What do you think?
Rate this book
King of Rabbits
A stunning debut about the magic and confusion of childhood. A beautiful, painful, at times funny novel about how a little boy perceives the world, and how his environment leads him on a path to manhood he doesn't want to follow.
Kai lives in a mixed-race family on a rural council estate in Somerset where he and his three older sisters have three different dads, and his mum is being led into crack addiction by his petty-thief father. He idolises his dad, adores his friend Saffie and the school rabbit Flopsy, and is full of ambition to be the fastest runner in Middledown Primary - like Linford Christie. He and Saffie build a secret world of friendship in the school garden. But Kai's natural optimism, imagination and energy run up against adult behaviour he doesn't understand: his parents' on-and-off romance, his dad's increasing addiction and the limitations of poverty. Despite the people who try to look out for him, notably his loving Nanny Sheila and his big sister Leah, Kai's life drifts towards a tragedy from which it is hard for him to recover. The refuge he seeks in his love of nature, and the wild rabbits who have made their burrows in the woods, may not be refuge enough.Drawing on her own upbringing but turning lived experience into compelling narrative, Karla Neblett has created a vivid language that is both crafted and raw to tell a story of class, race and how our society fails working class young men.
Kai lives in a mixed-race family on a rural council estate in Somerset where he and his three older sisters have three different dads, and his mum is being led into crack addiction by his petty-thief father. He idolises his dad, adores his friend Saffie and the school rabbit Flopsy, and is full of ambition to be the fastest runner in Middledown Primary - like Linford Christie. He and Saffie build a secret world of friendship in the school garden. But Kai's natural optimism, imagination and energy run up against adult behaviour he doesn't understand: his parents' on-and-off romance, his dad's increasing addiction and the limitations of poverty. Despite the people who try to look out for him, notably his loving Nanny Sheila and his big sister Leah, Kai's life drifts towards a tragedy from which it is hard for him to recover. The refuge he seeks in his love of nature, and the wild rabbits who have made their burrows in the woods, may not be refuge enough.Drawing on her own upbringing but turning lived experience into compelling narrative, Karla Neblett has created a vivid language that is both crafted and raw to tell a story of class, race and how our society fails working class young men.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 25, 2021
8 people are currently reading
633 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 24, 2021
Kai loves Saffie. And rabbits. Will this be enough to prevail over the chaotic background of poverty and his parents' addiction?
Set on a council estate in rural Somerset, King of Rabbits is told in dual timeline, and follows Kai as child and teenager. The well-crafted structure drives the story to its riveting conclusion.
The solace and wonder Kai finds in nature is brought to dreamy life with imagery reminiscent of Seamus Heaney’s ‘The Death of a Naturalist’, and form a bittersweet counterpoint to the protagonist's dire circumstances.
Every character is authentic. Those who let Kai down never become stereotypical villains. Instead, they are weak—succumbing to their addictions when they could be giving Kai the care he so deserves—and they are just as likely to dispense life-building wisdom. Equally, the one adult constant in Kai’s life, Nanny Sheila, has her own foibles. This said, Leah's characterisation initially comes across as a little too idealised.
Neblett’s writing is compelling. She balances tragedy with humour, and demonstrates great insight and compassion. The Somerset vernacular is refreshing to see in print, and a welcome inclusion for this West Country (UK) reviewer.
This is an adult book which I see (if anyone has any sense) being incorporated into school curricula.
A powerful and moving debut.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone.for the ARC.
Set on a council estate in rural Somerset, King of Rabbits is told in dual timeline, and follows Kai as child and teenager. The well-crafted structure drives the story to its riveting conclusion.
The solace and wonder Kai finds in nature is brought to dreamy life with imagery reminiscent of Seamus Heaney’s ‘The Death of a Naturalist’, and form a bittersweet counterpoint to the protagonist's dire circumstances.
Every character is authentic. Those who let Kai down never become stereotypical villains. Instead, they are weak—succumbing to their addictions when they could be giving Kai the care he so deserves—and they are just as likely to dispense life-building wisdom. Equally, the one adult constant in Kai’s life, Nanny Sheila, has her own foibles. This said, Leah's characterisation initially comes across as a little too idealised.
Neblett’s writing is compelling. She balances tragedy with humour, and demonstrates great insight and compassion. The Somerset vernacular is refreshing to see in print, and a welcome inclusion for this West Country (UK) reviewer.
This is an adult book which I see (if anyone has any sense) being incorporated into school curricula.
A powerful and moving debut.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone.for the ARC.
October 16, 2021
King of Rabbits is the heart breaking story of young Kai, growing up in a mixed race family in a council house in the West country. The story is told from the dual perspectives of 5 year old Kai; and the downward descent he faces at 15. He lives with his drug addicted parents, his sisters and the wonderful Nanna Sheila, who will do anything to keep Kai happy.
Kai is such a perfect character. We see the world through his eyes, delighting in his innocence as a young child and then desperately wanting to protect him from his inner demons as he grows. He idolises his father, a thief and drug addict and wants to grow up to be just like him. Kai has such a warmth and gains such joy from watching the local grey rabbits and spending time with his best friend, Saffie and we only hope that this is going to be enough to allow him to cope with the challenges that he faces.
All the characters are beautifully rendered with both their positive traits and flaws, I really felt as though I shared their barbecues and parties. I felt this book dealt with a range of incredibly hard themes in a way that neither glorified nor patronised. Neblett knows her characters and their world and I found it impossible to put down. This is a book I would highly recommend. I feel Kai, Saffie and the Silver moon will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random house for the ARC.
Kai is such a perfect character. We see the world through his eyes, delighting in his innocence as a young child and then desperately wanting to protect him from his inner demons as he grows. He idolises his father, a thief and drug addict and wants to grow up to be just like him. Kai has such a warmth and gains such joy from watching the local grey rabbits and spending time with his best friend, Saffie and we only hope that this is going to be enough to allow him to cope with the challenges that he faces.
All the characters are beautifully rendered with both their positive traits and flaws, I really felt as though I shared their barbecues and parties. I felt this book dealt with a range of incredibly hard themes in a way that neither glorified nor patronised. Neblett knows her characters and their world and I found it impossible to put down. This is a book I would highly recommend. I feel Kai, Saffie and the Silver moon will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random house for the ARC.
Read
March 24, 2021It's hard not to fall for the character, Kai. At five he loves his best friend Saffie, and rabbits, he goes to his den in the woods and dreams of visiting Silver Moon. Mixed race Kai, lives with his three half-sisters and his parents - who are drug addicts and petty thieves. And Kai wants to be just like his father. The story, set on a council estate in rural Somerset alternates between young Kai, and 15 year-old-Kai. You can see the car crash coming, but you can't look away.
August 28, 2024
Oh my! I thought it was going to be junior fiction, but no. It’s about a child and his siblings living by parents who are drug addicts. They love the kids in as best as they can but boy, what a different life they lead and the values they grow up learning are ….um…. Well, let’s just say it opened my eyes. Hope I’ll be more understanding of people, as we just do not know what they have been through or are going through. Recommend.
July 23, 2021
This book appealed to me from the blurb but in spite of attempting to get into this book I just could not seem to connect at all. I know many folk have really enjoyed it but it was not for me. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me try to read this book
October 18, 2022
Just loved listening to this audiobook. Very touching and probably realistic of life today in some Uk towns
February 9, 2021
“Your parents love you but they forget to love you because they drink and do drugs.”
