each other.
“Picket couldn’t really explain, even to himself, why he resented Smalls. Part of him was ashamed of the way he was acting, but he just couldn’t stop. It felt so very right to be angry, and there was Smalls, just asking for it.” Ch 16.
Picket spends a good portion of the book hating Smalls. He is angry about the loss of his parents and baby brother, he is angry about the wolves and his family history, and he is angry about an injury he sustained in his flight. This young rabbit who rescues him is stronger than he is, more mature than he is, and much more capable. Smalls, who has never done anything to deserve Picket’s ire, takes all of Picket’s anger without complaint, and that just makes Picket hate him more. Picket needs a vent for his anger, and Smalls is the nearest target. This is human. This is something most of us can probably relate to. And Sam doesn’t let it stay that way. He uses that and transforms it into something profound. By the end of the book, there will be few whom Smalls will trust more than Picket, and hardly anyone that Picket will love more than Smalls.
“How many times in the last two days had she believed she was at the end of her strength, only to somehow find more?” Ch 17.
When Heather and Picket arrive at Cloud Mountain, we are treated to some delightful chapters on the beauty of the culture, the richness of the history of Natalia, and the well-developed backstories of many characters who will be essential to the series overall. But, the peace is quickly attacked. A traitor lets the enemy into the retreat as a distraction while springing a brutal trap for a key character elsewhere. Heather and Picket spring into action and do what is needed. They dig deep into their souls and find a strength they did know that they had, and a courage they never knew they would need. They rise to the occasion, and they become heroes. The second half of the story is incredibly exciting, a lot of fun to read, and full of goodness for our moral imagination.
I have read this particular story five or more times, and my children spent two years falling asleep to it every night. I could not have sent them into dreamland with better companions.
Readers of this story sometimes come back to me and tell me they didn’t love the first half of the story. Some give up on it partway through. I do understand that complaint. While I enjoyed the story, I did think that the second half was richer and more compelling than the first half. I mention that only because I think it is important that readers know that this book and The Blackstar of Kingston sometimes have mixed reviews. However, the rest of the series is beloved by so many for good reason! Like we see with so many beloved authors, first offerings are often sweet for their own reasons, but are not the pinnacle of the author’s writing. As each subsequent book was released, I felt like the stories got better, the writing itself was more confident and compelling, and the characters became more endearing. I am a particular fan of the Jo Shanks books, which are some of the later offerings. And, Prince Lander and the Dragon War, may be my favorite of them all.
I am deeply grateful for Sam’s stories. I have truly enjoyed the world of Natalia, and love how it has inspired and nourished my children. I cannot recommend these books more passionately.
March 24, 2016
A potentially good story that got lost in clunky prose.
I teach freshman composition and I would never have let one of my students get away with the many awkward sentences in this book. Here's just one example:
"This sort of thing happened every few months but lately more and more. A stranger had come last month. It had been happening a lot since little Jacks was born six months before."
(Really? The word "months" used three times in three consecutive sentences?)
I teach freshman composition and I would never have let one of my students get away with the many awkward sentences in this book. Here's just one example:
"This sort of thing happened every few months but lately more and more. A stranger had come last month. It had been happening a lot since little Jacks was born six months before."
(Really? The word "months" used three times in three consecutive sentences?)
November 14, 2020
It has taken me far too long to get around to reading this. I was stymied on my first try by not being impressed at first by the audio voice and since I have been traveling all summer it was going to be audio or nothing.
July 16, 2021
I know it’s homeschool sacrilege to hate this book, but I do. I had such high hopes, envisioning Lord of the Rings meets Watership Down. But alas, Tolkien this is not. I found it truly terrible. The back story of previous wars and kings feels excessive and hard to follow, with a ridiculous number of character names that aren’t important to the story. The writing is inconsistent and character motivation is lacking. The animals are anthropomorphized in a weird way - wolves and rabbits having a chase scene through tree branches and rabbits with hands and thumbs instead of paws. Someone get this man an editor. So glad to be done with this read aloud.
August 17, 2015
I picked up this book Feb 12th, 2015 for FREE on Kindle. I think I was just browsing the free kids book section when I found it. I decided to read it soon and not put it on the back shelf with the hundreds of other books on my to read list on Goodreads. I am so glad I did.
I liked it so much I want a hardback copy.... not paperback... even though I have it for all time on my kindle. It is a book I want to read and pass down to others.
4th grade and up should be able to read it easily, maybe even third, but it is GREAT for the whole family, and would be especially great as a family read aloud. I very strongly recommended it to lovers of fantasy and furry animals everywhere... in fact read it even if you don't usually like those kinds of books. This book may turn you into a lover of these types of books... it is THAT good. I have recommended it to my kids, though they are all 18 yrs. or above now, and I will recommend it to all my Goodreads friends as well as my friends on Facebook.
The Green Ember is about two rabbits, Heather and Picket (brother and sister), who find themselves caught up in the struggle of good vs. evil. The characters have a lot of depth and are thrown into an unexpected and big adventure against long odds. They meet many friends, some long lost family and some enemies along the way. There is danger,betrayal and frequent pitfalls of some sort or another. Fighting forces die and there are many battles... but there is also hope. There are heroic deeds, loyalty, trust and wisdom given out; especially from the older animals to the younger. It is a tender story, fun, adventurous, mysterious, and surprising. It is a beautiful story, sad at times, but really wonderful.
It certainly holds your attention and you will hear many pleas to keep reading and don't stop if you are reading it aloud to your children. It is not Christian but has good values and is very well written. I would compare it to the Redwall series and like it as well as those books and it has some hints of influence from Tolkien and C.S. Lewis as well. I loved the map in the front as well and the illustrations are wonderfully done.
The story really does not end as S.D. Smith is already planning a sequel and I can't wait!!! I hope he hurries up and writes fast!!!
“‘My place beside you, my blood for yours. Till the Green Ember rises or the end of the world!’"
(a quote from the book found in many places.)
I liked it so much I want a hardback copy.... not paperback... even though I have it for all time on my kindle. It is a book I want to read and pass down to others.
4th grade and up should be able to read it easily, maybe even third, but it is GREAT for the whole family, and would be especially great as a family read aloud. I very strongly recommended it to lovers of fantasy and furry animals everywhere... in fact read it even if you don't usually like those kinds of books. This book may turn you into a lover of these types of books... it is THAT good. I have recommended it to my kids, though they are all 18 yrs. or above now, and I will recommend it to all my Goodreads friends as well as my friends on Facebook.
The Green Ember is about two rabbits, Heather and Picket (brother and sister), who find themselves caught up in the struggle of good vs. evil. The characters have a lot of depth and are thrown into an unexpected and big adventure against long odds. They meet many friends, some long lost family and some enemies along the way. There is danger,betrayal and frequent pitfalls of some sort or another. Fighting forces die and there are many battles... but there is also hope. There are heroic deeds, loyalty, trust and wisdom given out; especially from the older animals to the younger. It is a tender story, fun, adventurous, mysterious, and surprising. It is a beautiful story, sad at times, but really wonderful.
It certainly holds your attention and you will hear many pleas to keep reading and don't stop if you are reading it aloud to your children. It is not Christian but has good values and is very well written. I would compare it to the Redwall series and like it as well as those books and it has some hints of influence from Tolkien and C.S. Lewis as well. I loved the map in the front as well and the illustrations are wonderfully done.
The story really does not end as S.D. Smith is already planning a sequel and I can't wait!!! I hope he hurries up and writes fast!!!
“‘My place beside you, my blood for yours. Till the Green Ember rises or the end of the world!’"
(a quote from the book found in many places.)
April 21, 2017
This book was selected by the kids I read to each week, as it was recommended to them in their homeschool and Catholic communities. The kids (9, 11, 15) were intrigued by the rabbits, having enjoyed the Redwall series by Brian Jacques, so we each bought a copy of The Green Ember to read aloud.
I give it 2/5 stars. I agree strongly with Stacy and Hope who commented earlier--The Green Ember really needed some better editing, especially with regard to consistently depicting the characters as rabbits. It was a missed opportunity for the cuteness factor alone, but it could have also been a useful tool for, say, describing the characters’ emotions (her nose quivered, his whiskers drooped, etc.). The story itself certainly had a lot of potential; I wouldn’t say it was boring in concept, but the plot and characterization fell rather flat. The last fifty pages or so was better than the rest, IMO.
Given others’ glowing reviews about subtlety, nuance, and non-preachiness, I was really surprised at how many times the story was black-and-white, preachy, and/or trite. For example, the villains (wolves) are depicted as pure evil--their sole motivation is evilness for its own sake, not an understandable biological compulsion to kill their natural prey. I can handle that kind of suspension of disbelief for a really well-done book, but sadly, this book didn’t cut it for me.
I also have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of the high reviews are from people who bumped up an otherwise-average rating over their excitement that it’s a pretty overtly-Christian storyline. I find that sometimes people promote books for their affiliation rather than for their intrinsic quality.
