Mary M. Burns
The idea that romantic notions of war disappear in battle is the unifying theme of an attractively produced historical vignette [Rabbits and Redcoats]…. Viewed from the perspective of two teen-aged boys, the story is set within a twenty-four-hour time span. It is narrated by Chapter Harrow who, with his friend Interest Wheelock, sneaks into the ranks of the Vermont revolutionaries…. Although the ragged army is victorious over the British defenders, the two learn that defeat is not always dishonor nor victory a guarantee of dignity. They also realize that war, far from being a glorious adventure, is a blend of mundane discomforts with imminent danger. Remarkable for its spare, taut style which reflects the temper and cadence of rural colonial America, the book is one of those rarities—a well researched, brief, eminently readable historical tale. (pp. 626-27)
Mary M. Burns, "Stories for Intermediate Readers: 'Rabbits and Redcoats'," in The Horn Book Magazine (copyright © 1976 by the Horn Book, Inc., Boston), Vol. LII, No. 6, December, 1976, pp. 626-27.
See eNotes Ad-Free
Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts.
Already a member? Log in here.