So speaks Nanny Sheila in Karla Neblett’s outstanding debut novel which paints a portrait of family life blighted by poverty, deprivation and addiction. Set in a Middledown rural Somerset and home to five year old Kai and his three sisters Leah,Jade and Crystal, the author gives an honest ,unflinching realistic view of everyday life in a mixed race household where addiction has its stranglehold over parents Jesse and Sherry.
Writing in the West Country vernacular, this story is told via a dual timeline; Kai at fifteen years of age and Kai as a five/six year old. Both are compelling, one voice filled with despair and one voice full of innocence in a life that still holds promises of love and hope, small pockets of ordinariness in an otherwise often bleak existence. The author’s style of writing and approach to such an emotive topic is overlaid with a dark humour that cannot fail to draw you into the lives of this family. Yes, it may leave you feeling as frustrated at life’s injustices as is Kai but this debut is an absolute must read for anyone wanting an insight into the true power of addiction and the devastating consequences for all those loved ones who have to stand by and witness its destructive nature.
From the outset when the author introduces us to fifteen year old Kai, there’s an automatic understanding that hearts will be broken by his storyline. The adolescent Kai is a shadow of his younger self, reasons for which will surface as the author switches backwards and forwards in time. The characters that feature in Kai’s life all have a profound impact on this boy in his formative years, the author astutely observing the varying ways in which these individuals shape his thoughts towards his mum and dad. The author shows the positive influences of book loving big sister Leah who tries her best to mother him, Nanny Sheila who provides sanctuary when life at home gets too much and the very best friendship that partner in crime Saffie offers. The more negative influences come via the likes of Denny and the rest of Jesse’s mates, male role models with distinctly dubious morals whose patterns of behaviour mirror those of Kai’s dad.
At age 15 despite Nanny Sheila and Leah’s best efforts there’s a hopelessness to the way Kai views his life that pulls you up short. However much you wish for this adolescent to break the mould, you cannot help sense he is on a well trodden path to self destruction. His fear for his own future is tangible, steadily becoming trapped in the same cycle as his parents. For Kai there seems to be no way out given the vicious blows he’s already suffered in his short life so there’s a depressing inevitability to the narrative but it’s bleakness isn’t entirely all pervasive. The biggest tragedy of all is one that you can probably guess at very early on in the storyline but nevertheless it still knocks both Kai and the reader for six.
Despite the tragedy that defines his childhood and the futility of life in general for the older boy, when we first meet 5 year old Kai he still possesses an innocence that is fitting for his age. He dreams of being a runner like Linford Christie,beating his classmate at the monkey bars, building a den in middledown woods near to his beloved wild rabbits and wishing for a bike for his imminent sixth birthday. With best friend Saffie constantly by his side both engrossed in their make believe world in which they’ll fly to their silver moon, his only worries should be if he has enough pocket money to buy some strawberry laces. However even at his tender age Kai is awakening to the realisation that his home life isn’t perhaps as it should be. The sights and sounds of his childhood, his frustration at the frequent use of the smelly pipes, the smoking and the drinking, his dad’s petty thieving form the basis of his daily life and he’d REALLY like his parents to stop with their harmful and self destructive behaviour. But you can sense the powerlessness of this five year old to prevent the worst from happening. Whilst seeing and hearing things his five year old brain can’t totally comprehend Kai’s family life is slowly robbing him of his innocence. Naturally he idolises his dad, even aspires to become a good enough thief not to get caught when he’s older but Jesse’s periods of absences from the family home and his refusal to change his behaviour is upsetting for little Kai, just as his mum’s absences and constant drinking are. Yet for all their obvious problems, Kai’s family is close knit and I loved being privy to the dynamics between him and his three sisters. There’s also no denying the strength of love Kai’s parents feel for their “chocolate orange” boy but his sanctuary is most definitely outdoors, in his den where he can observe Papa Grey and the rest of the wild rabbits at play whilst contemplating his life in general.
Kai’s story brings to your attention the plight of others like him in similar situations where the flame of hope is gradually extinguished with every setback and every limited chance on offer to choose an alternative lifestyle and tread a different path. Of course the possibilities do exist as evidenced by Leah but the author undoubtedly proves what a difficult struggle this can be. Even at primary school Kai earns a reputation as a troublemaker but there’s a sensitivity to his character and an inbuilt sense of right and wrong that you hope will stand him in good stead for the future. I finished this novel and fell asleep dreaming of Kai, his red cape and his imaginary utopia that exists upon the silver moon. To say he is an unforgettable character is an understatement. At times this novel is tragically funny, others unbearably sad, moving and poignant but behind every word you can detect sympathy for the circumstances all these characters, good and bad, find themselves in. Whilst not condoning the lifestyle Kai’s parents have adopted, neither is the author judgemental which enables the reader to occasionally catch glimpses of the parents Jesse and Sherry could be were it not the case their addictions are their first and foremost love. Ultimately this is a storyline in which hope has a sell by date, addiction is firmly in control but there is still beauty to be found amongst tragedy and I urge everyone to read it!! My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
So speaks Nanny Sheila in Karla Neblett’s outstanding debut novel which paints a portrait of family life blighted by poverty, deprivation and addiction. Set in a Middledown rural Somerset and home to five year old Kai and his three sisters Leah,Jade and Crystal, the author gives an honest ,unflinching realistic view of everyday life in a mixed race household where addiction has its stranglehold over parents Jesse and Sherry.
Writing in the West Country vernacular, this story is told via a dual timeline; Kai at fifteen years of age and Kai as a five/six year old. Both are compelling, one voice filled with despair and one voice full of innocence in a life that still holds promises of love and hope, small pockets of ordinariness in an otherwise often bleak existence. The author’s style of writing and approach to such an emotive topic is overlaid with a dark humour that cannot fail to draw you into the lives of this family. Yes, it may leave you feeling as frustrated at life’s injustices as is Kai but this debut is an absolute must read for anyone wanting an insight into the true power of addiction and the devastating consequences for all those loved ones who have to stand by and witness its destructive nature.
From the outset when the author introduces us to fifteen year old Kai, there’s an automatic understanding that hearts will be broken by his storyline. The adolescent Kai is a shadow of his younger self, reasons for which will surface as the author switches backwards and forwards in time. The characters that feature in Kai’s life all have a profound impact on this boy in his formative years, the author astutely observing the varying ways in which these individuals shape his thoughts towards his mum and dad. The author shows the positive influences of book loving big sister Leah who tries her best to mother him, Nanny Sheila who provides sanctuary when life at home gets too much and the very best friendship that partner in crime Saffie offers. The more negative influences come via the likes of Denny and the rest of Jesse’s mates, male role models with distinctly dubious morals whose patterns of behaviour mirror those of Kai’s dad.
At age 15 despite Nanny Sheila and Leah’s best efforts there’s a hopelessness to the way Kai views his life that pulls you up short. However much you wish for this adolescent to break the mould, you cannot help sense he is on a well trodden path to self destruction. His fear for his own future is tangible, steadily becoming trapped in the same cycle as his parents. For Kai there seems to be no way out given the vicious blows he’s already suffered in his short life so there’s a depressing inevitability to the narrative but it’s bleakness isn’t entirely all pervasive. The biggest tragedy of all is one that you can probably guess at very early on in the storyline but nevertheless it still knocks both Kai and the reader for six.
