Braver: A Wombat's Tale

by Suzanne Selfors, Walker Ranson

Braver: A Wombat’s Tale is an exciting new middle grade fantasy novel from Suzanne Selfors and Walker Ranson.

Young wombat Lola doesn’t quite fit in. Wombats are supposed to be shy and quiet, but Lola is talkative, curious, and always getting into trouble.

But when her village is attacked by a Tasmanian devil leading a group of swamp rats, Lola’s parents are captured.

To rescue them, Lola will have to leave home for the very first time and set off on a wild adventure. And even with the help of friends she meets along the way, Lola will need every ounce of her bold bravery to help rescue her family and save the kingdom!

An Imprint Book

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Animals, Fiction, Adventure, Juvenile, Childrens

288 pages, Hardcover

First published June 23, 2020

About the author

Suzanne Selfors lives on an island near Seattle where it rains all the time, which is why she tends to write about cloudy, moss-covered, green places.
She's married, has two kids, and writes full time.
Her favorite writers are Kurt Vonnegut, Charles Dickens, and most especially, Roald Dahl.

Please visit her at www.suzanneselfors.com to learn more about her books.

Reviews

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young wombat faces danger and uncertainty in this anthropomorphic animal fantasy set in Tasmania. This is a delight that will most definitely be featured on our 2021 Tails & Tales Summer Reading list!

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you know that wombats have cube-shaped droppings?
Did you know they have super-hard armor-plated butts?
From the ferocious shrieks of tasmanian devils to the mere existence of quolls, this book taught me a lot about Tasmanian wildlife. I appreciate that!
As a whole, Braver walks a fine line between naturalism (re: cube-droppings) and fantasy. How can animals continue to behave like animals when they are in the midst of an Industrial Revolution? It's a tough act, and I had to force myself into a state of willful disbelief as the story went on. Even so, I was highly entertained and constantly pausing to look up animal factsas I read. All in all, definitely worth it!

[Adora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, blue is adorable and I love how he talks, I like the story line in the book, it's very interesting and entertaining. I definitely recommend this book, it was a good purchase. 10/10.

[London Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I was expecting something targeted to much younger audiences, but not only did this book have strong, gripping worldbuilding, but some of the themes in it were rather dark and realistic for a novel marketed towards children.

The story starts off with us being introduced to Lola, a talkative wombat in a world full of introverts. I honestly found the usage of animals that aren't often portrayed much fascinating, and each species seemed to all have their own morals and way of life. Similar to Redwall and other stories of this genre, the animals were heavily anthropomorphized and tackle very human situations, and these blended really well together. Each animal felt human, but they also felt distinct to their species, which was a nice touch.

I wasn't completely gripped by the beginning of the story, since it was a bit slow-paced and played off as a basic hero's quest story, but later on I was intrigued by the changing settings and mystery that was slowly building up the conflict. After Lola's parents and her fellow wombats were captured by the Tasmanian devils, who were brought out of exile (an interesting concept and interesting choice of villains) she receives a message that leads her to her uncle in the capital city of Dore. Lola was a pretty typical protagonist but I couldn't help but cheer for her the entire way and admire her determination. Along the way she meets a swamp water rat who is also an outcast among his species. I liked that the rats weren't shown as villains but instead a species that was just following the wrong side.

The journey was entertaining and well-paced, but the story really starts to pick up as we near the end, where Lola arrives in the city of Dore and begins to find out the truth of the message that brought her here. The story touches on a corrupt society and creatures being forced into hard labor to make way for a changed future, which is pretty dark for a kid's book, which I actually liked seeing. I was intrigued to see what would happen next and the story constantly had my attention hooked by new challenges being introduced. My only slight nitpick was that there was a lot happening all at a certain time and it might be a bit too much for younger readers to follow.

Lola soon finds out that the uncle she had gone after, Tobias Bottom, was power hungry and signed a treaty that allowed the Tasmanian devils onto their island and forced several animals into hard labor to work a factory that would manufacture a train. When Lola finds the queen locked away in a grandfather clock, they head to the factory and share the stories of the past in order to have faith in the queen.

