Edward Tulane is a china rabbit with an expansive wardrobe of silk suits and a pocket watch, living with a girl named Abilene. He is proud and cold, possessing no affection for the humans who care for him. While on an ocean voyage, Edward is tossed overboard and begins a sequence of physical and emotional hardships. He spends time buried in silt, lives with a fisherman’s family, travels with a hobo, and becomes a scarecrow. Each owner gives him a new name and shares their personal grief with him. Through these losses and the eventual shattering of his china body, his stoic indifference breaks, forcing him to experience vulnerability and the pain of loving others.
This story serves children and adults who appreciate fables about the emotional development of the soul. Readers often choose this book to understand how loss and suffering are necessary components of a meaningful life. It provides a look at the transition from narcissism to empathy. By the end, the reader sees that even a broken heart is better than one that has remained closed and untouched. The book leaves the reader with the realization that being loved is a gift that requires the courage to love in return.
Inward-looking and thought-provoking; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2006
- Language
- EN
