When God Was a Rabbit

When God Was a Rabbit - By Sarah Winman

This coming of age story follows Elly, a young British girl with a heart of gold, through her life as she moves from suburban Essex to the countryside of Cornwall with her eccentric family and friends. As the story unfolds, the characters grow and change revealing secrets that often force them to go to unexpected, and unavoidable dark places. It is a rich, touching novel about love of family, friends, pets and home. The author explores the special bond between Elly and her brother and reminds us of how deeply we can love our brothers and sisters beyond all rivalries, differences and disappointments. Universal themes of life, love and loss are explored through the richly depicted characters as their lives unfold from chapter to chapter. An amazing first novel that is both sophisticated and tender in its portrayal of all these very real, very human characters.

I was totally drawn to the curious title, wondering what role the rabbit would play in the story. I am a sucker for any coming of age story that celebrates the life journey of a geeky young girl, because I was one. I love to recall the crazy, wonderful, sometimes painful moments of growing up and found many relatable passages.