Reviews – Page 17 – BookBunnies

Caramel reviews The Silence of Water by José Saramago

José Saramago was a Portuguese writer who received the 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature for his “parables sustained by imagination, compassion and irony [with which he] continually enables us once again to apprehend an elusory reality.” Today Caramel is talking to Sprinkles about The Silence of Water by Saramago, a picture book published in English in 2023. (The original Portuguese version was published in 2011). The book was translated into English by Margaret Jull Costa and was illustrated by Yolanda Mosquera.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, today we are talking about a picture book.

Caramel: Yes, it is called The Silence of Water.

S: Can you tell us what it is about?

C: Sure. It is about this kid, the author, who goes fishing, and catches this big fish, a barbel, and he tries to pull it out, but the fish is too strong and escapes. It just pulls his fishing rod and everything with it too.

S: Ouch!

C: Yes, so the boy is annoyed, and he runs back to his home and gets another fishing rod and stuff and gets back to the pond and tries to catch the barbel again. He waits and waits, until the night falls. But he fails to catch it ever again.

S: Hmm, that is the whole story, right?

C: Yes, it is short.

S: So what do you think about it?

C: I think it is good, but I kind of wished it was a little bit longer. There are many pages with just pictures in them. So there is a lot more room for more words. But they chose not to put more words.

S: Do you think that could be intentional? Maybe they wanted to make you feel the “silence”, without too many words.

C: I guess that makes sense, yeah, I can see the thinking that the writer may have had. The many wordless pages are really quiet, and you do sort of feel, or even hear, the silence.

S: I’d say many of the scenes have a serenity to them. Except the times the boy is running of course!

C: I guess so. It’s kind of cool.

S: The illustrations made me remember a couple books you reviewed before. Albert’s Quiet Quest and Colette’s Lost Pet, both by Isabelle Arsenault, and Captain Rosalie by Timothee De Fombelle. All three of those books had somewhat sparse illustrations, and quite limited color palettes, kind of like this book.

C: Yeah, I can see that. There is definitely a fixed and limited color scheme, and it looks kind of like a jungle, which may have been the idea.

S: Overgrown nature all around the boy, right? But it is not the wet green of the jungle; it is a lot more subdued. Though there are some reds and blacks too.

C: Yep, the contrast was pretty good.

Caramel is reading The Silence of Water by José Saramago. — Caramel is reading *The Silence of Water* by José Saramago.

S: Okay, so why do you think the book is titled The Silence of Water? Which water is it?

C: The pond, I think.

S: And in the pond, the barbel. The barbel is silent, too, right? The boy never gets to see or hear from it again?

C: Maybe, that could explain it.

S: Why do you think the author wrote this book, Caramel? What do we get out of it as readers?

C: it was the fact that he never stopped trying to catch the fish, so the theme is to never give up.

S: I can see that Caramel. A great analysis! Did you know that the text is actually an excerpt from the author’s memoir Small Memories, originally published in Portuguese in 2006? At the back cover it says that it is taken from a story of his childhood, “a tale of quiet conviction”.

C: Huh, I think “conviction” is a big word for a lot of young bunnies.

S: You are right it is a big word. But you know what it means, right? It means more or less what you said. It means determination. It means having a belief or opinion but very firmly held. So the boy was determined to catch the fish. And it was impossible, and he more or less knew it was impossible, but he still gave it his all. And in the end, in most such stories, we often see the main character succeeding. So the moral becomes if you persist, you will eventually win. But this boy does not win. He does not get the fish. What do you say to that?

C: Well, that makes sense. The boy does not get the fish, but he knows he tried. And he also says in the end that he still left his mark on the fish. The fish is still his in some way. Though it is a bit morbid to say that. Because the mark he left on the fish is probably a big wound. The fish is probably wounded by the fishing hook and stuff. So he did leave a mark. But I am not sure I like the mark. Poor fish.