Despite the tragedy that defines his childhood and the futility of life in general for the older boy, when we first meet 5 year old Kai he still possesses an innocence that is fitting for his age. He dreams of being a runner like Linford Christie,beating his classmate at the monkey bars, building a den in middledown woods near to his beloved wild rabbits and wishing for a bike for his imminent sixth birthday. With best friend Saffie constantly by his side both engrossed in their make believe world in which they’ll fly to their silver moon, his only worries should be if he has enough pocket money to buy some strawberry laces. However even at his tender age Kai is awakening to the realisation that his home life isn’t perhaps as it should be. The sights and sounds of his childhood, his frustration at the frequent use of the smelly pipes, the smoking and the drinking, his dad’s petty thieving form the basis of his daily life and he’d REALLY like his parents to stop with their harmful and self destructive behaviour. But you can sense the powerlessness of this five year old to prevent the worst from happening. Whilst seeing and hearing things his five year old brain can’t totally comprehend Kai’s family life is slowly robbing him of his innocence. Naturally he idolises his dad, even aspires to become a good enough thief not to get caught when he’s older but Jesse’s periods of absences from the family home and his refusal to change his behaviour is upsetting for little Kai, just as his mum’s absences and constant drinking are. Yet for all their obvious problems, Kai’s family is close knit and I loved being privy to the dynamics between him and his three sisters. There’s also no denying the strength of love Kai’s parents feel for their “chocolate orange” boy but his sanctuary is most definitely outdoors, in his den where he can observe Papa Grey and the rest of the wild rabbits at play whilst contemplating his life in general.
Kai’s story brings to your attention the plight of others like him in similar situations where the flame of hope is gradually extinguished with every setback and every limited chance on offer to choose an alternative lifestyle and tread a different path. Of course the possibilities do exist as evidenced by Leah but the author undoubtedly proves what a difficult struggle this can be. Even at primary school Kai earns a reputation as a troublemaker but there’s a sensitivity to his character and an inbuilt sense of right and wrong that you hope will stand him in good stead for the future. I finished this novel and fell asleep dreaming of Kai, his red cape and his imaginary utopia that exists upon the silver moon. To say he is an unforgettable character is an understatement. At times this novel is tragically funny, others unbearably sad, moving and poignant but behind every word you can detect sympathy for the circumstances all these characters, good and bad, find themselves in. Whilst not condoning the lifestyle Kai’s parents have adopted, neither is the author judgemental which enables the reader to occasionally catch glimpses of the parents Jesse and Sherry could be were it not the case their addictions are their first and foremost love. Ultimately this is a storyline in which hope has a sell by date, addiction is firmly in control but there is still beauty to be found amongst tragedy and I urge everyone to read it!! My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
March 11, 2021
Ah geez this was a hard read for me, heartbreaking to watch young Kai and his siblings and how they lived, my kids think they’re hard done to when they can’t have takeaway two nights in a row and if they were older (13&14) I’d force feed them this book so they could see just how good they have it...!!!
Goes back n forth from Kai been 5 and then 15 and the difference is vast, he’s so innocent and just adorable and then at 15 your begging him not to make the same mistakes his parents did.
A honestly gripping but emotional book that will have you in bits in some parts, that’s sis do couldn’t stop reading and when Kai was little it’s was lovely seeing the world through his eyes, sad in lots of places and just had me shaking my head, I wanted to jump in and take him away from it all, what’s worse is knowing there are plenty more out there living like this right now and that’s just heartbreaking for me 😞
A book that all should read in my opinion even though the content is hard going and bleak at times, a seriously good novel and you’ll be wondering about Kai well after you’ve finished.
Goes back n forth from Kai been 5 and then 15 and the difference is vast, he’s so innocent and just adorable and then at 15 your begging him not to make the same mistakes his parents did.
A honestly gripping but emotional book that will have you in bits in some parts, that’s sis do couldn’t stop reading and when Kai was little it’s was lovely seeing the world through his eyes, sad in lots of places and just had me shaking my head, I wanted to jump in and take him away from it all, what’s worse is knowing there are plenty more out there living like this right now and that’s just heartbreaking for me 😞
A book that all should read in my opinion even though the content is hard going and bleak at times, a seriously good novel and you’ll be wondering about Kai well after you’ve finished.
March 13, 2021
A story about love and tragedy told in two timelines; Kai and Saffie aged 5-6 and Kai and Yaz aged 15.
I mainly requested this book because of the title (I have 3 rabbits). The story wasn’t really about the rabbits, but about the love Kai had to give and was seeking (including love for wild rabbits, his school rabbit called Flopsy, his nans rabbit called Rabbit and his best friend Saffie). I liked there were rabbits in the story and the symbolism and meaning behind it - very clever!
Neblett’s writing is powerful and she is clearly a brilliant writer. The characters felt true and authentic, it didn’t feel overly dramatised and exaggerated. She created a sense of joy and sadness, but maybe more sadness than joy. I found it difficult read at times and extremely emotional. I felt I may have needed more of a warning at the beginning to get through the trauma within the book (drug and alcohol abuse, self harm and suicide).
Not sure I would recommend to family and friends, unless they had a particular interest in childhood-teenage trauma, drug and alcohol abuse and mental health, but it was a good book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random
House UK publishers AND Karla Neblett for this book!
I mainly requested this book because of the title (I have 3 rabbits). The story wasn’t really about the rabbits, but about the love Kai had to give and was seeking (including love for wild rabbits, his school rabbit called Flopsy, his nans rabbit called Rabbit and his best friend Saffie). I liked there were rabbits in the story and the symbolism and meaning behind it - very clever!
Neblett’s writing is powerful and she is clearly a brilliant writer. The characters felt true and authentic, it didn’t feel overly dramatised and exaggerated. She created a sense of joy and sadness, but maybe more sadness than joy. I found it difficult read at times and extremely emotional. I felt I may have needed more of a warning at the beginning to get through the trauma within the book (drug and alcohol abuse, self harm and suicide).
Not sure I would recommend to family and friends, unless they had a particular interest in childhood-teenage trauma, drug and alcohol abuse and mental health, but it was a good book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random
House UK publishers AND Karla Neblett for this book!
April 5, 2021
A brilliant, raw and emotional debut.
Kai is such a complicated and engaging character. Karla Neblett captures his contradictions perfectly. Longing to be loved and appreciated, damaged by the neglect that darkens his early years, he is crying out for love and guidance. Instead he encounters individuals struggling to give in the face of their own difficulties. How I longed to get together with Nanny Sheila and Leah and lift him up to help him become the man he wanted to be. How difficult it is to achieve that in the face of poverty, neglect and racism (although this is mentioned with only a very light touch.)
The novel is delivered in a very distinctive style, staccato, fractured, pained, perfectly mirroring the confusion in Kai's mind.
Kai will stay with me for a long time.
A must read for everyone, especially politicians and service providers.
Kai is such a complicated and engaging character. Karla Neblett captures his contradictions perfectly. Longing to be loved and appreciated, damaged by the neglect that darkens his early years, he is crying out for love and guidance. Instead he encounters individuals struggling to give in the face of their own difficulties. How I longed to get together with Nanny Sheila and Leah and lift him up to help him become the man he wanted to be. How difficult it is to achieve that in the face of poverty, neglect and racism (although this is mentioned with only a very light touch.)
The novel is delivered in a very distinctive style, staccato, fractured, pained, perfectly mirroring the confusion in Kai's mind.
Kai will stay with me for a long time.