And it was starting to get so good. I was anxiously awaiting the climax when suddenly, as they're about to free the wombats, the book cuts to a conclusion where everything is resolved but no explanation was given or shown, and honestly, this bothered me a bit. We didn't really get to see things wrapped up at all, and the turning point was anticlimactic and the villain was defeated so easily. I would've loved to have more lore revolving around the Tasmanian devils because I found their motives of wanting to hunt and being forced into exile interesting, but I think the authors gave us enough to work with. I wasn't satisfied with the ending and found it was abruptly cut short, as if the authors either got lazy or had a deadline to complete. We're shown the Tobias Bottom is a greedy traitor who is turned on by the Tasmanian devils, but at the end he's quickly forgiven?

This book would've easily been a solid 5 stars if not for the ending, but even so, I enjoyed it in it's entirety. Likeable characters, a gripping conflict, and vibrant settings all make for an exciting story not just for young readers but for people of all ages. If you enjoyed Redwall and Watership Down, I would highly recommend Braver.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group - Imprint in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was so adorably brilliant that I could not get enough. I thought it was the funniest thing ever that a wombat has a name like Lola Budge and her personality for becoming a brave wombat. When Lola find out that her parents have been captured by a demon unknown for many generations, it's up to her with the help of Queen Tassie to find this demon, defeat it and save her family and her fellow wombats. I know our younger readers especially fans of the Warriors series will appreciate this book a lot. I know this book will do very well at our library.

We will consider adding this title to our JFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Nostalgia Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute delight, I didn't know I was in this much need of some animal-centric adventure. In a nutshell, it's Redwall-meets-Oz, with Australian animals. And while it was definitely predictable from the start, it was a delight to read. And BLUE, omfg, I was unable to can, Blue is a treasure.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for Libraries, Literature, and the Child

[Carin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lola sure is one brave little wombat! She's snuck out one morning (they're nocturnal and meant to be sleeping) as she's a chatterbox which is Not Done in the world of wombats, so she can talk to some neighbors. Thank goodness she did as she then sees her entire village of wombats, including her parents, being carted off in a cage! She has to rescue them! She heads off down the river behind them and meets up with a fastidious Swamp Water Rat, and an adorably clueless baby Blue Penguin. They get help along the way from some kind echidnas, a one-winged bird in a hot air balloon, and a surprisingly nice Tasmanian devil. They are heading to the capitol city to find Lola's uncle, another rare talker of a wombat, who works as an ambassador for the Queen. Lola knows he'll know how to rescue her parents!

Part Wizard of Oz, part Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (although not as scary), this animal quest story has plenty of action to keep you reading, without being too worried about the outcome. Lola learns a lot along the way and must keep her wits about her. The authors are great at making each species have consistent personality traits and some unique speaking quirks, to differentiate between them all. I think middle grade readers will really enjoy this one.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was billed as "Move over Watership Down" and I have to say....no.

Don't get me wrong. It was cute. It reminded me a lot of The Last by Katherine Applegate which I read not too long ago: a young animal's family is attacked so she must go on a journey, meeting quirky friends along the way. And I LOVE the quirky friends in this one: the gallant rat, the adorably annoying baby penguin, a flightless bird with an air balloon...they're great.

But this doesn't have the depth and complexity Watership Down (which I never really considered a children's book anyway)...it's meant for younger readers who enjoy animal fantasy stories. And for that, it meets the mark.

[Christine Turner]

Booklist recommends this book for grades 3-6.

Lola Budge isn't your average bare-nosed wombat. While her parents and neighbors in the Northern Forest want nothing more than peace and quiet, Lola loves to talk. Bored by the quiet routine of wombat life, Lola desperately wants something,anything, interesting to happen.

But when Lola follows the terrifying sound of unfamiliar screeching, she discovers a predator who has been kept in exile for many generations. And this creature has captured the peaceful wombats and carted them away--including Lola's parents.

To save her family, Lola will need help from the Queen of Tassie Island herself. But the road to the golden city of Dore is long and treacherous for a young wombat, especially with predators on the loose. To save the ones she loves, Lola will have to brave infested swamps, rushing rivers, and soaring heights, while encountering all sorts of strange critters, both friend and foe.

At times exciting, at times heart-warming, this is the story of a wombat who is much braver than anyone imagined.