S: You have a good point Caramel. The fish is hurt most likely. But then again maybe, since it is such a big and powerful fish, maybe it will be alright. And there will only be a little scar left.

C: Huh, that’s a good way to see that. I hope so. And then it would be kind of like a memory. And the boy could feel that he made an impression. And it would not be so morbid. Okay, I will take it like that.

S: Yes, let us do that. Then the boy’s story of determination, or of “conviction” like the book tells us, is still inspiring. The boy did not give up. And it was impossible, and he did fail, in the most straightforward meaning of the word, but he did leave his mark. And he did not give up. So he does end the book in an upbeat tone.

C: Yes, he does, I guess. I was trying to understand why. This helped.

S: Talking things out with you always helps me, too, Caramel. So overall, did you find this book worthwhile?

C: Yeah, it is a quick read, and the pictures are lovely, and when you dig into the determination thingy, it has a deeper message, too. Yes, overall, I like it! And I think other little bunnies could enjoy it, too!

S: That is great, thank you Caramel. So let us wrap this up, because it is getting really late.

C: Yes. I should sleep soon.

S: What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading The Silence of Water by José Saramago and recommends it to other young bunnies looking for a quiet book. — Caramel enjoyed reading *The Silence of Water* by José Saramago and recommends it to other young bunnies looking for a quiet book.

Marshmallow reviews The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

This week, Marshmallow decided to take on Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Originally published in 1985, this book is about a dystopian near-future where women’s lives are extremely constrained and their rights are almost nonexistent, and it might be a bit more challenging for some of our young readers than our usual fare.

Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you like books about terrifying dystopian futures, then this is the book for you!

Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): Offred is a handmaiden in Gilead who has been given to a Commander to conceive his child. Gilead is set in the north east of what used to be the United States and was established after the President, Congress, and the U.S. government were violently overthrown by the Sons of Jacob, a radical political group. The rebels set up a system that puts women as second-class citizens with no rights. This happens gradually. Early on, the Sons and the army say some of the measures are for security purposes, such as closing down roads and increasing surveillance. But eventually, women’s bank accounts are shut off and they are let go from their jobs.

Reading the signs, Offred (who had an unknown name before), her husband Luke, and her daughter attempt to flee to Canada. But Luke’s divorce with a previous wife is not valid according to Gilead’s new laws, making Offred an adulteress. They try to run away, but Offred is caught and taken away from her family. Her husband’s fate remains unknown, but her daughter is confirmed to be given to parents that firmly believe in Gilead’s ideals. Offred is taken to the Rachel and Leah Re-education Center or Red Center, in which she is taught to be a handmaiden. Amidst declining birth rates, increased infertility, and climate disasters, Gilead’s new system of birth is forcing fertile women to conceive. Handmaidens are forcibly impregnated by the leading elite—Commanders—in Ceremonies.

More generally, all people in Gilead are sorted into a structure, and power is concentrated solely at the top in the hands of certain white men. (The fate of non-white people is not described in the book.) Women are sorted into several categories: Wives who wear blue (who are married to the Commanders but have no physical or emotional bond with them), Aunts who wear brown (who re-educate Handmaids), Handmaids who wear red (who are forced to procreate with their assigned Commander, but have no relationship with anyone), Marthas who wear green (cooks, servants, etc.), Econowives who wear striped clothing (wives of lower ranking men), and so on.

The government watches its people with Eyes, who are like a secret police so that no one knows who to trust. Everyone lives in fear, but some truly believe that this is an improvement.

Offred is assigned to a Commander to bear him a child, and she is renamed Offred presumably because his name is Fred (Of Fred; all the Handmaids are named like that, like Ofwarren, Ofglen, etc.) The Commander’s Wife is Serena Joy, a former televangelist who pushed for Gilead’s extreme take of the Bible—which is used to justify the new way of life. Now, confined to home with a husband who does not love her, she realizes that the whole thing might have been a bad idea.