A must read for everyone, especially politicians and service providers.
July 26, 2022
Not my typical read. I’m Glad I stuck with it. A dysfunctional family, mixed bread, the impact it has on a child. Hard to read at times especially with the way the parents behaved and to think that this goes on in real life to this day.
Makes me feel privileged for how I was raised and cherished.
Makes me feel privileged for how I was raised and cherished.
did-not-finish
March 23, 2021I picked this title based on the blurb alone, it sounded great. I've had to put the book down at 42% and DNF it. I just could not get on with it. I felt no connection to the characters and main protagonist Kai.
The dialogue was irritating and focused on Kai's parents for so long. It was clear to get a picture of what they were like but I felt like this point was laboured for far too long into the story. I wanted something significant to happen and it was not happening. I couldn't keep going, it's a shame as I was excited to read this book.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
The dialogue was irritating and focused on Kai's parents for so long. It was clear to get a picture of what they were like but I felt like this point was laboured for far too long into the story. I wanted something significant to happen and it was not happening. I couldn't keep going, it's a shame as I was excited to read this book.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
August 27, 2021
This book was relentlessly grim. It took until half way through the book before I felt any empathy for the characters. And then their lives got even worse. There was no light or shade, be sure you know what you're taking on if you choose to read this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
did-not-finish
April 2, 2021absolute tripe
June 24, 2021
King of Rabbits by Karla Neblett
This novel left me very uncomfortable and sad. The story is about Kai (nick-named Rabbit as he loves to run and is obsessed with Rabbits), a mixed-race boy whose mother is black, is with her third partner, and has children from multiple fathers. Her current partner is Rabbit’s father and is Welsh with no occupation but is a thief, breaking into properties and bringing home the proceeds as if they are bonuses.
When we meet Kai, he is a teenager and hanging outside a prison. We know he is nervous and he does not go in but is thinking about someone inside he would like to see. His thoughts are erratic and we find out he hides his true self from everyone in his conversation with his eldest sister. We get an insight into the confusion and disillusion he has through his thoughts and reactions to his life. We view the world through his eyes and he shares dreams, that sound like hallucinations created by drug use, with the reader.
We then switch to Kai when he was younger, primary aged and more optimistic, positive about life. His love of running and his best friend, Saffie, who he wishes to fly to the moon with, to a secret garden where no one else can get to them. We journey with him as he tries to make sense of his relationships with his family and the life he has at home. The lack of stability even from those he expects it from. His confusion and lack of understanding of the responses and reactions of those around him. Trying to deal with his parent’s unstable relationship and their own lack of direction, the spiral of alcohol and increasingly stronger drugs. That he is the only male child in the family and so has a different status to his sisters despite being the youngest. School tries to reach out and support him but there is too much going on for them to succeed and his personal view of himself becomes very negative. Once tragedy starts to hit his young life he becomes disconnected from reality and even the school support seems to disappear.
The story switches between him at these two points in his life until it brings us up to the present. The episodic nature helps us to understand the young adult more as a product of his upbringing and life in a council estate with drug addicted parents.
There is only a light touch on racism with one incident shared in primary, but it highlights the depth of his anger, his frustration at not understanding.
His eldest sister’s grandmother, Sheila is pious and churchgoing, she tries to help him and the family, but it always feels too little too late. She is in a gay relationship, again a point of confusion for him.
None of the relationships around Kai are typical almost as if the author wanted them to be exaggerated and dysfunctional emphasising his lack of direction and the disempowerment he feels, even his girlfriend has to get him drunk to sleep with her. He experiences losses and is steered towards a life he does not want, and he is shown as powerless to control his own destiny.
This is a novel outlining how our children can be let down by systems because we don’t want to believe, they do not have a voice, or others hide the truth effectively letting children fall through the cracks in society. This is beautifully written to show the impact all of this has on those children, the insight is heart-breaking – the author leaves the reader wanting to pick up Kai and hug him, reach out and do something to give him support.
I received a free copy from netgally.com for my fair and honest review.
This novel left me very uncomfortable and sad. The story is about Kai (nick-named Rabbit as he loves to run and is obsessed with Rabbits), a mixed-race boy whose mother is black, is with her third partner, and has children from multiple fathers. Her current partner is Rabbit’s father and is Welsh with no occupation but is a thief, breaking into properties and bringing home the proceeds as if they are bonuses.
When we meet Kai, he is a teenager and hanging outside a prison. We know he is nervous and he does not go in but is thinking about someone inside he would like to see. His thoughts are erratic and we find out he hides his true self from everyone in his conversation with his eldest sister. We get an insight into the confusion and disillusion he has through his thoughts and reactions to his life. We view the world through his eyes and he shares dreams, that sound like hallucinations created by drug use, with the reader.
We then switch to Kai when he was younger, primary aged and more optimistic, positive about life. His love of running and his best friend, Saffie, who he wishes to fly to the moon with, to a secret garden where no one else can get to them. We journey with him as he tries to make sense of his relationships with his family and the life he has at home. The lack of stability even from those he expects it from. His confusion and lack of understanding of the responses and reactions of those around him. Trying to deal with his parent’s unstable relationship and their own lack of direction, the spiral of alcohol and increasingly stronger drugs. That he is the only male child in the family and so has a different status to his sisters despite being the youngest. School tries to reach out and support him but there is too much going on for them to succeed and his personal view of himself becomes very negative. Once tragedy starts to hit his young life he becomes disconnected from reality and even the school support seems to disappear.
The story switches between him at these two points in his life until it brings us up to the present. The episodic nature helps us to understand the young adult more as a product of his upbringing and life in a council estate with drug addicted parents.
There is only a light touch on racism with one incident shared in primary, but it highlights the depth of his anger, his frustration at not understanding.
His eldest sister’s grandmother, Sheila is pious and churchgoing, she tries to help him and the family, but it always feels too little too late. She is in a gay relationship, again a point of confusion for him.
None of the relationships around Kai are typical almost as if the author wanted them to be exaggerated and dysfunctional emphasising his lack of direction and the disempowerment he feels, even his girlfriend has to get him drunk to sleep with her. He experiences losses and is steered towards a life he does not want, and he is shown as powerless to control his own destiny.
This is a novel outlining how our children can be let down by systems because we don’t want to believe, they do not have a voice, or others hide the truth effectively letting children fall through the cracks in society. This is beautifully written to show the impact all of this has on those children, the insight is heart-breaking – the author leaves the reader wanting to pick up Kai and hug him, reach out and do something to give him support.
I received a free copy from netgally.com for my fair and honest review.
April 16, 2021
Raw, gritty, and uncompromising, King of Rabbits charts the story of Kai and his siblings, growing up on a Somerset council estate within a troubled family. Kai’s personality is energetic and imaginative and you can’t help but love him as he tries to make sense of a dysfunctional adult world, where he desperately wants his Mum and Dad to stop. Stop drinking, smoking, and using, so they will be present for him and his sisters. The adult ‘treasure chest,’ is full of drugs, and Kai witnesses his parents slide into addiction as the backdrop to his life. It’s puzzling, not startling to him.
Although the family is loving, addiction blanks out his Mum and Dad’s ability to parent. Kai yearns for his dad but is constantly let down.