I’m also not sure why some of the other reviewers propose that it can be read from a secular viewpoint, since the religiosity was laid on pretty thick.People Animals congregating to check out stained glass depicting their fallen and future king Jesus Jupiter in their church Lighthall... seems pretty obvious to me. As another example, The Green Ember had not one, but two explicit references to the pharaoh who “hardened his heart” (see Exodus 8:32, 9:12, and 14:4) while discussing Picket’s wavering faith ‘goodness’, and that’s still not even scratching the surface. S.D. Smith's obvious “Angry Atheist” depiction (see Helmer’s long rant at the end of one of the chapters) is kind of insulting, simplistic, and overdone by this point, right? We've all moved on from the depiction of atheists as believers-in-denial, right? I guess not.
The kids are very polite, of course, and pay attention while we read, but the youngest fell asleep while we were reading a few times. They received hamsters for Christmas around the same time we finished the book, and opted to name them after Redwall characters instead of after Heather and Picket, so I’m thinking this book didn’t leave much of an impression on them either. This is all fine by me--I’d much rather get back to our usual fare: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, The Phantom Tollbooth, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and a bunch of Roald Dahl.
I give it 2/5 stars. I agree strongly with Stacy and Hope who commented earlier--The Green Ember really needed some better editing, especially with regard to consistently depicting the characters as rabbits. It was a missed opportunity for the cuteness factor alone, but it could have also been a useful tool for, say, describing the characters’ emotions (her nose quivered, his whiskers drooped, etc.). The story itself certainly had a lot of potential; I wouldn’t say it was boring in concept, but the plot and characterization fell rather flat. The last fifty pages or so was better than the rest, IMO.
Given others’ glowing reviews about subtlety, nuance, and non-preachiness, I was really surprised at how many times the story was black-and-white, preachy, and/or trite. For example, the villains (wolves) are depicted as pure evil--their sole motivation is evilness for its own sake, not an understandable biological compulsion to kill their natural prey. I can handle that kind of suspension of disbelief for a really well-done book, but sadly, this book didn’t cut it for me.
I also have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of the high reviews are from people who bumped up an otherwise-average rating over their excitement that it’s a pretty overtly-Christian storyline. I find that sometimes people promote books for their affiliation rather than for their intrinsic quality.
I’m also not sure why some of the other reviewers propose that it can be read from a secular viewpoint, since the religiosity was laid on pretty thick.
The kids are very polite, of course, and pay attention while we read, but the youngest fell asleep while we were reading a few times. They received hamsters for Christmas around the same time we finished the book, and opted to name them after Redwall characters instead of after Heather and Picket, so I’m thinking this book didn’t leave much of an impression on them either. This is all fine by me--I’d much rather get back to our usual fare: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, The Phantom Tollbooth, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and a bunch of Roald Dahl.
July 10, 2015
I almost gave this a 2-star rating.
We all really wanted to LOVE this book. I think it had the components of a really good story, with some really good characters.
Two complaints: One: the editing was really poor. I don't know how many times Mark was reading aloud and stumbled because it would refer to the rabbits' HANDS (versus PAWS) or the group of PEOPLE (in a story about only RABBITS), etc. Puzzling to me that those things were not caught in a rewrite or an editing process.
Two: we all felt like the story went on and on for awhile, introducing new characters and new pieces of information that seemed unneccessary when all was said and done.
That said, we *did* finish the book, and the last couple of chapters were very good, so it wrapped up on a high note. But those who are comparing this one to Narnia need to read Narnia all over again.
We all really wanted to LOVE this book. I think it had the components of a really good story, with some really good characters.
Two complaints: One: the editing was really poor. I don't know how many times Mark was reading aloud and stumbled because it would refer to the rabbits' HANDS (versus PAWS) or the group of PEOPLE (in a story about only RABBITS), etc. Puzzling to me that those things were not caught in a rewrite or an editing process.
Two: we all felt like the story went on and on for awhile, introducing new characters and new pieces of information that seemed unneccessary when all was said and done.
That said, we *did* finish the book, and the last couple of chapters were very good, so it wrapped up on a high note. But those who are comparing this one to Narnia need to read Narnia all over again.
April 23, 2024
It's a book about bunnies. It should be all cute, and soft, and full of fun elements like Peter Rabbit.
WRONG.
This book was a page-turning, action-packed adventure that I could barely put down till I had finished it. The plot, the characters. . . . Man, this boooook!!! 🤩🤩
Perfect for fans of fantasy, Narnia, or Peter Rabbit :)
THINGS I LIKED:
The bunnies as the MCs. That was brilliant! The bonds that come with the whole story was super fun to read about.
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
I wasn't a fan of the wolves, but they were the villains, so there's that XD
PLOT:
Did I ever tell you how much I loved this plot?! I had such a hard time putting this book down, and it was really, really action-packed and full of suspense!
CHARACTERS:
I haven't read this book in a while, but I really loved Heather and Picket together. I loved how strong they were together. I also loved pretty much all the other rabbits (except that ONE GUY), and they were all likeable.
ROMANCE:
From what I remember, there might've been a little of "liking" someone else, but it never blossomed into a full-out relationship, I don't think.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Lots of death. Wars. Mentions of rabbits dying. Someone almost gets caught by the Wolves a few times, rabbits get injured, retellings of past battles, suspense.
NOTE: Even if it seems like a lot of content, but please try to keep in mind that I have to say it as is, even if the author handled everything in a very tasteful and classy way <3
AGE RANGE:
10+
I cannot WAIT to get my hand on the rest of this series!
WRONG.
This book was a page-turning, action-packed adventure that I could barely put down till I had finished it. The plot, the characters. . . . Man, this boooook!!! 🤩🤩
Perfect for fans of fantasy, Narnia, or Peter Rabbit :)
THINGS I LIKED:
The bunnies as the MCs. That was brilliant! The bonds that come with the whole story was super fun to read about.
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
I wasn't a fan of the wolves, but they were the villains, so there's that XD
PLOT:
Did I ever tell you how much I loved this plot?! I had such a hard time putting this book down, and it was really, really action-packed and full of suspense!
CHARACTERS:
I haven't read this book in a while, but I really loved Heather and Picket together. I loved how strong they were together. I also loved pretty much all the other rabbits (except that ONE GUY), and they were all likeable.
ROMANCE:
From what I remember, there might've been a little of "liking" someone else, but it never blossomed into a full-out relationship, I don't think.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Lots of death. Wars. Mentions of rabbits dying. Someone almost gets caught by the Wolves a few times, rabbits get injured, retellings of past battles, suspense.
NOTE: Even if it seems like a lot of content, but please try to keep in mind that I have to say it as is, even if the author handled everything in a very tasteful and classy way <3
AGE RANGE:
10+
I cannot WAIT to get my hand on the rest of this series!
April 12, 2019
Rabbits? That has to be something cute like Beatrix Potter’s stories, right? That’s what I thought when I heard about this book by S.D. Smith. I picked it up anyway since it looked all right and might be something my little sisters would enjoy. Rabbits, seriously? No, these rabbits are different—they have swords, and a war, and a lost king. They have a well-written, compelling story (good enough to have quotes out of it!) that surprised me with its depth of plot. The cover shows that it was probably intended for middle graders. Sorry, eight-to-twelve-year-olds, I claim it. It’s mine.
The Setting:
Set in the fantasy world of Natalia—a world very much like our own—this book had a nice heroic and medieval feel. Since it’s told from the perspective of rabbits, that made the action quite different from your usual book; and it also made the regular dangers of the forest even scarier. Seriously, imagine being able to jump around like crazy while you are sword fighting or to give a wolf a hard kick with your hind legs.
The Story:
The story was very good, better than some things I’ve read that are for older audiences! At first glance, it seems quite similar to all the other oh-wow-we’re-the-lost-heirs-of-wherever books. Not so in the least! Very surprising and satisfying. There were also great lessons on forgiveness and heart-warming (even funny!) moments along the way.
The Characters:
I loved Heather and Picket—they were so real. (I even forgot they were rabbits at some points.) Emma, Gort, Uncle Wilfred, and Smalls were also great favorites of mine. I found Kyle and Helmer intriguing and couldn’t wait to find out who they really were.
The Concerns:
Parents should have caution in choosing this book for younger readers because of some intense, un-graphic action and some bad attitude that is later resolved. Also, SPOILER ALERT!!!! Heather and Picket’s home is burnt by some pretty scary wolves, and they don’t know what happened to their parents and baby brother. And because they are rabbits when they are underground there is mention of creepy creatures chasing them and the wolves do threaten to eat them sometimes. And, SPOILER ALERT AGAIN!!! massive battle at the end does mention rabbits being dead or wounded.
So—read this book!!!!! I found it to be an awesome, well-written story! It is actually the second book, but it can pretty much stand-alone.
The Setting:
Set in the fantasy world of Natalia—a world very much like our own—this book had a nice heroic and medieval feel. Since it’s told from the perspective of rabbits, that made the action quite different from your usual book; and it also made the regular dangers of the forest even scarier. Seriously, imagine being able to jump around like crazy while you are sword fighting or to give a wolf a hard kick with your hind legs.
The Story:
The story was very good, better than some things I’ve read that are for older audiences! At first glance, it seems quite similar to all the other oh-wow-we’re-the-lost-heirs-of-wherever books. Not so in the least! Very surprising and satisfying. There were also great lessons on forgiveness and heart-warming (even funny!) moments along the way.
The Characters:
I loved Heather and Picket—they were so real. (I even forgot they were rabbits at some points.) Emma, Gort, Uncle Wilfred, and Smalls were also great favorites of mine. I found Kyle and Helmer intriguing and couldn’t wait to find out who they really were.