This Commander feels that Serena Joy does not understand him, so he invites Offred to play Scrabble with him. In this manner, they develop a peculiar bond, a sort of mutated friendship. However, Offred knows that she can never truly be friends with the man who literally has the power of life or death over her.

The Commander argues that life is much better now, and tries to convince Offred of this. At the same time, Offred’s assigned partner (for getting groceries in a very formal, terse manner) Ofglen reveals herself to be a member of a resistance group. Offred yearns for a way out, but at the same time finds herself becoming attached to the Commander’s personal servant.

What will happen to Offred? And what about Gilead?

Marshmallow is reading The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. — Marshmallow is reading *The Handmaid’s Tale* by Margaret Atwood.

Marshmallow’s Review: The Handmaid’s Tale is a hard book to read, especially for a female bunny. It is definitely not appropriate for young bunnies. The book progresses in a very disturbing way. The ending is not definite, but it leaves a mark.

I read this book initially because I’d started hearing a lot more about it recently. Many people have begun to compare Gilead to the present United States of America, especially after the recent TV series adaptation of it. Some parallels do exist and are becoming more apparent, which is very saddening and truly terrifying. This book shows a distorted version of the United States, one which will hopefully never come to pass. But the geography certainly makes the book feel more urgent and too close for comfort. (Other books that depict possible dystopian futures for the United States, like Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng and The Hunger Games series, come to mind.)

I must say that The Handmaid’s Tale is definitely not a children’s book. Sex and sexual activity are frequently discussed—especially since Offred’s very existence is due to her fertility and ability to conceive. The world of Gilead is also in itself extremely harrowing. Political prisoners are killed by mobs at Prayvaganzas, hangings are regularly showcased at the Wall, women are ceremoniously raped, and there’s a lot of discourse about suicide. It’s a very dark book.

However, reading The Handmaid’s Tale makes one more motivated to fight for equal rights. While books like We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie make clear-eyed arguments, this book depicts the chilling effects of what a world with no rights for women could be like. Offred’s mother was an activist who fought for those rights, which Offred remembers during several flashbacks. Those flashbacks are instrumental to the nuance of this book. They show the subtle ways in which the world changed, until it had transformed into a monstrous beast that couldn’t be cured.

The Handmaid’s Tale should also serve as a warning and as a reminder that democracy must be protected. Once again, as I mentioned in my review of On Tyranny: Graphic Edition by Timothy Snyder and Nora Krug, freedom is not free. This is a resounding message that has been echoed by so many people, in so many books, throughout so many different times.

It is interesting that the author does say that other countries have not changed like Gilead. In fact, it is implied that some of the states did not submit to the Sons of Jacob. There are references to war every now and then. But the way in which the narrative flows is really a testament to the author’s prowess. It leaves the reader with an understanding of how Offred feels because of how confused and disturbed and angry and anxious and traumatized the plot leaves one.

I would definitely recommend The Handmaid’s Tale to everyone, but once they can handle it and they can understand the reason for reading such a book: to understand why equal rights for all are so important.

Marshmallow’s Rating: 100%

Marshmallow rates The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 100%. — Marshmallow rates *The Handmaid’s Tale* by Margaret Atwood 100%.

Caramel reviews Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #9: Major Impossible by Nathan Hale

Caramel has been going through the books in the Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series one by one and today he is talking to Sprinkles about Major Impossible, the ninth book in the series by Nathan Hale, first published in 2019.

Sprinkles: So today we are talking about another Nathan Hale book. This is called Major Impossible. Can you please tell us about it?

Caramel: It is about a guy named John Wesley Powell, who started a journey to the Grand Canyon, and nearly died multiple times.

S: Wow! That sounds fascinating! So when is this happening?

C: 1869.

S: Cool. Okay, so why does he nearly die multiple times? Tourists go to the Grand Canyon by the millions today.

C: Well, at that time, it was not as safe, and they had to go through all of the rapids and things. The Colorado River is a serious, big river.