Subject: Wombats -- Juvenile fiction.
Animals -- Australia -- Juvenile fiction.
Rescues -- Juvenile fiction.
Individuality -- Juvenile fiction.
Courage -- Juvenile fiction.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was recently fortunate enough to receive an advanced reader’s copy of Suzanne Selfors and her son Walker Ranson’s collaboration, Braver. It tells the story of Lola Budge, a young Australian wombat, who uncharacteristically for her species, loves to talk and yearns for a bit of excitement. When her family and entire colony is kidnapped, an adventure ensues as she sets off to save them and their peaceful way of life. Along the way, she finds unexpected friendships with a swamp rat, a baby penguin, and other animals that help her on the quest.
The story is filled with unusual characters who bravely succeed against greedy and dangerous foes, the strength that the love of family and friends bring, and lots of humor. There are timely themes of environmental destruction, the subjection of the poor for the good of the wealthy few, and acceptance of those who are different. It will no doubt be on many “best of” lists for this year, and on state reading lists in the years to come. I give it two enthusiastic thumbs up!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mother/son writing team, Suzanne Selfors and Walker Ranson both credit Brian Jacques and his Redwall series for the creation of “Braver” and certainly readers of that series will see similarities . But this is not a rehash of the phenomenal heroes from Mossflower Wood or the fortress of Salamandastron. There is, however, the same major anthropomorphism of animals that almost has readers believing that a young wombat could save an island kingdom of creatures and Lola and her penguin and swamp rat friends do exactly that. The pacing of this book starts slow and almost lost me, but once the trek to the royal city is fully underway, readers will have trouble putting “Braver” down. Recommended for readers in 5th-8th grade and those who love not only Redwall, but other series like Lasky’s Guardians of Ga’Hoole, Applegate’ Endling, and maybe even books from Erin Hunter’s never ending animal adventures. No profanity, gory violence or sexual content. Thanks for the dARC, NetGalley.

[Rosanne Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-developed storyline with a fine cast of characters is sure to engage story lovers. While I started out reading this with my daughter during the school year when she had required reading every night, at about 100 pages in, she decided that she did not want to read it with me anymore. I saved the bookmark on the page for her for a couple of years, promising that I would not, could not, continue without her.
But, alas, I finally gave in and finished without her!
This was such a lovely tale, and I did not pick up on the fact that it was centered on Australia until I read it afterward – though it should have been a bit more evident to me. Either way, this book was endearing, and I wished I could have read the entire thing with my daughter. I will save it on the shelves for her, with the page marked where she left off, in case she wants to pick up the story of Lola and her brave adventure later.

[Summer Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. I really love that this was written by a mother / son duo. I find that precious and adorable.

I loved the Aussie voice. It was a lot of fun to hear about different Tasmanian animals and their habits. It would be a fun read for an advanced 3rd grader or 4th-5th grade. It was compared to Redwall--I do not agree. It was also compared to Watership Down, which I frankly find bizarre. But its been several years since I've read Watership Down so maybe that has something to do with it. If you're going to compare it to anything it would be a like a really cute version of Rats of Nihm. Think Pixar cute.

This would make a really good movie. The plotline just didn't do it for me and, as far as I could tell, there wasn't any strong or interesting themes for me to point to. A cute story about animals on an adventure.

[Jenna D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a splendid little critter fantasy (that I wished had never ended!) - The characters, the setting, and the story are reminiscent of the greatest anthropomorphic classics, but with elements that seem to echo the issues of today.

Solid storytelling, convincing animal characterizations, impactful themes, and emotional struggles will easily be embraced by readers of all ages. Danger is ever-present, but although the tale is thrilling enough for older readers, it’s also not too terrifying for younger readers to enjoy from beginning to end.

If you like your fantasy with fur (and feathers!) and have enjoyed such titles as the Endling series, Wild Robot or Redwall, you absolutely must give Braver: A Wombat’s Tale a try!

Recommended for ages 8+.

[Marie (IfCatsCouldRead) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Braver: A Wombat’s Tale by Suzanne Selfors and Walker Ranson
Lola is a wombat unlike most in her community. Instead of being shy and quiet, Lola always has questions and wants to explore. One day while exploring, a band of Tassie devils kidnaps her family and neighbors. Lola must be brave to save her family and friends. She has many adventures and meets many of the critters on Tassie Island. The characters have much personality and unexpected happenings keep the reader engaged and wanting to keep reading to find out how events resolve. This story is perfect for kids who like adventuring and rich language.

[F. A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Fierce Reads at Macmillan for providing me a review copy of Braver: A Wombat's Tale. This in no way affected my opinion.

I read this story with my son who is 12. He loves the Warriors series and animal adventures. This book was right up his alley. It was clear for him to understand and dive right into the story arc. He is hoping for more in the future. I think this is a fun story that transcended to all ages. In that sense it reminded me of Redwall. Even adults and teachers will enjoy this story with children.