The Concerns:
Parents should have caution in choosing this book for younger readers because of some intense, un-graphic action and some bad attitude that is later resolved. Also, SPOILER ALERT!!!! Heather and Picket’s home is burnt by some pretty scary wolves, and they don’t know what happened to their parents and baby brother. And because they are rabbits when they are underground there is mention of creepy creatures chasing them and the wolves do threaten to eat them sometimes. And, SPOILER ALERT AGAIN!!! massive battle at the end does mention rabbits being dead or wounded.
So—read this book!!!!! I found it to be an awesome, well-written story! It is actually the second book, but it can pretty much stand-alone.
August 8, 2016
My 10 year old recommended this to me and she was spot on. Fantastic story, or rather fantastic first installment of a larger story. Smith writes a fun, captivating, moving story with all the elements a great story should have.
January 12, 2023
The pacing, character development, and plot of this book are spectacular. I love this book, have loved it ever since I read it the first time, and giving it any type of criticism is going to emotionally tax me. You have been warned.
October 6, 2022
3.5 Stars ✨
“ All of life is a battle against fear. We fight it on one front, and it sneaks around to our flank.”
Siblings Heather and Picket thought they were just ordinary rabbits until a visitor shows up and their life is thrown into chaos. After a tragic incident, they both embark on a journey of self discovery and learn to grow up in a whole new world.
What a great start to what I’m sure will be an epic coming of age adventure. I can’t believe I just read a book about rabbits with swords and enjoyed it! I actually totally forgot for most of the book I was reading about rabbits, it was so character driven. The story starts off with a bang and had a couple of slow moments in the middle but it’s mainly laying the backstory out, then really picks up in the end. It was so neat to read about this clan of rabbits trying to rebuild a community that was lost - kind of reminds me of a mild children's version of LOTR. The Green Ember is a wonderful story for all ages. Full of adventure, family, friendship, forgiveness and hope. Highly recommend!
“ All of life is a battle against fear. We fight it on one front, and it sneaks around to our flank.”
Siblings Heather and Picket thought they were just ordinary rabbits until a visitor shows up and their life is thrown into chaos. After a tragic incident, they both embark on a journey of self discovery and learn to grow up in a whole new world.
What a great start to what I’m sure will be an epic coming of age adventure. I can’t believe I just read a book about rabbits with swords and enjoyed it! I actually totally forgot for most of the book I was reading about rabbits, it was so character driven. The story starts off with a bang and had a couple of slow moments in the middle but it’s mainly laying the backstory out, then really picks up in the end. It was so neat to read about this clan of rabbits trying to rebuild a community that was lost - kind of reminds me of a mild children's version of LOTR. The Green Ember is a wonderful story for all ages. Full of adventure, family, friendship, forgiveness and hope. Highly recommend!
December 21, 2020
I picked this up because, well, I was sick and thought that would probably be a good time for talking rabbits (Don't ask me why). Honestly, I was very surprised when I got to the second story and actually had trouble putting down the book because it was so tense. That's not the kind of thing I expect from a book about rabbits.
But inside this book, I found an incredible amount of tension. Many thought-provoking moments and a whole lot of conviction about needing to have a good attitude.
Overall, I am very happy I picked up this book. I can't wait to get the rest of the series.
2020>> I loved this, even more, the second time around. Somehow I tend to forget just how tense and deep this book is. I love all these characters and the lessons they teach. I look forward to re-reading the rest of the series.
But inside this book, I found an incredible amount of tension. Many thought-provoking moments and a whole lot of conviction about needing to have a good attitude.
Overall, I am very happy I picked up this book. I can't wait to get the rest of the series.
2020>> I loved this, even more, the second time around. Somehow I tend to forget just how tense and deep this book is. I love all these characters and the lessons they teach. I look forward to re-reading the rest of the series.
November 23, 2016
Rabbits with swords! An epic drama complete with a missing heir, wicked wolves and a rabbit resistance. Although this is arguably a type of Lord of the Rings for children, there is enough here to interest older people. I read this to see if it is suitable for my eight year old son and there is enough complexity in the plot for me to wonder if he would understand the sweeping drama of this. What I did especially like was young Picket's struggle with resentment, how he realises on one level he is wrong but doesn't want to change and his journey with that. And what an epic finish!!!
And love these lines: "I accept you". "I am accepted". Lots of stick-in-your-head slogans here.
And love these lines: "I accept you". "I am accepted". Lots of stick-in-your-head slogans here.
September 9, 2019
While my story tastes (generally not in children's fiction) may not make me the ideal reader for this book, the story was quite good and found myself enjoying a number of aspects about the book. Smith is a talented writer and he pulls off some rather fantastic characterization and character arcs in this book that I rather appreciated. Not sure yet whether or not I'll continue in the series since it's not my kind of book, but I'd definitely recommend it to other readers who enjoy this type of children's fiction!
Rating: 3.5-4 Stars (Good).
Rating: 3.5-4 Stars (Good).
July 29, 2024
Rereading a favorite is like coming home! Especially with this series!🩵
For those who don't know, GE was basically my introduction to books other than classics, and I was reluctant to read it because...rabbits with swords? Common on, I was fourteen... but these books quickly swept me up in the adventure, and I couldn't get enough of them!
Characters:
Heather is nice. She's not my favorite character, but I did appreciate her more on this read through and how hard she works to keep it all together for Picket.
Picket is one of my favorites, y'all! His anger, his brooding, his arch through the whole story! I love him!
SMALLS! I loved him from the moment he came onto the page! *hugs*
Uncle Wilfred is always a big favorite of mine! I just love this guy!
Helmer! *hugs*
Emma! Lord Rake! Heyward! Kyle... so many good characters, y'all!
Themes:
Acting despite our fear. Moving forward, doing the right thing, overcoming grief...etc there are so many little strands, and I love this series!
Language:
N/A
Romance:
N/A
Overall:
I love these books, and I'm so excited to final reread and review them all! It's been ages...lol...I read these books so many times while we were moving...probably close to 10 times each, so they are a big part of me.
I highly recommend them to anyone with kids ages 8+!
So good!
For those who don't know, GE was basically my introduction to books other than classics, and I was reluctant to read it because...rabbits with swords? Common on, I was fourteen... but these books quickly swept me up in the adventure, and I couldn't get enough of them!
Characters:
Heather is nice. She's not my favorite character, but I did appreciate her more on this read through and how hard she works to keep it all together for Picket.
Picket is one of my favorites, y'all! His anger, his brooding, his arch through the whole story! I love him!
SMALLS! I loved him from the moment he came onto the page! *hugs*
Uncle Wilfred is always a big favorite of mine! I just love this guy!
Helmer! *hugs*
Emma! Lord Rake! Heyward! Kyle... so many good characters, y'all!
Themes:
Acting despite our fear. Moving forward, doing the right thing, overcoming grief...etc there are so many little strands, and I love this series!
Language:
N/A
Romance:
N/A
Overall:
I love these books, and I'm so excited to final reread and review them all! It's been ages...lol...I read these books so many times while we were moving...probably close to 10 times each, so they are a big part of me.
I highly recommend them to anyone with kids ages 8+!
So good!
March 5, 2024
“My place beside you, my blood for yours, 'till the Green Ember rises, or the end of the world!”
—S.D. Smith, The Green Ember
Rating: ★★★★★
Cleanness: ★★★
This was such a good book!!! Think The Chronicles of Narnia meets The Tale of Peter Rabbit! I love this adventure story! It’s perfect for the spring/summer season! I highly recommend it for read aloud story time! I think this is a good book for younger readers and middle grade (though older readers can read it and love it)!
There are some fight scenes with injuries and blood and deaths. There are some intense scenes and moments that could be harder for younger readers (that’s why reading it aloud as a family can be really good)! There are also some more emotional scenes (don’t let this being a bunny story make you think it’s just a sweet story (it is but also with fighting and tear jerker moments)).
I love the GROWTH the characters go on! It’s so good! I love seeing the characters grow up and mature!
Smalls is my FAVORITE!!! I’m so excited to see what happens with his character in the next book! And of course all the other characters especially with that ENDING!
“Picket,” he said quietly, “stay angry. It’s okay if it’s at me, for now. If you aren’t angry about the wicked things happening in the world all around, then you don’t have a soul.”
I think I relate to Heather the most! <3
Picket! I love Picket! He needs a hug. I love seeing his transformation from the beginning of the book to the end.
“Good morning, Ladybug,” Helmer said, his voice a guttural rasp, as though the air he used to speak was passing through a rusty old gate.
“Good morning … Wasp?” Picket said.
“Ha,” Helmer chuckled. “I like that. But you will call me Master, child.”
“Yes, Masterchild,” Picket said.
“Well, obviously you have a deep, soul-level need for humility.”
Also, this is a spoiler but I have a theory and I want to see if I’m right. I’ll check back after I finish the series to see if I’m right or really off XD…
I’m so excited to read the rest of this series!!!
This is also surprisingly the first time I’ve finished this novel. I’ve started it at least two other times with my siblings and we only ever reach the halfway point before we always stop even though we all love the story. XD
Finally I needed to know what happened so I started reading (listening) to this book myself! Now I need to tell my sister to read it because I think she’ll love it and I wonder if she will cry or at least get teary eyed like I did.