This important novel explores the cycles of harm from addiction. Consequences are played out and shown in Kai’s behaviour, but there’s no preachiness. Parts of it are very funny. Neblett’s skill as a writer brings the situation to life with fresh, colloquial language, wicked dialogue, and acute observation. Her characters are fabulous and the plot builds up with a gentle suspense. Themes include racism, identity, and what family means. Kai’s dad is white and his mum is black and his sisters have different fathers. Nan is Nan to all the children, providing Kai and his sisters a strong role model even though she only has one grandchild.
King of Rabbits gives a voice to young working-class boys in a way that is fresh and powerful, that I for one, haven’t seen before – though perhaps My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal, Paul McVeigh’s The Good Son, or Barry Hine’s classic A Kestrel for a Knave might be referenced. I say a voice but it’s Kai’s inability to say what he thinks that makes this so tragic. As readers, we hear Kai’s thoughts, but the world doesn’t hear him speak, just interprets his bad-boy behaviour.
Don’t think of this as a heavy read, it’s also witty with a fabulous cast of minor characters such as Bob-cycle, Johnny the prawn, and Hippie-Mandy, but it’s the friendship between Kai and his best friend, Saffie, that form the emotional heartbeat of the book. Middledown Woods make a fabulous backdrop – growing up amongst nature and the freedom to roam isn’t something you might expect.
This book is so much bigger than any stereotypes you might attach to it. The writing is fluid and effortless. Neblett has a bright future as a writer ahead of her.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publishers, as Director of Novel Nights.
Although the family is loving, addiction blanks out his Mum and Dad’s ability to parent. Kai yearns for his dad but is constantly let down.
This important novel explores the cycles of harm from addiction. Consequences are played out and shown in Kai’s behaviour, but there’s no preachiness. Parts of it are very funny. Neblett’s skill as a writer brings the situation to life with fresh, colloquial language, wicked dialogue, and acute observation. Her characters are fabulous and the plot builds up with a gentle suspense. Themes include racism, identity, and what family means. Kai’s dad is white and his mum is black and his sisters have different fathers. Nan is Nan to all the children, providing Kai and his sisters a strong role model even though she only has one grandchild.
King of Rabbits gives a voice to young working-class boys in a way that is fresh and powerful, that I for one, haven’t seen before – though perhaps My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal, Paul McVeigh’s The Good Son, or Barry Hine’s classic A Kestrel for a Knave might be referenced. I say a voice but it’s Kai’s inability to say what he thinks that makes this so tragic. As readers, we hear Kai’s thoughts, but the world doesn’t hear him speak, just interprets his bad-boy behaviour.
Don’t think of this as a heavy read, it’s also witty with a fabulous cast of minor characters such as Bob-cycle, Johnny the prawn, and Hippie-Mandy, but it’s the friendship between Kai and his best friend, Saffie, that form the emotional heartbeat of the book. Middledown Woods make a fabulous backdrop – growing up amongst nature and the freedom to roam isn’t something you might expect.
This book is so much bigger than any stereotypes you might attach to it. The writing is fluid and effortless. Neblett has a bright future as a writer ahead of her.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publishers, as Director of Novel Nights.
January 4, 2021
PUBLISHER’S DESCRIPTION:
Kai lives in a mixed-race family on a rural council estate in Somerset where he and his three older sisters have three different dads, and his mum is being led into crack addiction by his petty-thief father. He idolises his dad, adores his friend Saffie and the school rabbit Flopsy, and is full of ambition to be the fastest runner in Middledown Primary. He and Saffie build a secret world of friendship in the school garden. But Kai's natural optimism, imagination and energy run up against adult behaviour he doesn't understand: his parents' on-and-off romance, his dad's increasing addiction and the limitations of poverty. Despite the people who try to look out for him, notably his loving Nanny Sheila and his big sister Leah, Kai's life drifts towards a tragedy from which it is hard for him to recover. The refuge he seeks in his love of nature, and the wild rabbits who have made their burrows in the woods, may not be refuge enough.
Karla Neblett has created a vivid language that is both crafted and raw to tell a story of class, race and how our society fails working class young men.
NO SPOILERS
It has been very difficult to write this review without spoilers but here is my best effort.
First, I will say, read this book. It will break your heart but the moon will shine brighter for it.
Next I will try. Initially I was interested in reading King of Rabbits because like the main character, Kai, I am mixed-race (mixed-heritage is a much better term) but that aspect of his life has little bearing in the book. Rabbits, though…that grabbed me. The publisher’s description tells you all you need to know about the story…and I did realise early on what the tragedy would be but the twist towards the end caught me unaware.
Neblett alternates the chapters between then and now. “Now” is written in the first person with Kai being fifteen years old. “Then” is written in the third person when Kai was five and six yet the narration is written completely with a child’s perspective, understanding and language. It is, frankly, brilliant. The story is so all consuming, the style so effortless to read that it is easy to miss just how skilled a writer Neblett is.
Last I will say again, read this book; it WILL break your heart but the moon WILL shine brighter for it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK, Cornerstone for the complimentary copy of the book, which I have voluntarily reviewed.
Kai lives in a mixed-race family on a rural council estate in Somerset where he and his three older sisters have three different dads, and his mum is being led into crack addiction by his petty-thief father. He idolises his dad, adores his friend Saffie and the school rabbit Flopsy, and is full of ambition to be the fastest runner in Middledown Primary. He and Saffie build a secret world of friendship in the school garden. But Kai's natural optimism, imagination and energy run up against adult behaviour he doesn't understand: his parents' on-and-off romance, his dad's increasing addiction and the limitations of poverty. Despite the people who try to look out for him, notably his loving Nanny Sheila and his big sister Leah, Kai's life drifts towards a tragedy from which it is hard for him to recover. The refuge he seeks in his love of nature, and the wild rabbits who have made their burrows in the woods, may not be refuge enough.
Karla Neblett has created a vivid language that is both crafted and raw to tell a story of class, race and how our society fails working class young men.
NO SPOILERS
It has been very difficult to write this review without spoilers but here is my best effort.
First, I will say, read this book. It will break your heart but the moon will shine brighter for it.
Next I will try. Initially I was interested in reading King of Rabbits because like the main character, Kai, I am mixed-race (mixed-heritage is a much better term) but that aspect of his life has little bearing in the book. Rabbits, though…that grabbed me. The publisher’s description tells you all you need to know about the story…and I did realise early on what the tragedy would be but the twist towards the end caught me unaware.
Neblett alternates the chapters between then and now. “Now” is written in the first person with Kai being fifteen years old. “Then” is written in the third person when Kai was five and six yet the narration is written completely with a child’s perspective, understanding and language. It is, frankly, brilliant. The story is so all consuming, the style so effortless to read that it is easy to miss just how skilled a writer Neblett is.
Last I will say again, read this book; it WILL break your heart but the moon WILL shine brighter for it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK, Cornerstone for the complimentary copy of the book, which I have voluntarily reviewed.
October 25, 2021
Drug-taking, criminality, dysfunctional families; all subjects often associated with tough urban areas and cities. So it's refreshing to read a novel set in the towns and villages of the west country, where these issues are given a fresh perspective from the fields and farms of rural England.
'King of Rabbits' is an impressive debut; an extensive piece of prose told from different time and age viewpoints, leading to two pivotal moments that shape the narrator's life forever.
As a former teacher, I used to teach kids like narrator Kai and the book gives a unique look into their emotional worlds and the rules and conventions that govern them. How children can idolise a parent (i.e. the Dad) and cut them a huge amount of slack until they just can't do it anymore. The scene where Kai discovers his Dad has stolen his pocket money to buy drugs is heart-breaking.