I am highly recommending this one!

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer that I'm not the target audience for this book. (And I didn't like Blue...)
It's not quite as adult as Watership Down, but the comparison to Redwall seems fair. A young critter has to go on an unplanned journey, meets a host of characters, is betrayed, finds new friends, overcomes, learns some environmentalism and anti-greed. I don't mean that to be negative - these are great characteristics for juvenile fiction. It's well-written. You'll learn a bit about Tasmanian animals. I'd recommend to kids who like adventure stories, animals, and some politicking.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story! A little bit slow but I think it will definitely appeal to the younger middles.

Near the end, when Lola finally rescues the queen, she refers to herself as "We" and "Our." They are capitalized and all her subjects refer to her as "her." So I'm assuming she says it in this way because she speaks for her people since she is a representative of them. It took me a minute to figure that out but I don't think this is an agenda driven move. I think it can be confusing, but ultimately harmless.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for students in upper elementary and middle grades. I read the majority of it with my 5th graders. They enjoyed the humor, different characters and personalities and the suspense.

As a teacher, I liked how the book pairs well with character traits, main ideas, plot (especially the climax), and use of descriptive words.

The story's rising actions kicks off almost immediately, so any reader would be interested right away!

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally understand why this is compared to Redwall. The feel as well as a proclivity to have some of the characters using a dialect definitely lends to the Redwall feel. I am not sure I would be bold enough to say Redwall should move over, but I would say if someone liked Redwall then they should like this. While Lola Budge is a solid character, I wanted more from two other characters. One for his voice and his personality and the other for his personality as well as his mysterious demeanor.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRAVER: A Wombat’s Tale by Suzanne Selfors and Walker Ranson is a misfit hero adventure featuring wombats, swamp rats, and a baby penguin named Blue. Even the villainous Tasmanian devils include misfits who work for the side of good. The delightful observations and discoveries that emerge from main character Lola’s descriptions are bright and insightful.

Full review here: https://mutterschwester.wordpress.com...

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of Redwall growing up, I was intrigued when I saw this was dedicated to Jacques. I have to say...this book is what I have come to wish Jacques had done in his series. While his series predominately focused on male heroes, this book had a heroine. In addition, they made it clear that the animals were there natural sizes, not strangely similarly sized like in Redwall.

I can't say I'd be ready to read a series of this, but I did enjoy it!

[Sarah DeLong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this at the request of my daughter who is reading and swore I would love it. I was skeptical...I mean the MC is a wombat.....

I loved it.

It was original. It was fun. It was heartwarming. And knowing that even the smallest, quietest creatures can overcome anything with friends and hard work.

I honestly would recommend it to any 8-13 year old.

Plus...who can't help but love a book with a "baby" penguin.

[Danielle Masterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to the publisher & Edelweiss for an eARC of Braver. I was drawn to this story by its charming cover featuring an adorable wombat. A sort of Warriors (by Erin Hunter) tale minus all the confusing clans & violence, Braver is a lovely little novel about friendship, challenges and, of course, bravery. Looking forward to adding it to my library’s collection for my patrons.

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engaging read. This might be a good choice for a reader who likes animal stories like the Warriors series but isn’t interested in the violence. Astute readers will probably guess the plot twist ahead of time but will cheer Lola on as she figures it out. Lola is a likable protagonist and Melvin and Blue are well done secondary characters.

[Heather Olins · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 8yo daughter’s favorite animal is the wombat, so I came across this book just by searching for books about wombats. I read the book to her and after being a bit scared at the beginning, she was begging me not to stop reading before too long. This is a story I can tell she will remember for a long time.

[D'Linda Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ve read a kids book that was this cute! So many good messages to get from this, from being your authentic self and friendship and don’t judge by appearance and learning about being honest and making sure you do your due diligence. So many wonderful themes to discuss with the kiddos.

[Nadejda Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do not be fooled by the stuffed-animal-like fuzzy cuteness of the main characters. That is just to get your young reader hooked and lost in their whimsical adventures. The story is written on several levels, reminding us that social and political vigilance is our civil responsibility.

[Sarah French · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read aloud for the whole family and/or for animal-loving kids. A somewhat-predictable adventure but my daughter had fun making the connections. The themes definitely make a statement about the detrimental effects of greed, capitalism, industrialization, power, etc. Great book.