I highly recommend reading! S.D. Smith is also a Christian writer so you see Christian themes and messages as well as it is clean (besides for the fighting and deaths as I’ve before)! Otherwise, I highly recommend it! 10/10
Now on to the next book!
| EDIT: first impressions after reading |
This book is SOOOOO GOOD!!! <3
June 2, 2020
This book is such a gem.
The poignant, touching moments like when in his frustration Picket shuts out those who want to help him and hurts his sister in the process--
"I hope so," Heather said, swallowing a sob. "It's like I've lost him too. I've lost all my family."
--are masterfully balanced with action and humor, which is why this series appeals to a wide audience.
The scenes themselves are detailed enough to create a picture in the readers mind without getting bogged down with superfluous descriptions. I especially loved how one rabbit was said to be "smiling like he was put on the earth for the purpose of smiling."
And the reasons behind why characters behave the way they do are valid and reasonable. There's no drama, no stereotypical characters doing something just for the sake of doing it. There's a meaning to everything, and that's what makes the characters real and relatable.
But most of all, I loved how loyal the siblings were to each other, how they gave up what they wanted in order to benefit and look out for the best interests of each other. The fact that this is so rare in modern fiction makes it so much more exciting to see.
This book appeals to adults, children, and everyone in between. I gave it to five guys of various ages who all enjoyed it, and I think this book has no age limit.
The poignant, touching moments like when in his frustration Picket shuts out those who want to help him and hurts his sister in the process--
"I hope so," Heather said, swallowing a sob. "It's like I've lost him too. I've lost all my family."
--are masterfully balanced with action and humor, which is why this series appeals to a wide audience.
The scenes themselves are detailed enough to create a picture in the readers mind without getting bogged down with superfluous descriptions. I especially loved how one rabbit was said to be "smiling like he was put on the earth for the purpose of smiling."
And the reasons behind why characters behave the way they do are valid and reasonable. There's no drama, no stereotypical characters doing something just for the sake of doing it. There's a meaning to everything, and that's what makes the characters real and relatable.
But most of all, I loved how loyal the siblings were to each other, how they gave up what they wanted in order to benefit and look out for the best interests of each other. The fact that this is so rare in modern fiction makes it so much more exciting to see.
This book appeals to adults, children, and everyone in between. I gave it to five guys of various ages who all enjoyed it, and I think this book has no age limit.
April 24, 2018
I've been hearing so much about this book over the last couple years, it's been on my list forever - and I finally listened to the audiobook! Derek and I decided to read this one together, so that made it all the more fun to me.
In this book, two rabbits, Heather and Pickett, find themselves on the run after their home is destroyed. They end up in a community with other rabbits who have been displaced since their leader, King Jupiter, was killed. Then they find out some information about Jupiter's heir, and their own family's identity, that sends them reeling.
This book is sort of like Lord Of The Rings meets rabbits, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it! I've never read anything like this before, so I am finding the whole premise of "noble rabbits" very interesting. This first book feels kind of like the setup to the continuing story. It took me a little bit to get into it, but by the time I reached the end I wanted to see what happens next! Good thing I have the second book already waiting in my Audible app...
In this book, two rabbits, Heather and Pickett, find themselves on the run after their home is destroyed. They end up in a community with other rabbits who have been displaced since their leader, King Jupiter, was killed. Then they find out some information about Jupiter's heir, and their own family's identity, that sends them reeling.
This book is sort of like Lord Of The Rings meets rabbits, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it! I've never read anything like this before, so I am finding the whole premise of "noble rabbits" very interesting. This first book feels kind of like the setup to the continuing story. It took me a little bit to get into it, but by the time I reached the end I wanted to see what happens next! Good thing I have the second book already waiting in my Audible app...
April 28, 2015
The Green Ember
A roaring tale of rabbits with hearts of gold. A brother and his brave sister struggle to survive in a world gone crazy with wonton destruction. This is non-stop with eye opening revelations no one can imagine. Get this book or kindle version you will treasure it, as have I.
A roaring tale of rabbits with hearts of gold. A brother and his brave sister struggle to survive in a world gone crazy with wonton destruction. This is non-stop with eye opening revelations no one can imagine. Get this book or kindle version you will treasure it, as have I.
June 19, 2019
DNF 55%
*rant loading*
Unfortunately I've got to the point where I can't see myself continuing. This book started off really promising and I was thinking I'd enjoy it a lot. After awhile I found myself stopping after only a few pages and then forcing myself later to pick it back up and read a few more.
Now I've hit the point where I'm not even picking it up after days of not reading to even push myself through 2 pages.
I'm one of those people who can't get into a book if there's one consistent thing that's a problem for me. And for The Green Ember that was Picket.
Poor Picket. I'm alone in this as most everyone loves this book(and I'm so sad I wasn't one of them) and the ones who dislike it seem to for different reasons.
But my issue is the treatment of Picket. Picket is supposed to be this "beastly" character that resembles Edmund or Eustace from Narnia. You're not meant to like him. You're meant to think he's being a selfish, horrible person. It's clear the author is trying to write him that way and I think most readers will just fall in line with the author's attempted portrayal.
I disagree though with him being the problem.
To break it down a bit more. Picket loses his parents and baby brother early in the book. Now both Picket and his sister, Heather, have very little reaction to this and a very delayed reaction at that.
They don't ask after their family for quite some time and then seem to accept that they're just "gone". I struggled to accept that as a believable reaction as they loved their family and had a great relationship with them.
Then when they finally do ask their uncle he tells them that they're gone and if they're not dead that they are as good as dead so they might as well just accept it and believe they're dead.
WHAT THE HECK! Who says that to two little kids?
And Heather accepts this. Picket less so but he quickly gets smacked down by Smalls the trophy perfect character.
Picket shook his head. "I can't believe they've been taken."
"Get used to it, lad," Smalls said.
...
"Sorry if I'm upset that we just lost our family."
What follows is Picket venting his frustration about being called lad and telling Smalls how would he know how he feels and don't tell me how to talk/think, etc.
This ends with Smalls saying, "stay angry. It's okay if it's at me, for now. If you aren't angry about the wicked things happening in the world all around, then you don't have a soul."
This annoyed me to no end. The kid is right. He did just lose his family and he's a CHILD. Smalls constantly talking down to him and the way the characters seem to think Picket shouldn't react and just move on is insane. IT'S CRAZY.
Things don't get better as Picket trips while trying to run faster and gets hurt and apparently that's his fault because he was "worrying about Smalls." Yet the whole bit about him running faster you can see he's just scared of the wolves seeing him and that's why he increases his pace. It had nothing to do with Smalls.
When they are in need of medical attention they meet Emma--the physician's assistant. Thanks to Heather she picks up the habit of calling Picket names. "Captain Grouchypants. Shuffler. Fractured Footfellow." Now it's one thing to joke around with someone to try and cheer them up if it's WORKING. But Picket does not smile or laugh or anything when Emma's poking at him. He clearly is not enjoying her constantly calling him Shuffler.
But the way it's all written it's like we're intended to think Emma's behavior is fine and Picket's the one with the problem.
I'm sorry, but I hope if a child ever loses their family or if ANYONE loses someone important that this is not how people think we should treat them.
Picket is ALWAYS shown to be in the wrong.
For example the lovely scene where he's starting to perk up and smile and laugh. Then(and he's on crutches) he slips and slides across the floor to find himself at the wrong end of a spear and a rabbit being aggressive with him.
He hobbles to his feet and this is ALL he says, "All right, all right! You don't have to be so harsh."
That's it.
But as they're walking away Emma's telling them how it's the guard's job and gives the GUARD an apologetic look. And Picket says, "It's his job to be rude?"
To which Emma reinforces that it's his job. And goes on to explain blah blah blah he's protecting us all.
Heather's response is, "Picket, we should really apologize to the guard. He was only doing his job."
I feel like I've been dropped into some backwards universe. Even if I can buy it's his job it doesn't mean that Picket did anything wrong. He didn't mean to trip. Tripping isn't something wrong. And he didn't hurt or break anything that would require an apology(as sometimes even accidents that do harm require an apology). And all he said was you don't have to be so harsh.
But CLEARLY he's the one in the wrong. He's the one that needs to apologize.
Picket's all like, screw this crap and says he's going to his room.
Heather and Emma bemoan poor Picket's behavior and how it's like he's gone too. Blah blah. Heather makes a rare comment on her family and how they're gone. To which Emma's response(let's reinforce that Emma just met them YESTERDAY) is "Well, sister, you've got me now."
.....
I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS ONLY BOTHERING ME!
"I'm so sad because I just lost my family like 2-3 days ago."
"You've got me, a perfect stranger now. So it's all okay."
Picket heads back to their rooms. Encounters a door that won't open for some reason. He gets frustrated--he's had a bad few days--and smacks the door with a crutch and shouts, "open this door."
Again he ends up the floor with a spear pointed at him. Only mr. goody two shoes Smalls is there going, "what have you done this time?"
FOR REAL!? Let's just assume Picket's done something wrong. And "this time??" it's not like he's been doing things wrong!
Smalls stalks him back to his room and says, "when someone tries to break a door down, they have to act."
Picket starts to defend himself by saying he wasn't trying to break it down but just gives up. To be honest, I don't blame the kid.
