Isn’t it interesting how your reading experience depends on the present situation of your life (or the world)? Because of that, every book becomes unique to every individual, and no book is read the same way. The Green Ember by S.D. Smith has given me, above all, hope for the world in the face of a pandemic.
Siblings Heather and Picket live normal rabbit lives with their father, mother and baby brother Jacks in their elm tree home. Father would tell thought-provoking tales about kings, and the two siblings would run outside on the grass and play a game they invented called Starseek. Their peaceful world suddenly turns upside down when a pack of wolves come and destroy their home, separating Heather and Picket from the group and causing them to go on a perilous journey where they discover a much bigger threat that involves their very own family’s history. (In the next paragraphs, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on a few characters and scenes that might reveal spoilers, so you can refrain from reading for now if you haven’t read the book yet. You can listen to the free audiobook here.)
I love how The Green Ember has successfully shown, albeit through rabbits, how human beings behave in the midst of a crisis. Being quarantined with the same people every day, even with those you love, can sometimes test your patience—add to that the stress and anxiety each family member feels due to the state of the world via the news and the looming possibility of losing your income, a loved one or your optimism. In the book, Picket started to grumble, which seemed to last till the end. He, for some reason, preferred to direct all his anger toward Smalls, another rabbit who didn’t deserve Picket’s mistreatment and who never intentionally did anything to upset him. Picket was often reminded by the rabbits around him that he had a choice about how he saw things and that he wasn’t the only one bad things had happened to and who’d lost someone they love. Smalls, despite being the target of Picket’s anger, tolerated and empathized with him. His words struck a chord when he said, “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.”
Heather seemed to be more accepting of their current situation and tried to live harmoniously with the rest of the rabbits in their new home. Perhaps being the eldest compelled her to show her strength more than her fears. But Heather, while being the positive sibling, still had her own uncertainties. She worried about her lost family and the welfare of her companions and younger brother. Her only mistake was being an overprotective sister and her disapproval of Picket’s decision to become a soldier. Mrs. Weaver, a wise rabbit, once told her, “You must let him become who he is, Heather, and you must let him become what he will become.” Another challenge Heather had to eventually overcome was her fear of sharing with the community what she does best: tale-spinning. Sometimes, in real life, the very idea of showcasing your talents can leave you feeling paralyzed with fear. This fear made Heather wonder and ask herself: “Why am I so afraid of what I love to do?”
“I regret many things I’ve done. But most of all I regret those moments when I said to Fear, ‘You are my master.’”
The Green Ember is a story of courage, compassion, friendship, love and hope. Heather, through a tale she spun, became an activist, as she inspired and called on rabbits everywhere. Picket finally found himself as he trained to become a warrior and fought a deadly battle against wolves and birds of prey. The book also introduced me to a new genre called “noblebright fantasy,” a kind of fantasy novel that’s filled with hope despite all the tribulations and that features characters who strive to do good and positively influence others despite their own imperfections. I’d like to think that we’re in a noblebright fantasy, where there’s hope and progress everywhere and people who do their part.
The Green Ember, published in 2014, is the first book of a four-part series, with other books in between. Lately, I’ve been preferring standalone novels over series because, at this point in my life, a whole series feels like too much commitment to me. But this book was enjoyable to listen to, especially with a narrator such as Joel Clarkson wonderfully bringing the characters to life. I highly recommend The Green Ember to anyone of any age who loves adventure, strong character development and a story of hope.
Sunny Day Reads 
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