We get a fresh view of children's feelings, turning guilt, shame and revulsion into almost poetic descriptions (the lizard in the throat); part real, part mystical, with an investment in possessions and animals that turns them into participants in a world of fantasy and play.
The book shows how children draw morality from their parents, but also have their own sense of right and wrong. When they go against this code, they often suffer. The remorse Kai feels after a fateful act involving a neighbour's pet, leaves a guilt he cannot assuage and we powerfully see the effect trying to contain it has on him.
There are telling details throughout (the self-harming scars on a child's arm) and also some great characters; Kai himself in his two incarnations, and also Nanny Sheila, a moral compass both for the children and the reader.
It is without doubt dark in places, but the love of feckless father Jesse for his son Kai feels real, and the Mum's dilemma, pulled in all directions by her need to believe in Jesse, while knowing he will always let them down, is well-observed. Her reliance on drink and drugs to salve her own emotional wounds, even at the cost of her children's care, is also poignant.
Ultimately, the book left a lasting effect and when I finally put it down, images and feelings stayed in my mind, a sure sign of a strong piece of writing.
'King of Rabbits' is an impressive debut; an extensive piece of prose told from different time and age viewpoints, leading to two pivotal moments that shape the narrator's life forever.
As a former teacher, I used to teach kids like narrator Kai and the book gives a unique look into their emotional worlds and the rules and conventions that govern them. How children can idolise a parent (i.e. the Dad) and cut them a huge amount of slack until they just can't do it anymore. The scene where Kai discovers his Dad has stolen his pocket money to buy drugs is heart-breaking.
We get a fresh view of children's feelings, turning guilt, shame and revulsion into almost poetic descriptions (the lizard in the throat); part real, part mystical, with an investment in possessions and animals that turns them into participants in a world of fantasy and play.
The book shows how children draw morality from their parents, but also have their own sense of right and wrong. When they go against this code, they often suffer. The remorse Kai feels after a fateful act involving a neighbour's pet, leaves a guilt he cannot assuage and we powerfully see the effect trying to contain it has on him.
There are telling details throughout (the self-harming scars on a child's arm) and also some great characters; Kai himself in his two incarnations, and also Nanny Sheila, a moral compass both for the children and the reader.
It is without doubt dark in places, but the love of feckless father Jesse for his son Kai feels real, and the Mum's dilemma, pulled in all directions by her need to believe in Jesse, while knowing he will always let them down, is well-observed. Her reliance on drink and drugs to salve her own emotional wounds, even at the cost of her children's care, is also poignant.
Ultimately, the book left a lasting effect and when I finally put it down, images and feelings stayed in my mind, a sure sign of a strong piece of writing.
March 19, 2021
The most saddening, heart-breaking story told in this debut from Karla Neblett.
Kai is a wonderfully innocent, endearing young boy, living with his parents and siblings in a Somerset council estate. He struggles to comprehend the meaning of love, witnessing his parents frequent arguments and absences, and takes solace in his friendship with childhood sweetheart Saffie...and his need to care for another living creature, being the school rabbit Flopsy.
Neblett moves between Kai’s perspective in the first person narrative in 2004, and the ‘then’ passages written in third person...which I felt reflected the Kai that was ‘then’ and the Kai who’s perspective we see in 2004 being quite different.
Neblett creates characters you adore (in Kai and his loving Nanny Sheila), those you detest (too many to count), and those in between...that you feel frustrated by, and utterly disappointed in. She creates real, flawed humans, and evokes a strong emotive response in the reader.
My only criticism is that I feel she could have explored Kai’s gentle and nurturing nature to a much greater extent through his love for his pet rabbit, especially given it is so key to the title. I also felt that there was a lot of focus on his parents and their relationship that at times resulted in the novel being a little slow to develop and maintain engagement.
There are difficult themes in this novel, and it challenges perception and prejudice. It explores many of our emotional needs as human beings, to love and be loved, for freedom and hope, and it also considers the consequences of decisions and actions on us, and those around us.
Trigger warnings for this novel include: drug abuse, racial prejudice, animal cruelty, and suicidal thoughts and actions.
This book is deeply moving, and the definition of a tragedy. It is so real, honest, and relevant. I would definitely recommend this book...however not without preparing for your heart to be broken...and I would strongly advise having a hot drink and a hug waiting for you when you finish reading.
Thank you to both Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an eARC of this wonderful book!!
Kai is a wonderfully innocent, endearing young boy, living with his parents and siblings in a Somerset council estate. He struggles to comprehend the meaning of love, witnessing his parents frequent arguments and absences, and takes solace in his friendship with childhood sweetheart Saffie...and his need to care for another living creature, being the school rabbit Flopsy.
Neblett moves between Kai’s perspective in the first person narrative in 2004, and the ‘then’ passages written in third person...which I felt reflected the Kai that was ‘then’ and the Kai who’s perspective we see in 2004 being quite different.
Neblett creates characters you adore (in Kai and his loving Nanny Sheila), those you detest (too many to count), and those in between...that you feel frustrated by, and utterly disappointed in. She creates real, flawed humans, and evokes a strong emotive response in the reader.
My only criticism is that I feel she could have explored Kai’s gentle and nurturing nature to a much greater extent through his love for his pet rabbit, especially given it is so key to the title. I also felt that there was a lot of focus on his parents and their relationship that at times resulted in the novel being a little slow to develop and maintain engagement.
There are difficult themes in this novel, and it challenges perception and prejudice. It explores many of our emotional needs as human beings, to love and be loved, for freedom and hope, and it also considers the consequences of decisions and actions on us, and those around us.
Trigger warnings for this novel include: drug abuse, racial prejudice, animal cruelty, and suicidal thoughts and actions.
This book is deeply moving, and the definition of a tragedy. It is so real, honest, and relevant. I would definitely recommend this book...however not without preparing for your heart to be broken...and I would strongly advise having a hot drink and a hug waiting for you when you finish reading.
Thank you to both Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an eARC of this wonderful book!!
March 13, 2021
Oh, Kai. My heart broke slowly throughout your story, beginning with little cracks growing bigger and bigger, until you made it crumble to dust entirely.
Neblett shows us Kai’s story through two timeframes - one as a child, and the other as a teenager. We see him growing up on a council estate, seeing things he shouldn’t, experiencing things he shouldn’t, and we’re allowed to see his child’s mind interpreting what’s going on around him. He creates worlds in his mind, plans his future with his best friend Saffie, makes everything magical with his imagination. Then, we see him older, more mature, yet irrevocably damaged. He knows what’s going on in his life, and he no longer turns to magic to escape.
The cruelties delivered to Kai through the circumstances of his life are unfair, and horrid. It’s clear through both narratives how these cruelties come to shape Kai’s understanding of the world, and his opinions of it. It’s an incredibly bleak, yet hopelessly realistic view of the lives of many. Despite falling in love with Kai, and hoping beyond hope he has the strength to fight the lessons his upbringing has taught him, there’s an overarching feeling that this boy has little to hope for.
Neblett’s writing style is a crucial and perfect voice for Kai. She presents us with the stark realities of his home life, and yet peppers through some humour and bright spots. She weaves, she hints, she sets out all the signs for us. We can only hope we’re able to read them properly - I couldn’t until the last minute, until it was all too late.