Then Smalls goes on to defend the fact he keeps calling Picket "lad" despite Picket's hate of it. I'm like if someone doesn't want you to call them something I DON'T CARE IF YOU THINK IT'S OKAY you don't continue to call them that. This is just basic human interaction.
All of this wraps up with Smalls forcing himself into Picket's room and giving him a long lecture with some of the highlights being lines like "You're not the only one bad things have happened to." and "You're not the only one who's lost someone they love." and "You have got to pull yourself together and stop moping around, feeling sorry for yourself."
The end of that scene was where I was just done.
I have not seen one other review that sees things the way I do, which makes me think I'm in the Twilight zone or something.
I'm pretty sure this whole business is going to continue with Picket probably making a major mistake and then having his redemption moment. He'll become a better bunny, say sorry to everyone, and they'll graciously accept his apology. Blah blah blah.
It's not that Picket didn't do ANYTHING wrong or that some of his issues weren't silly.
It's how everyone is treating a child--or any person--who's suffered major loss. They brush it under rug, invalidate his feelings, tell him he needs to get over it, call him names, tell him he's not the only one who's had bad things happen(isn't that like on the top of the list of things NOT to say to someone who's had something horrible happen??), etc.
These are NOT ways we treat someone who's lost a loved one. We respect their wish to not be called something. We treat them with kindness, grace, and we sit down by them and say, "Hey, I know this is all hard for you. You've lost your home, you're in a new place with a bunch of strangers, and you've just lost your family. Do you want to talk about it?"
I mean there is so many things we can do to help a person who is hurting. None of them happen. No one just sat by him in silence to show that he's not alone. No one asked him if he wanted to talk about it. No one said, "I lost my ____. And I know how much that hurts. Would you like to talk about it?"
SOMETHING.
Quick list of my issues.
1. Unbelievable reactions to the loss of loved ones
2. Tons of questions but answers are almost non-existent.
3. Lots of threads that aren't answered(or even wondered about) in a timely fashion(such as can someone finish our father's half-told story. Who were the strangers that kept coming to our house?
4. (Major) The portrayal of Picket and how he was treated.
This is clean. It does have a running allegorical theme. I did not agree with the comparisons to famous works such as Narnia, LotR, or Watership Down. Watership Down is my FAVORITE book and the only similarities is that this has rabbits as the main characters and the two MC's lose their home and have to leave.
*rant loading*
Unfortunately I've got to the point where I can't see myself continuing. This book started off really promising and I was thinking I'd enjoy it a lot. After awhile I found myself stopping after only a few pages and then forcing myself later to pick it back up and read a few more.
Now I've hit the point where I'm not even picking it up after days of not reading to even push myself through 2 pages.
I'm one of those people who can't get into a book if there's one consistent thing that's a problem for me. And for The Green Ember that was Picket.
Poor Picket. I'm alone in this as most everyone loves this book(and I'm so sad I wasn't one of them) and the ones who dislike it seem to for different reasons.
But my issue is the treatment of Picket. Picket is supposed to be this "beastly" character that resembles Edmund or Eustace from Narnia. You're not meant to like him. You're meant to think he's being a selfish, horrible person. It's clear the author is trying to write him that way and I think most readers will just fall in line with the author's attempted portrayal.
I disagree though with him being the problem.
To break it down a bit more. Picket loses his parents and baby brother early in the book. Now both Picket and his sister, Heather, have very little reaction to this and a very delayed reaction at that.
They don't ask after their family for quite some time and then seem to accept that they're just "gone". I struggled to accept that as a believable reaction as they loved their family and had a great relationship with them.
Then when they finally do ask their uncle he tells them that they're gone and if they're not dead that they are as good as dead so they might as well just accept it and believe they're dead.
WHAT THE HECK! Who says that to two little kids?
And Heather accepts this. Picket less so but he quickly gets smacked down by Smalls the trophy perfect character.
Picket shook his head. "I can't believe they've been taken."
"Get used to it, lad," Smalls said.
...
"Sorry if I'm upset that we just lost our family."
What follows is Picket venting his frustration about being called lad and telling Smalls how would he know how he feels and don't tell me how to talk/think, etc.
This ends with Smalls saying, "stay angry. It's okay if it's at me, for now. If you aren't angry about the wicked things happening in the world all around, then you don't have a soul."
This annoyed me to no end. The kid is right. He did just lose his family and he's a CHILD. Smalls constantly talking down to him and the way the characters seem to think Picket shouldn't react and just move on is insane. IT'S CRAZY.
Things don't get better as Picket trips while trying to run faster and gets hurt and apparently that's his fault because he was "worrying about Smalls." Yet the whole bit about him running faster you can see he's just scared of the wolves seeing him and that's why he increases his pace. It had nothing to do with Smalls.
When they are in need of medical attention they meet Emma--the physician's assistant. Thanks to Heather she picks up the habit of calling Picket names. "Captain Grouchypants. Shuffler. Fractured Footfellow." Now it's one thing to joke around with someone to try and cheer them up if it's WORKING. But Picket does not smile or laugh or anything when Emma's poking at him. He clearly is not enjoying her constantly calling him Shuffler.
But the way it's all written it's like we're intended to think Emma's behavior is fine and Picket's the one with the problem.
I'm sorry, but I hope if a child ever loses their family or if ANYONE loses someone important that this is not how people think we should treat them.
Picket is ALWAYS shown to be in the wrong.
For example the lovely scene where he's starting to perk up and smile and laugh. Then(and he's on crutches) he slips and slides across the floor to find himself at the wrong end of a spear and a rabbit being aggressive with him.
He hobbles to his feet and this is ALL he says, "All right, all right! You don't have to be so harsh."
That's it.
But as they're walking away Emma's telling them how it's the guard's job and gives the GUARD an apologetic look. And Picket says, "It's his job to be rude?"
To which Emma reinforces that it's his job. And goes on to explain blah blah blah he's protecting us all.
Heather's response is, "Picket, we should really apologize to the guard. He was only doing his job."
I feel like I've been dropped into some backwards universe. Even if I can buy it's his job it doesn't mean that Picket did anything wrong. He didn't mean to trip. Tripping isn't something wrong. And he didn't hurt or break anything that would require an apology(as sometimes even accidents that do harm require an apology). And all he said was you don't have to be so harsh.
But CLEARLY he's the one in the wrong. He's the one that needs to apologize.
Picket's all like, screw this crap and says he's going to his room.
Heather and Emma bemoan poor Picket's behavior and how it's like he's gone too. Blah blah. Heather makes a rare comment on her family and how they're gone. To which Emma's response(let's reinforce that Emma just met them YESTERDAY) is "Well, sister, you've got me now."
.....
I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS ONLY BOTHERING ME!
"I'm so sad because I just lost my family like 2-3 days ago."
"You've got me, a perfect stranger now. So it's all okay."
Picket heads back to their rooms. Encounters a door that won't open for some reason. He gets frustrated--he's had a bad few days--and smacks the door with a crutch and shouts, "open this door."
Again he ends up the floor with a spear pointed at him. Only mr. goody two shoes Smalls is there going, "what have you done this time?"
FOR REAL!? Let's just assume Picket's done something wrong. And "this time??" it's not like he's been doing things wrong!
Smalls stalks him back to his room and says, "when someone tries to break a door down, they have to act."
Picket starts to defend himself by saying he wasn't trying to break it down but just gives up. To be honest, I don't blame the kid.
Then Smalls goes on to defend the fact he keeps calling Picket "lad" despite Picket's hate of it. I'm like if someone doesn't want you to call them something I DON'T CARE IF YOU THINK IT'S OKAY you don't continue to call them that. This is just basic human interaction.
All of this wraps up with Smalls forcing himself into Picket's room and giving him a long lecture with some of the highlights being lines like "You're not the only one bad things have happened to." and "You're not the only one who's lost someone they love." and "You have got to pull yourself together and stop moping around, feeling sorry for yourself."
The end of that scene was where I was just done.
I have not seen one other review that sees things the way I do, which makes me think I'm in the Twilight zone or something.
I'm pretty sure this whole business is going to continue with Picket probably making a major mistake and then having his redemption moment. He'll become a better bunny, say sorry to everyone, and they'll graciously accept his apology. Blah blah blah.
It's not that Picket didn't do ANYTHING wrong or that some of his issues weren't silly.
It's how everyone is treating a child--or any person--who's suffered major loss. They brush it under rug, invalidate his feelings, tell him he needs to get over it, call him names, tell him he's not the only one who's had bad things happen(isn't that like on the top of the list of things NOT to say to someone who's had something horrible happen??), etc.
These are NOT ways we treat someone who's lost a loved one. We respect their wish to not be called something. We treat them with kindness, grace, and we sit down by them and say, "Hey, I know this is all hard for you. You've lost your home, you're in a new place with a bunch of strangers, and you've just lost your family. Do you want to talk about it?"
I mean there is so many things we can do to help a person who is hurting. None of them happen. No one just sat by him in silence to show that he's not alone. No one asked him if he wanted to talk about it. No one said, "I lost my ____. And I know how much that hurts. Would you like to talk about it?"
SOMETHING.
Quick list of my issues.
1. Unbelievable reactions to the loss of loved ones
2. Tons of questions but answers are almost non-existent.
3. Lots of threads that aren't answered(or even wondered about) in a timely fashion(such as can someone finish our father's half-told story. Who were the strangers that kept coming to our house?
