This book was reviewed in "The Literature Base" vol 17, issue 4, October 2006.
"The Rabbits" is definitely a picture book for older readers, many of whom will be familiar with Marsden's YA novels. It has been descibed as both an allegory and a metaphor on the colonisation of Australia. The 'original' rabbits symbolise Aboriginal Australians in both text - "many grandparents ago" - and illustration - rounded, warm and brown with white stripes. The 'invading' rabbits, by contrast, are linear, cold, jagged.
More and more rabbits come to the land, bringing technology and grand plans for expansion. Students of History will recognise that, like the First Fleet, the rabbits arrive in thirteen ships. Their flag is a red and gold variation of the Union Jack.
The illustrations change as the story progresses; originally vivid and glorious, they become sepia and macabre. Original rabbit children are stolen, invading rabbits live by the code that "Might = Right" and the end of the book is overwhelmingly sad and hopeless.
This amazing book is beautiful, devastating, symbolic, rich and relevant. It could be used in a multitude of ways in the secondary classroom; contrast it with "Watership Down" or "Play little victims", analyse it in Australian History, decipher the illustrations in Art, complete an English unit on allegories ... this book offers a realm of possibilities.
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