This is an important story because it focuses on the everyday, on the boys who grow up surrounded by poverty and drugs, who experience things at a young age which aren’t meant for little boys. I spoke briefly with Neblett, and she told me she just had to write this novel, as the stories of these boys are rarely told. And she’s absolutely right - we don’t speak about these horrors, we do little to stop them. How many boys have ended up like Kai? How many more?
Neblett shows us Kai’s story through two timeframes - one as a child, and the other as a teenager. We see him growing up on a council estate, seeing things he shouldn’t, experiencing things he shouldn’t, and we’re allowed to see his child’s mind interpreting what’s going on around him. He creates worlds in his mind, plans his future with his best friend Saffie, makes everything magical with his imagination. Then, we see him older, more mature, yet irrevocably damaged. He knows what’s going on in his life, and he no longer turns to magic to escape.
The cruelties delivered to Kai through the circumstances of his life are unfair, and horrid. It’s clear through both narratives how these cruelties come to shape Kai’s understanding of the world, and his opinions of it. It’s an incredibly bleak, yet hopelessly realistic view of the lives of many. Despite falling in love with Kai, and hoping beyond hope he has the strength to fight the lessons his upbringing has taught him, there’s an overarching feeling that this boy has little to hope for.
Neblett’s writing style is a crucial and perfect voice for Kai. She presents us with the stark realities of his home life, and yet peppers through some humour and bright spots. She weaves, she hints, she sets out all the signs for us. We can only hope we’re able to read them properly - I couldn’t until the last minute, until it was all too late.
This is an important story because it focuses on the everyday, on the boys who grow up surrounded by poverty and drugs, who experience things at a young age which aren’t meant for little boys. I spoke briefly with Neblett, and she told me she just had to write this novel, as the stories of these boys are rarely told. And she’s absolutely right - we don’t speak about these horrors, we do little to stop them. How many boys have ended up like Kai? How many more?
December 24, 2020
Rating: 4.0/5
This is a moving and impressive debut from Karla Neblett.
The book operates across two timelines - late 2004 and an initially unspecified time, some years earlier. The novel's protagonist is Kai, a young boy of mixed race background, living in council accommodation with his unmarried parents and three elder sisters, each with different fathers. The household is a troubled one. Kai's parents both have their own issues with drink and drugs and there are regular tensions and arguments.
The narrative alternates between the two time frames. In the earlier one we learn that Kai is 5-6 years old, whereas in the later period he is 15. The author does a very effective job of creating narratives and atmospheres that suitably evoke the situation and circumstances surrounding Kai at these two distinct stages of his life. The sections relating to the younger Kai are particularly well handled. Reading these chapters it is impossible not to be drawn into young Kai's world and to recognise / remember just how impressionable children are at that age and how open they can be to the influence of their rôle models ... no matter how far from ideal those rôle models may be.
The social and domestic scenes that Karla Neblett describes are sometimes quite shocking, but there is still warmth and affection, in spite of the characters' relationships not complying with broader society's accepted norms. There are observations that will raise smiles and maybe even a few chuckles, but there are also others that will cause anger, frustration and perhaps a dampening of the eyes.
"King of Rabbits" doesn't always make for comfortable reading, but it is compelling ... and you should read it.
This is a moving and impressive debut from Karla Neblett.
The book operates across two timelines - late 2004 and an initially unspecified time, some years earlier. The novel's protagonist is Kai, a young boy of mixed race background, living in council accommodation with his unmarried parents and three elder sisters, each with different fathers. The household is a troubled one. Kai's parents both have their own issues with drink and drugs and there are regular tensions and arguments.
The narrative alternates between the two time frames. In the earlier one we learn that Kai is 5-6 years old, whereas in the later period he is 15. The author does a very effective job of creating narratives and atmospheres that suitably evoke the situation and circumstances surrounding Kai at these two distinct stages of his life. The sections relating to the younger Kai are particularly well handled. Reading these chapters it is impossible not to be drawn into young Kai's world and to recognise / remember just how impressionable children are at that age and how open they can be to the influence of their rôle models ... no matter how far from ideal those rôle models may be.
The social and domestic scenes that Karla Neblett describes are sometimes quite shocking, but there is still warmth and affection, in spite of the characters' relationships not complying with broader society's accepted norms. There are observations that will raise smiles and maybe even a few chuckles, but there are also others that will cause anger, frustration and perhaps a dampening of the eyes.
"King of Rabbits" doesn't always make for comfortable reading, but it is compelling ... and you should read it.
March 16, 2021
King of Rabbits is an astonishing debut, filled with complex issues and a sense of tragedy never dispelled.
The story revolves around Kai, and moves backwards and forwards, focusing on his life as a 6 year old, and now, as a 15 year old. Kai lives with his Mum, Dad and three older sisters. He has a best friend Saffie, and an amazing Nanny Sheila. He thinks his Dad is the coolest, but Kai is exposed to things no child should be. His parents openly take drugs in front of him, and he's more than aware his father is a thief. There is also domestic violence and alcohol abuse. He is likely dyslexic, and this goes unrecognised. His escape is going to the woods, watching his favourite animals - rabbits - and he builds a den which becomes his solace.
15 year old Kai has become everything he didn't want to be. Drinking, taking drugs and adrift without his best friend, he has only his Nanny to turn to. But he sinks further and further into hopelessness and depression, and there is no happy ending in this bleak, but wonderfully written debut.
I became fully engaged with Kai's story and at times it almost read more like a memoir as the detail was so intricate and compelling. This is not a story for the fainthearted and there are potential triggers but for anyone interested in the complexity of human relationships, family dynamics, addiction and mental health, this is a must read.
The story revolves around Kai, and moves backwards and forwards, focusing on his life as a 6 year old, and now, as a 15 year old. Kai lives with his Mum, Dad and three older sisters. He has a best friend Saffie, and an amazing Nanny Sheila. He thinks his Dad is the coolest, but Kai is exposed to things no child should be. His parents openly take drugs in front of him, and he's more than aware his father is a thief. There is also domestic violence and alcohol abuse. He is likely dyslexic, and this goes unrecognised. His escape is going to the woods, watching his favourite animals - rabbits - and he builds a den which becomes his solace.
15 year old Kai has become everything he didn't want to be. Drinking, taking drugs and adrift without his best friend, he has only his Nanny to turn to. But he sinks further and further into hopelessness and depression, and there is no happy ending in this bleak, but wonderfully written debut.
I became fully engaged with Kai's story and at times it almost read more like a memoir as the detail was so intricate and compelling. This is not a story for the fainthearted and there are potential triggers but for anyone interested in the complexity of human relationships, family dynamics, addiction and mental health, this is a must read.
October 31, 2024
A visceral depiction of domestic dysfunctionality told from the perspective of a naïve child seeing the behaviours of adults through a childlike lens. Kai is growing up as one of four siblings with parents who are struggling to escape addiction - his father disappears for days in mysterious fashion. The narrative style continuously hints at the level of poverty and neglect Kai is suffering: "Kai's house always smelled like fags and burnt toast" unlike the homes of other children. In the end, the grandmother has to intervene to protect the children from the children's parents.
Contrasting with this sense of urban decay is the presentation of nature and the countryside where Kai and his friend Saffie escape and play in the local woodland. Here they do what children are supposed to do: make dens, learn about wildlife and rabbits, and construct fantasy worlds showing the magic of a child's imagination. For example, they dream of visiting "Silver Moon". The rural escapism enables them to retreat into their childhood in a world that is forcing them to grow up too soon and see the ugliness of what life can be like: "Just before spring, starlings danced over the valley...Watching them made me feel could fly too."