4. (Major) The portrayal of Picket and how he was treated.
This is clean. It does have a running allegorical theme. I did not agree with the comparisons to famous works such as Narnia, LotR, or Watership Down. Watership Down is my FAVORITE book and the only similarities is that this has rabbits as the main characters and the two MC's lose their home and have to leave.
September 21, 2020
Age Appropriate For: 8 and up for some mild violence and mildly scary scenes
Best for Ages: 8-20
I have heard so much good about this series, but I wasn’t really interested until my youngest sister started going on about it. I decided to give it a try. I can now see why these books are so loved.
This book is so much more than I first thought it would be. I mean, I know my sister said that it was emotional, but somehow, I still expected it to be cuter than anything else. I mean, we are talking about bunnies you know. Umm…cute would not be the main way I would describe this book.
This is the story of two siblings who have to deal with hardships, find courage, and discover who they were meant to be. I love how they face it together. This is very much a sibling story, along the lines of Narnia. Siblings that have to rise to a great challenge ahead of them.
What makes this story so powerful though? I’ll tell you why. Heather and Picket both experience trauma at the beginning of the story and they are both grieving the loss of what they used to have. They both deal with it in two very different ways. Even as an adult, I felt like I came away understanding better how to relate to someone who reacts to hardships differently. Yet, I can’t help but think about what an amazing tool this would be to help a child who either has experienced some trauma or has had a friend who has.
While the animals talk and whatnot, there isn’t magic or superpowers in this book. It relays heavily on many real-world relationships with animals (wolves and hawks are the bad guys for the most part). It’s easy to see the settings in your mind, yet they also have a differentness about them that makes it fun.
There is a lot of talk of battles, enemies, preparing for war, and such. There is a couple of battle scenes with some mild descriptions of injuries. Very young or very sensitive readers might not want to read this.
I highly recommend this book as a great family read-aloud book, for those who love sibling stories, and those who live talking animal tales.
Best for Ages: 8-20
I have heard so much good about this series, but I wasn’t really interested until my youngest sister started going on about it. I decided to give it a try. I can now see why these books are so loved.
This book is so much more than I first thought it would be. I mean, I know my sister said that it was emotional, but somehow, I still expected it to be cuter than anything else. I mean, we are talking about bunnies you know. Umm…cute would not be the main way I would describe this book.
This is the story of two siblings who have to deal with hardships, find courage, and discover who they were meant to be. I love how they face it together. This is very much a sibling story, along the lines of Narnia. Siblings that have to rise to a great challenge ahead of them.
What makes this story so powerful though? I’ll tell you why. Heather and Picket both experience trauma at the beginning of the story and they are both grieving the loss of what they used to have. They both deal with it in two very different ways. Even as an adult, I felt like I came away understanding better how to relate to someone who reacts to hardships differently. Yet, I can’t help but think about what an amazing tool this would be to help a child who either has experienced some trauma or has had a friend who has.
While the animals talk and whatnot, there isn’t magic or superpowers in this book. It relays heavily on many real-world relationships with animals (wolves and hawks are the bad guys for the most part). It’s easy to see the settings in your mind, yet they also have a differentness about them that makes it fun.
There is a lot of talk of battles, enemies, preparing for war, and such. There is a couple of battle scenes with some mild descriptions of injuries. Very young or very sensitive readers might not want to read this.
I highly recommend this book as a great family read-aloud book, for those who love sibling stories, and those who live talking animal tales.
February 19, 2019
This was a good read, but did not captivate me enough to pull me in for the entire series. I enjoyed watching Heather and Picket, but had a difficult time remaining engaged. The prose seemed clunky and it took so long to find out what the Green Ember even was. Really thought I would love this one more, but despite the Christian allegory aspect I just didn't love it like I have C.S. Lewis or Tolkien.
October 16, 2017
Overall Impression:
Okay, guys, from reading several of my Goodreads friends reviews I knew this book was gonna be great. I have wanted to read it for quite a while now, so I was uber excited when I purchased it on kindle this last Friday night. I read a lot over the weekend and finished today.
The Green Ember is a story that pulls you in and won’t let go until you have finished it, and even then, you are want, need, the next book! The story was incredible, the characters deep and involving, and the plot superb!
Another thing I greatly appreciated about this book was the fact that it was one hundred percent acceptable for children AND one hundred percent a legit story! So many books written for children are either dumbed down, as if the authors think that kids can’t understand anything that isn’t simple, or they hold waaaay to many grown up ideals/aspects. To find a series that is a rollicking adventure full of deep story that is as clean as a baby’s behind is awesome!
I recommend this story to all readers! Families, kids, teens, and adults will all enjoy this fun adventure! It has great depth, story, and characters! I hope that this book becomes as famed as it deserves to be! It is an epic story worth the read!
Characters:
Heather was such a great, strong character! I can’t wait to see what becomes of her in Ember Falls. What made Heather so amazing was that she wasn’t trying to be awesome! She wasn’t one of those I-can-kick-rear, I-am-strong-and-independent, don’t-touch-me-I’m-tough, types. Her character was one of was warmth, love, and self-sacrifice. She was brave, kind-hearted, and a warrior when it came to her family. Her moments of absolute epicness came from her just doing the right thing! She wasn’t showing off, she wasn’t out to prove something, she was protecting those she cared about and doing a dang good job!
Picket was a bit more difficult in some parts than Heather. He was out to prove something. His character motivations were written very well. And while sometimes he could be a pain in the neck it didn’t stop his true self from shining through to the reader. He is a fighter! A fighter who is overcoming his fears and will do anything to protect those he cares about! His absolute awesomeness in the end was great! I loved the redemption he brought to his family name!
Uncle Wilfred and Smalls were great characters! Their interaction was written so well! It speaks of a deep love and history beyond what we have seen! I loved these characters, Mr. S. D. Smith did a wonderful job!
Helmer was an absolute jerk! But I loved the parts of the story with him in it! I foresee great things and redemption for his character! He has far to go but has also come far!
Emma, Kyle, Gort, Lord Rake, Maggie, and all the other background/secondary characters were done profoundly well too! I really enjoyed the development and history of these characters and this story!
Plot:
The Green Ember starts off showing the soft pace of life which Heather and Picket live in. It’s beautiful, simple, and happy. It brings to mind several scenes from the Shire in Lord of the Rings. But, quickly, the plot takes off with unexpected events. Heather and Picket are tossed into a world of violence, intrigue, and secrets!
Themes of hope, despair, and treachery are all mixed into this fun adventure. The Green Ember has the history and feeling of a fantasy epic. The stories of the great King Jupiter, Captain Blackstar, and Whitson Mariner all develop the world and give it a feeling of reality.
The setting of most of the book is very unique and exciting. I won’t spoil it by telling you all about it, but it’s pretty epic.
Some of the plot ideas are at first appearance akin to Redwall. However, I find The Green Ember much more enjoyable than Redwall. It’s characters are far more relatable, the story much deeper, and the world of Natalia so much more real!
Wrap Up:
To reiterate all I’ve already said, the characters were superb and plot amazing! I loved this story and greatly hope that someday when I have this thing called money, (:D) I will be able to buy all the books, both paperback and audio, as well as fan apparel! I love this story and cannot wait to go and read Ember Falls. Well done, Mr. S. D. Smith! I applaud you!
Warnings:
Language/Profanity: None
Violence/Frightening Scenes/Gore: Some mild descriptions of injuries. A lot of fighting, family of MC’s are taken by evil characters, torture alluded to, death talked about, rabbits die, some scary scenes where MC’s are pursued by bad characters. Would recommend for ages 4+.
Sex/Nudity: None
Okay, guys, from reading several of my Goodreads friends reviews I knew this book was gonna be great. I have wanted to read it for quite a while now, so I was uber excited when I purchased it on kindle this last Friday night. I read a lot over the weekend and finished today.
The Green Ember is a story that pulls you in and won’t let go until you have finished it, and even then, you are want, need, the next book! The story was incredible, the characters deep and involving, and the plot superb!
Another thing I greatly appreciated about this book was the fact that it was one hundred percent acceptable for children AND one hundred percent a legit story! So many books written for children are either dumbed down, as if the authors think that kids can’t understand anything that isn’t simple, or they hold waaaay to many grown up ideals/aspects. To find a series that is a rollicking adventure full of deep story that is as clean as a baby’s behind is awesome!
I recommend this story to all readers! Families, kids, teens, and adults will all enjoy this fun adventure! It has great depth, story, and characters! I hope that this book becomes as famed as it deserves to be! It is an epic story worth the read!
Characters:
Heather was such a great, strong character! I can’t wait to see what becomes of her in Ember Falls. What made Heather so amazing was that she wasn’t trying to be awesome! She wasn’t one of those I-can-kick-rear, I-am-strong-and-independent, don’t-touch-me-I’m-tough, types. Her character was one of was warmth, love, and self-sacrifice. She was brave, kind-hearted, and a warrior when it came to her family. Her moments of absolute epicness came from her just doing the right thing! She wasn’t showing off, she wasn’t out to prove something, she was protecting those she cared about and doing a dang good job!
