Unlikely Heroes

Life is an Adventure

There are stories of noble heroes who seem born to greatness and then there are those that one would never imagine to be heroic. Consider the sisters Bland who quietly spend their days darning socks. Consider also a lowly runt of a rabbit, timid and fearful. Who knew that these unlikely heroes would capture the hearts and imaginations of middle grade readers with acts of cunning and bravery?
Meet these heroes featured in two delightful series for middle grade readers. Filled with sparkling repartee, clever wordplay, and expressive black and white line drawings, these books are an excellent choice for those who enjoy snappy chapter books loaded with adventure and wild antics.

​The Royal Rabbits of London
by Santa Montefiore & Simon Sebag Montefiore
ill by Kate Hindley

Meet Shylo Tawny-Tail, a scrawny, shy little country rabbit who resides with his family in a burrow at the edge of the forest. Compelled to wear a patch over one eye to correct his vision, Shylo, also known as bunkin, is the object of his siblings' constant barrage of teasing and taunts.
One day he spies a trio of "big, greasy, menacing rats" and listens in on their plot to infiltrate Buckingham Palace and take a compromising photo of the queen. Gathering up all his courage and aided by important information from a wise old rabbit recluse, Shylo sets off on a seemingly impossible task. His journey takes him to The Royal Rabbits of London, a select society of Rabbits of the Round Table, sworn to serve the Royal Family of England. Summoning courage he didn't realize he possessed, he manages to outwit the rats, escape the jaws of a pack of the Queen's beloved corgis, and save the honor of the Queen.

The writing is packed with biting wit. Evil rats are part of a gang known as the Ratzis, whose leader is known as Papa Razzi. The plan to discredit the Queen involves posting embarrassing photos on the website Rat-on-a-celebrity.com. Great fun to read aloud!
Naturally our young hero triumphs over the greasy rats, vicious dogs, and his own fears.
Two carrots and a basket of celery to The Royal Rabbits of London, an enchanting new series from Santa Montefiore and Simon Sebag Montefiore.

Kate Hindley's line drawings complement the story, echoing its charm and humor.

The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters:
​The Uncanny Express
by Kara LaReau  ill by Jen Hill

After a harrowing adventure aboard a pirate ship, one would think that Bland sisters Jaundice and Kale would settle into a quiet life in Dullsville, resuming their daily routine of tying knots, cleaning the bathroom and darning socks. Until...They receive a letter announcing that Aunt Shallot is coming to town and that they are to meet her at the Dullsville depot. They learn that this meeting will involve more than a simple hello. Much more. Our reluctant heroines find themselves passengers on the Uncanny Express, headed for Uncanny Valley. They have been conscripted to serve as magician's assistants to Magique. She is planning a comeback performance which she hopes will return her to her former glory as a great magician. But things take a strange turn when Magique goes missing. ​
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Several suspects may be responsible for her disappearance and it is up to Jaundice and Kale to sift through a cast of passengers and solve the mystery.   Bald French detective, Hugo Fromage, interviews the suspects. There are plenty of clues and a few red herrings to keep readers engaged until the truth is revealed.
Think tongue-in-cheek  Murder on the Orient Express for youngsters. Readers will enjoy the double entendres: The train is derailed by a collision with a truck carrying barrels of marshmallow crème. "The Uncanny Express is now stuck."  Jaundice, becomes distraught and doesn't look like herself. Kale's asks, "Does this make any sense to you?" Jaundice, the sister who loves to tie knots responds, "I'm a frayed knot."
Kara LeReau's The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters: The Uncanny Express is replete with mystery and dry wit. Readers clamoring for more Bland Sisters will happy to learn that further adventures await in the skies. Bring it on!​

How bland can they get? Jen Hill's illustrations nail the personalities of our young heroines  Jaundice and Kale.