S: I can see that. The place is a lot more accessible today but I think it is still a place where people could get hurt if they are not careful. And Caramel, you have not been to the Grand Canyon yet. Did this book make you want to visit it?

C: No, I feel safer here, thank you very much.

S: I like that you feel safe at home but Caramel, I do hope you will see the Grand Canyon some time. It is the only monument I have seen, natural or manmade, that I think is more impressive than its best promotional pictures. So I do hope one day you will get the chance to experience that.

C: Maybe I will, but not for a while.

S: Yes, maybe when you are a bit older, we can go there together on a family trip.

C: That may be interesting.

S: Okay, back to the book. Why is it titled Major Impossible?

C: Well, John Wesley Powell was a major in the Union army during the Civil War. And he is trying to do something that seems almost impossible. So Major and Impossible. I think it makes sense.

S: Yes, it sure does.

Caramel is reading Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #9: Major Impossible by Nathan Hale. — Caramel is reading *Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #9: Major Impossible* by Nathan Hale.

S: So is the book only about John Wesley Powell and his Grand Canyon expedition? Or do we learn more about the Canyon or the Colorado River? Or do we learn more about Powell’s life before the expedition or after?

C: We learn about his childhood and what led to his interesting life. For example, when he was a little kid, he was hit with a rock because his father was disliked by everyone in his town for being a preacher. This made him very angry. He was working hard and not being appreciated.

S: Hmm, that is rough.

C: Yep, it feels so unfair!

S: Yes, and any child would be sad and angry. Does the book also talk about Powell’s life after the expedition? Apparently, he served as the second director of the U.S. Geological Survey from 1881 to 1894.

C: Huh, that’s cool to know. But no, the book does not go there.

S: Does it then end with the successful completion of the expedition?

C: Yeah, it does. But at the end of the book, after the “The End” note, there are a few more pages about what happened to the others on the team. A couple died, but many of them lived.

S: I know you enjoy graphic novels and these are also fact-full, so I am guessing you enjoyed this book too?

C: Yep, very fact-full, I loved it.

S: So does this read like a typical graphic novel?

C: Mostly. But it is cool that it is about real people and real events. And there are a lot of maps and such, they are all very useful to see how the canyon looked back then. I mean, I saw pictures of the Grand Canyon before, but most of those were the promotional photos you mentioned earlier, so they do not give you a real sense of the dangers that Powell and his men were facing.

S: That all sounds great Caramel. It seems like you enjoyed the book a lot and you learned a lot from it, too. What is not to like? So this is probably a good place to wrap up this review.

C: Sure. It is almost my bedtime, so I can go to my room and read…

S: Yes. So what would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #9: Major Impossible by Nathan Hale and recommends it to all other young bunnies who are curious and want to know more about the world. — Caramel loved reading *Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #9: Major Impossible* by Nathan Hale and recommends it to all other young bunnies who are curious and want to know more about the world.

Marshmallow reviews All Ears by Stuart Gibbs

It must be obvious to the book bunnies blog readers that the book bunnies are huge fans of Stuart Gibbs and his books. While Caramel has read and reviewed all his Spy School books, Marshmallow has mostly read and reviewed his FunJungle books. Gibbs is a prolific author, and the most recent FunJungle book, All Ears, just came out a couple weeks ago on May 13. This week, Marshmallow was finally able to read this ninth book in the series and is ready to share her thoughts with our readers today.

Before starting reading this review, you might like to check out Marshmallow’s reviews of the first eight books of FunJungle: Belly Up, Poached, Big Game, Panda-monium, Lion Down, Tyrannosaurus Wrecks, Bear Bottom, and Whale Done.

Marshmallow reviews All Ears by Stuart Gibbs. — Marshmallow reviews *All Ears* by Stuart Gibbs.

Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you liked the previous FunJungle books, like animals, reading about mysteries, or want to read a really entertaining novel, then this is the book for you!

Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): Teddy Fitzroy has proven himself as a remarkable detective. His parents both work at FunJungle, the largest zoo in America (if not the world). During his time living next to it, he has solved several high-profile and low-profile cases regarding the zoo or related to the surrounding Texan area. Since the first book in the series, Teddy has been good friends with Summer McCracken—the daughter of billionaire J.J. McCracken who owns FunJungle—and the two recently started dating . Teddy is also good friends with Xavier Gonzalez, a fellow animal-lover and student at his high school.

Sadly, Xavier gets arrested! He normally likes to look around for reptiles he can capture and examine (ethically and caringly, of course) but is found at a crime scene under suspicious circumstances. Being an ardent advocate for the environment, him being in an area that seemingly was vandalized by “eco-warriors” makes him look pretty guilty. So Xavier’s best course of action is to call in Teddy to prove him innocent.

Unfortunately, the call comes at a very inconvenient time. Teddy has been hired to solve another crime regarding a lost elephant. In Texas (and many other places), some ranch owners have taken to raising exotic animals either with the purpose of sheltering them or creating an area in which hunters can kill unusual creatures for an extravagant price. The Sinclairs have created a sanctuary for elephants that they aptly named The Sanctuary. But during a massive power outage in Texas, their herd escapes or is led out of their ranch. This causes some mayhem on a football field later, but eventually Tanzy, the sole African elephant (the rest are Asian), is discovered to be missing. Aside from the fact that rural Texas is not the native habitat of an African elephant, Tanzy could also be under threat from whomever took her.

Teddy now faces two mysteries to solve: where is Tanzy and who took her, and who really committed the crime Xavier’s accused of? Can he find the answer before time runs out … for Tanzy and Xavier?

Marshmallow is reading All Ears by Stuart Gibbs. — Marshmallow is reading *All Ears* by Stuart Gibbs.

Marshmallow’s Review: All Ears is a really good book! I’ve been waiting for the new FunJungle book to come out and for Stuart Gibbs to continue this series! I really, really, really love this series! All of the books have fascinating, interesting, and most importantly confounding mysteries that are perfect for readers of all ages. The characters are lively, intelligent, funny, and lovable—and the lack of cursing (except possibly in Tyrannosaurus Wrecks) makes them appropriate for everyone. And this book is no exception!

I really like how the FunJungle books tackle environmental issues and address the nuance of every topic. Even though he clearly finds these issues very important and harshly critiques greedy corporations, Gibbs never portrays them as completely evil. In particular, we often learn about a CEO’s perspective through a more human lens via J.J.’s character. Gibbs also doesn’t make the activists seem like saints. He explains how many hunters are good people too and really humanizes everyone. However, he does show the facts, many of which are truly disturbing. Gibbs doesn’t omit nuance; rather, he conveys a wide range of conflicting perspectives in a way that is palatable, comprehensive, and comprehensible to a wide audience, while still sending the message that action must be taken to protect the environment. All this makes All Ears worth reading: its message and its explanation and dialogue about the environment and the battle about how we should treat it.

But you should also read this book for fun! It is really funny and entertaining; there are so many twists and turns! Once I picked up this book, I could not put it down—literally. The emotional tension is also really well done throughout, and one can really feel the realness in Teddy’s situation, in which he is caught between a rock and a hard place as he tries to solve two mysteries at the same time.

I love the FunJungle series, the characters and the plot and the writing and everything about these books! They are really special to me! But I think they can be great for many new readers too! I would recommend reading the first couple of books in the series first, but honestly, one could just start here with All Ears, too. Whatever your age or background knowledge though, this book is definitely an amazing one to read for its message, style, and content! I can’t recommend it enough!

Marshmallow’s Rating: 101%.

Marshmallow rates All Ears by Stuart Gibbs 101%. — Marshmallow rates *All Ears* by Stuart Gibbs 101%.