Picket was a bit more difficult in some parts than Heather. He was out to prove something. His character motivations were written very well. And while sometimes he could be a pain in the neck it didn’t stop his true self from shining through to the reader. He is a fighter! A fighter who is overcoming his fears and will do anything to protect those he cares about! His absolute awesomeness in the end was great! I loved the redemption he brought to his family name!
Uncle Wilfred and Smalls were great characters! Their interaction was written so well! It speaks of a deep love and history beyond what we have seen! I loved these characters, Mr. S. D. Smith did a wonderful job!
Helmer was an absolute jerk! But I loved the parts of the story with him in it! I foresee great things and redemption for his character! He has far to go but has also come far!
Emma, Kyle, Gort, Lord Rake, Maggie, and all the other background/secondary characters were done profoundly well too! I really enjoyed the development and history of these characters and this story!
Plot:
The Green Ember starts off showing the soft pace of life which Heather and Picket live in. It’s beautiful, simple, and happy. It brings to mind several scenes from the Shire in Lord of the Rings. But, quickly, the plot takes off with unexpected events. Heather and Picket are tossed into a world of violence, intrigue, and secrets!
Themes of hope, despair, and treachery are all mixed into this fun adventure. The Green Ember has the history and feeling of a fantasy epic. The stories of the great King Jupiter, Captain Blackstar, and Whitson Mariner all develop the world and give it a feeling of reality.
The setting of most of the book is very unique and exciting. I won’t spoil it by telling you all about it, but it’s pretty epic.
Some of the plot ideas are at first appearance akin to Redwall. However, I find The Green Ember much more enjoyable than Redwall. It’s characters are far more relatable, the story much deeper, and the world of Natalia so much more real!
Wrap Up:
To reiterate all I’ve already said, the characters were superb and plot amazing! I loved this story and greatly hope that someday when I have this thing called money, (:D) I will be able to buy all the books, both paperback and audio, as well as fan apparel! I love this story and cannot wait to go and read Ember Falls. Well done, Mr. S. D. Smith! I applaud you!
Warnings:
Language/Profanity: None
Violence/Frightening Scenes/Gore: Some mild descriptions of injuries. A lot of fighting, family of MC’s are taken by evil characters, torture alluded to, death talked about, rabbits die, some scary scenes where MC’s are pursued by bad characters. Would recommend for ages 4+.
Sex/Nudity: None
July 7, 2016
Anyone who has known me for any considerable amount of time knows that I am a lover of stories. I am a voracious reader and I tend to agree with Erasmus in that “when I get a little money I buy books; if any is left, I buy food and clothes.” I have been known to hunt down out-of-print titles and stalk eBay for hard to find editions for months on end. I have broken the wheels on suitcases under the weight of my bounty from library sales. If it seems to outsiders like I am on a mission, it is because I am.
I believe in the power of stories. I believe that stories form us by nourishing our souls and ordering what our hearts love. I believe that stories provide the fertile soil in which Truth, Goodness, and Beauty can take root in our hearts and eventually grow into Wisdom and Virtue. I am drawn to stories that kindle the moral imagination and echo to us the whispers of the Great Storyteller. And when I find these kinds of stories, I want to shout it from the rooftops. That is why, over the past 18 months, my friends have heard me gush once or twice (or a few dozen times) over my love for The Green Ember by S.D. Smith.
The Green Ember has been called “a new story with an old soul,” and I believe that is a fitting description. Although it was Smith’s first novel, it seems as if it could have been written generations ago. It is full of the adventure, heroism, mystery, and virtue that distinguishes stories of old, yet it resonates today with readers of all ages.
“You can choose what you believe…but you can’t change what’s true.”
It seems strange at first to think that a story about anthropomorphic rabbits would be as beloved by adults as it is by the children for whom it is written. But it’s true. After the first few chapters, I was absolutely captivated by Heather and Picket and their adventure and peril. Perhaps that is because the character development is superb and the plot is so well thought out. It truly is a good story in the old-fashioned sense. But what enthralled me the most, I think, is the way that the story, as seen through the eyes of the main characters, is told in such a way that I felt as if I become a part of it. Heather and Picket’s world comes undone at the beginning of the book, and they get caught up in the peril and calamity of the wider world around them. They realize how their little lives are very much linked to the bigger story going on around them, and I walked with them through that discovery and on the journey to become who they truly are. It made me think, in a very profound way, about my own life and the bigger story of which I am a part. I want to summon Heather’s fortitude and Picket’s courage as I face the calamity that is the world around me.
“All of life is a battle against fear. We fight it on one front, and it sneaks around to our flank.”
Don’t be mistaken; these characters are not perfect. They display the same flaws that many of us see in ourselves. There is selfishness, cowardice, and even betrayal. There is uncertainty and true peril. There is very real pain. But nothing is gratuitous and it is the peril and pain that shape the characters into who they were born to be.
“Growing up is terribly wonderful. But often it’s also wonderfully terrible.”
The Green Ember is written for middle grades, but it has been enjoyed immensely as a read-aloud by our entire family. My six-year-old, my husband, and I all rated it as one of our very favorite books last year. Because of the anthropomorphized animals and Christian themes that permeate the story, it has been compared to C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, and I would say that it is also of similar level and intensity, particularly The Last Battle. This is a book that deeply nourishes the moral imagination and kingdom longing in our children, and it deserves to have a permanent place on the shelf of every family library.
I believe in the power of stories. I believe that stories form us by nourishing our souls and ordering what our hearts love. I believe that stories provide the fertile soil in which Truth, Goodness, and Beauty can take root in our hearts and eventually grow into Wisdom and Virtue. I am drawn to stories that kindle the moral imagination and echo to us the whispers of the Great Storyteller. And when I find these kinds of stories, I want to shout it from the rooftops. That is why, over the past 18 months, my friends have heard me gush once or twice (or a few dozen times) over my love for The Green Ember by S.D. Smith.
The Green Ember has been called “a new story with an old soul,” and I believe that is a fitting description. Although it was Smith’s first novel, it seems as if it could have been written generations ago. It is full of the adventure, heroism, mystery, and virtue that distinguishes stories of old, yet it resonates today with readers of all ages.
“You can choose what you believe…but you can’t change what’s true.”
It seems strange at first to think that a story about anthropomorphic rabbits would be as beloved by adults as it is by the children for whom it is written. But it’s true. After the first few chapters, I was absolutely captivated by Heather and Picket and their adventure and peril. Perhaps that is because the character development is superb and the plot is so well thought out. It truly is a good story in the old-fashioned sense. But what enthralled me the most, I think, is the way that the story, as seen through the eyes of the main characters, is told in such a way that I felt as if I become a part of it. Heather and Picket’s world comes undone at the beginning of the book, and they get caught up in the peril and calamity of the wider world around them. They realize how their little lives are very much linked to the bigger story going on around them, and I walked with them through that discovery and on the journey to become who they truly are. It made me think, in a very profound way, about my own life and the bigger story of which I am a part. I want to summon Heather’s fortitude and Picket’s courage as I face the calamity that is the world around me.
“All of life is a battle against fear. We fight it on one front, and it sneaks around to our flank.”
Don’t be mistaken; these characters are not perfect. They display the same flaws that many of us see in ourselves. There is selfishness, cowardice, and even betrayal. There is uncertainty and true peril. There is very real pain. But nothing is gratuitous and it is the peril and pain that shape the characters into who they were born to be.
“Growing up is terribly wonderful. But often it’s also wonderfully terrible.”
The Green Ember is written for middle grades, but it has been enjoyed immensely as a read-aloud by our entire family. My six-year-old, my husband, and I all rated it as one of our very favorite books last year. Because of the anthropomorphized animals and Christian themes that permeate the story, it has been compared to C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, and I would say that it is also of similar level and intensity, particularly The Last Battle. This is a book that deeply nourishes the moral imagination and kingdom longing in our children, and it deserves to have a permanent place on the shelf of every family library.
July 16, 2015
This is a wonderful story full of adventure, friendship, betrayal, and redemption. That the characters are Rabbits only adds to the delight, and the pacing sweeps you into a worthwhile tale not to be soon forgotten.
Picket and Heather, a brother and sister who live in a peaceful wood, are beginning to learn about their family history i their Father's bedtime tales. But when their home suffers a perilous attack from wolves, their family is separated. Heather and Picket have to fight for their lives. Soon they are joined by their uncle and his mysterious ward who guides them to a safe warren. Here they gain loyal friends, but also more than a few cold skeptics.
While finding their place in the community, Heather and Picket's family connections only add to the rising tension in the warren. Rumors of a coming attack from the wolves, the unsettled longing for King Jupiter's heir to rise, and the whole community's yearning for their true home all collide into a test of loyalty and character.
Some of my favorite characters and imagery included Heather the budding Storyteller, Smalls, the Gardens, Maggie O'Sage, "The Mended Wood," the stained glass windows(!!), Uncle Wilfred's faithfulness, Emma's journey to becoming a doctor, and of course the flaming crown jewel, the Green Ember. I also love the importance placed on craftsmanship, the necessity of art, and everyone's skill having weight within the community. (And I hope we get better acquainted with Picket and Heather's parents in a future book!) The whole book is a gem I can't wait to share with my children someday.
The styling, character arcs, pacing, and imagery are all artful and compelling. Beautiful scenes of home, purpose in one's work, and loyalty are deepened by the honest depictions of exile, the consequences of treachery, bitterness, and fighting for one's home. Not only a book of action, it's a thought-provoking tale that glories in the good, the true, and the beautiful.
Directed to younger readers, it's a book the whole family will enjoy as a read-aloud. Having just finished the audiobook, I'm already starting it again to better savor the details and characters I love.
Picket and Heather, a brother and sister who live in a peaceful wood, are beginning to learn about their family history i their Father's bedtime tales. But when their home suffers a perilous attack from wolves, their family is separated. Heather and Picket have to fight for their lives. Soon they are joined by their uncle and his mysterious ward who guides them to a safe warren. Here they gain loyal friends, but also more than a few cold skeptics.
While finding their place in the community, Heather and Picket's family connections only add to the rising tension in the warren. Rumors of a coming attack from the wolves, the unsettled longing for King Jupiter's heir to rise, and the whole community's yearning for their true home all collide into a test of loyalty and character.
Some of my favorite characters and imagery included Heather the budding Storyteller, Smalls, the Gardens, Maggie O'Sage, "The Mended Wood," the stained glass windows(!!), Uncle Wilfred's faithfulness, Emma's journey to becoming a doctor, and of course the flaming crown jewel, the Green Ember. I also love the importance placed on craftsmanship, the necessity of art, and everyone's skill having weight within the community. (And I hope we get better acquainted with Picket and Heather's parents in a future book!) The whole book is a gem I can't wait to share with my children someday.
The styling, character arcs, pacing, and imagery are all artful and compelling. Beautiful scenes of home, purpose in one's work, and loyalty are deepened by the honest depictions of exile, the consequences of treachery, bitterness, and fighting for one's home. Not only a book of action, it's a thought-provoking tale that glories in the good, the true, and the beautiful.
Directed to younger readers, it's a book the whole family will enjoy as a read-aloud. Having just finished the audiobook, I'm already starting it again to better savor the details and characters I love.
August 1, 2023
Okay, I'm hooked.
Full Review:
Honestly, sometimes middle grade fiction are the best stories. Clean and uplifting, without any teenage year's drama to muddle them. And this series fits the bill perfectly. A battle against good and evil, a fight that inspires truth and goodness, and a war for hope and victory. We all face these in our lives, not outright, but wars and battles and fights within ourselves. For truth, for goodness, for what's right. This is definitely as series I would love to read aloud to my kids.
Heather and Picket are endearing characters, happy-go-lucky young rabbits whose world gets turned on its head, as they are sent on adventures that spiral them deeper and deeper into danger and closer and closer to the truth about who they are. It's a gripping read that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time! The author weaves an enchanting world marred by the effects of evil, but a small remnant keeps hope alive, despite impossible odds.
This is a story every child needs to hear. A story of hope. A story of light.
Full Review:
Honestly, sometimes middle grade fiction are the best stories. Clean and uplifting, without any teenage year's drama to muddle them. And this series fits the bill perfectly. A battle against good and evil, a fight that inspires truth and goodness, and a war for hope and victory. We all face these in our lives, not outright, but wars and battles and fights within ourselves. For truth, for goodness, for what's right. This is definitely as series I would love to read aloud to my kids.
Heather and Picket are endearing characters, happy-go-lucky young rabbits whose world gets turned on its head, as they are sent on adventures that spiral them deeper and deeper into danger and closer and closer to the truth about who they are. It's a gripping read that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time! The author weaves an enchanting world marred by the effects of evil, but a small remnant keeps hope alive, despite impossible odds.
This is a story every child needs to hear. A story of hope. A story of light.
April 11, 2022
There are few books I would dare to give five stars. My high standards for literature and picky taste when it comes to writing is not often satisfied. I can think of only three series that I would award such an honour as full marks. One is The Lord of the Rings, another The Chronicles of Narnia.
This series is the third and the highest on my list of sacred favourites, above, even, those masterpieces I have mentioned above. Why? Because they changed my life. They can just as well change yours if you give them a chance.
It wasn't the smooth flow of the writing, the clever dialogue, or the plethora of wonderful characters that made me fall in love with these books (though S.D. Smith has supplied all of those). Nor was it the way they made me laugh and cry, cry as I've never cried before.
It was the quiet, pulsing hope and passion that imbues the pages of Master Smith's stories and shines through them like a torch in the dead of night. Yes, a torch! The light in these stories burns on the fuel of a hope and passion far greater than any mortal emotion. Nay, these stories are built upon the solid love of someone greater than all of us!
They burn, spurring us into action against those dark forces in our world that are not fiction. And they burn, reminding us that He will return one day.
This is what has been branded on my heart: The battle isn't fiction, nor are the powers. But neither is courage, neither is braver, and neither is the Hero.
It is something so simple, yet it changed the course of my life forever. Everything changed when I read those words...
"The Green Ember burns, the seed of the new world smoulders. Healing is on the horizon, but a fire comes first. Bear the flame."
Read on, fellow soldier, and find a legend.
This series is the third and the highest on my list of sacred favourites, above, even, those masterpieces I have mentioned above. Why? Because they changed my life. They can just as well change yours if you give them a chance.
It wasn't the smooth flow of the writing, the clever dialogue, or the plethora of wonderful characters that made me fall in love with these books (though S.D. Smith has supplied all of those). Nor was it the way they made me laugh and cry, cry as I've never cried before.
It was the quiet, pulsing hope and passion that imbues the pages of Master Smith's stories and shines through them like a torch in the dead of night. Yes, a torch! The light in these stories burns on the fuel of a hope and passion far greater than any mortal emotion. Nay, these stories are built upon the solid love of someone greater than all of us!
They burn, spurring us into action against those dark forces in our world that are not fiction. And they burn, reminding us that He will return one day.
This is what has been branded on my heart: The battle isn't fiction, nor are the powers. But neither is courage, neither is braver, and neither is the Hero.
It is something so simple, yet it changed the course of my life forever. Everything changed when I read those words...
"The Green Ember burns, the seed of the new world smoulders. Healing is on the horizon, but a fire comes first. Bear the flame."
Read on, fellow soldier, and find a legend.
Shelved as 'interrupted-or-dnf'
July 16, 2016I stopped reading because it feels like a kiddie book, but it's not bad. Some reviewers compared this to the engrossing novel Watership Down, so I picked up a copy. WD appeals to me even now, as an adult, while The Green Ember feels like a good animal adventure story for children.
Rabbits as heroes. In Green Ember, the rabbits are humanized. Total anthropomorphism. Personification. Whatever. These bunnies wear spectacles, adorn themselves with a pretty bow, build fires, fight with swords, skipper ships, etc.
In Watership Down the rabbits have a great adventure (similar to this book) but they always act like rabbits: being afraid of carnivorous birds and mammals to the point of becoming petrified with fear; having no conception of machinery, boats, trains, and other human inventions; eating at dawn and dusk while resting in the afternoon; communicating with their ears, noses, feet, and tails; showing affection by touching noses and grooming one another (not putting their "arms" around each other).
Rabbits as heroes. In Green Ember, the rabbits are humanized. Total anthropomorphism. Personification. Whatever. These bunnies wear spectacles, adorn themselves with a pretty bow, build fires, fight with swords, skipper ships, etc.
In Watership Down the rabbits have a great adventure (similar to this book) but they always act like rabbits: being afraid of carnivorous birds and mammals to the point of becoming petrified with fear; having no conception of machinery, boats, trains, and other human inventions; eating at dawn and dusk while resting in the afternoon; communicating with their ears, noses, feet, and tails; showing affection by touching noses and grooming one another (not putting their "arms" around each other).
June 20, 2022
Rating - 4.5 stars
Ah, this was so fabulous! It was heart-warming and adventurous at the same time. There were many sweet moments and many moments that keep you on the edge of your seat. Smith writes in a way that keeps you turning the page and keeps you wondering what's going to happen next. I will admit that some parts were a little slow, but for the most part, the pacing was pretty fast. I do wish that there was more action, but that's why appreciated the battle at the end. It was extremely descriptive, and I could feel my pupils getting bigger haha!
I loved the characters. Honestly, Picket was pretty annoying to me for the first half of the book because of his stubbornness. However, what I loved was how it helped to develop his character, causing him to mature more later on. And Heather has such a sweet demeanor that makes her extremely loveable. She reminds me of a stuffed animal that you'd want to always just hug and never want to let it go.
Overall, this book was captivating and the cliff-hanger makes me want to read the next book! If you like The Wingfeather Saga or Redwall, you'd love the Green Ember!
Ah, this was so fabulous! It was heart-warming and adventurous at the same time. There were many sweet moments and many moments that keep you on the edge of your seat. Smith writes in a way that keeps you turning the page and keeps you wondering what's going to happen next. I will admit that some parts were a little slow, but for the most part, the pacing was pretty fast. I do wish that there was more action, but that's why appreciated the battle at the end. It was extremely descriptive, and I could feel my pupils getting bigger haha!
I loved the characters. Honestly, Picket was pretty annoying to me for the first half of the book because of his stubbornness. However, what I loved was how it helped to develop his character, causing him to mature more later on. And Heather has such a sweet demeanor that makes her extremely loveable. She reminds me of a stuffed animal that you'd want to always just hug and never want to let it go.
Overall, this book was captivating and the cliff-hanger makes me want to read the next book! If you like The Wingfeather Saga or Redwall, you'd love the Green Ember!
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