A poignant novel brutally capturing the challenging and confusing transition from childhood to adulthood.
Contrasting with this sense of urban decay is the presentation of nature and the countryside where Kai and his friend Saffie escape and play in the local woodland. Here they do what children are supposed to do: make dens, learn about wildlife and rabbits, and construct fantasy worlds showing the magic of a child's imagination. For example, they dream of visiting "Silver Moon". The rural escapism enables them to retreat into their childhood in a world that is forcing them to grow up too soon and see the ugliness of what life can be like: "Just before spring, starlings danced over the valley...Watching them made me feel could fly too."
A poignant novel brutally capturing the challenging and confusing transition from childhood to adulthood.
September 26, 2022
‘King of Rabbits’ by Karla Neblett.
Book review:
(TW - This book/review contains references to addictions/drug abuse/self harm).
This is a very emotional read. ‘King of Rabbits’ centres around the lives of Kai and his three sisters, a mixed race family who all live on a council estate in Somerset.
Both his mum and dad are addicted to drugs, with the latter known for being a petty thief. Despite this, Kai idolises his dad, looking up to him as the primary role model in his life.
Whilst growing up, Kai constantly witnesses the unhealthy relationship and volatile moments that his parents have, being privy to their drug addictions, arguments and make up romance.
The author Karla Neblett writes the book from two perspectives: One of Kai aged 5 and the other of Kai when he is 15. I really liked this because it helps you understand how Kai is raised, being a product of his environment, which shapes the person he is at 15.
Despite attempted interventions from school, his nanny and sister Leah, Kai’s life spirals into a series of dangerous and traumatic experiences.
Emotional but enjoyable read nonetheless.
April 10, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed Karla Neblett's triumphant debut novel. She writes in a way which is accessible and easy to read about very real and gritty subjects, weaving in moments of humour, tenderness and beauty amongst the turmoil.
She deftly conveys in particular, I felt, the poignant juxtaposition of the adults' confusing and conflicting behaviour through the eyes of the young protagonist as he struggles to make sense of the world and the people around him. Switching between the younger and older version of Kai throughout the course of the book, the author helps the reader to develope a deep empathy for the character and how his life is shaped by his experiences.
A sad tale, but an engaging, engrossing and thought provoking one that invokes a wide range of emotions. Don't want to waffle on too much as I don't want to give any spoilers, but needless to say, I would highly recommend it and look forward to the author's future works.
She deftly conveys in particular, I felt, the poignant juxtaposition of the adults' confusing and conflicting behaviour through the eyes of the young protagonist as he struggles to make sense of the world and the people around him. Switching between the younger and older version of Kai throughout the course of the book, the author helps the reader to develope a deep empathy for the character and how his life is shaped by his experiences.
A sad tale, but an engaging, engrossing and thought provoking one that invokes a wide range of emotions. Don't want to waffle on too much as I don't want to give any spoilers, but needless to say, I would highly recommend it and look forward to the author's future works.
September 13, 2025
Oof. Not sure what to make of this one.
Dual timeline isn’t my favourite thing. I inevitably get far more hooked on one timeline than the other and then every other chapter is the one I don’t like and everything slows down.
What didn’t help was how unfocused the narrative was, with thoughts here, there and everywhere.
‘You can see the car crash coming but you can’t look away’….I was all prepared to be utterly emotionally destroyed by whatever was in store but I just wasn’t. Maybe I couldn’t get invested for the reasons mentioned above, but I also just couldn’t warm to Kai, especially in his teenage years.
The book was very slow to build up to…nothing. Ok, not nothing, but everything major happens off page and we only indirectly hear about it later.
And honestly…..His attitude towards women made me very uncomfortable (especially the teenage years at the end of the book), although I could see why it was written that way.
Dual timeline isn’t my favourite thing. I inevitably get far more hooked on one timeline than the other and then every other chapter is the one I don’t like and everything slows down.
What didn’t help was how unfocused the narrative was, with thoughts here, there and everywhere.
‘You can see the car crash coming but you can’t look away’….I was all prepared to be utterly emotionally destroyed by whatever was in store but I just wasn’t. Maybe I couldn’t get invested for the reasons mentioned above, but I also just couldn’t warm to Kai, especially in his teenage years.
The book was very slow to build up to…nothing. Ok, not nothing, but everything major happens off page and we only indirectly hear about it later.
And honestly…..His attitude towards women made me very uncomfortable (especially the teenage years at the end of the book), although I could see why it was written that way.
April 15, 2021
This book was unusual as half the story is told from the perspective of 5 year old Kai. Karla captures the Will o wisp nature of young Kai's thinking. Despite growing up facing such hardships his focus is often elsewhere particularly in his fantasy world or thinking about his den. I work with children this age and it made me feel so sad that no one was there to help him apart from his kind Nanny Shelia.
I think it is very clever to juxtaposition young Kai with teenage Kai. It allows you to see how the damage affects him as he is growing to manhood.
The other characters are vibrantly brought to life and you get a real sense of place from the unusal slang. Despite reading many books in my life I have never read such a realistic portrayal of a family struggling with addiction and its consequences.
I would highly recommend this book.
I think it is very clever to juxtaposition young Kai with teenage Kai. It allows you to see how the damage affects him as he is growing to manhood.
The other characters are vibrantly brought to life and you get a real sense of place from the unusal slang. Despite reading many books in my life I have never read such a realistic portrayal of a family struggling with addiction and its consequences.
I would highly recommend this book.
March 26, 2024
The story of a boy called Kai, told from dual perspectives - him at 5 years old and him at 15 years old. His parents are both crack addicts and this is the story of his upbringing, his environment, relationships and how these impact and shape his teenage life.
I can only describe Kai’s story as a slow motion car crash - as a review quoted on the cover, you can see it coming but can’t look away. Kai is just the most loveable character and if my heart ached for his little soul throughout the story, it smashed to smithereens at the end.
If anything, this story just proves how a child’s upbringing and social circumstances impact their future and entire personality, perspective on life and self worth. This was a very real, very raw heartbreaking novel that is sadly the way it is for many, many children in real life.
I can only describe Kai’s story as a slow motion car crash - as a review quoted on the cover, you can see it coming but can’t look away. Kai is just the most loveable character and if my heart ached for his little soul throughout the story, it smashed to smithereens at the end.
If anything, this story just proves how a child’s upbringing and social circumstances impact their future and entire personality, perspective on life and self worth. This was a very real, very raw heartbreaking novel that is sadly the way it is for many, many children in real life.
May 8, 2021
A feeling of dread stalks the pages, you know this is not going to be a book with a happy ending from the very beginning, but joy and curiosity compels you forward anyway. Whether it's joy from the descriptive and compelling writing, the well-crafted multi dimensional characters, the comedy, the realism, the plot, or the beauty in Kai and his childlike worldview that shines through.
It's a world not often inhabited in literature as well, one that makes a working class reader who grew up on a semi-rural council estate, like me, feel chuffed as hell to find it. It's so good to hear this voice, this viewpoint, this place, in a book; it feels real, and very unlike how working class lives and spaces are often portrayed.
Overall, this is a fantastic debut.
It's a world not often inhabited in literature as well, one that makes a working class reader who grew up on a semi-rural council estate, like me, feel chuffed as hell to find it. It's so good to hear this voice, this viewpoint, this place, in a book; it feels real, and very unlike how working class lives and spaces are often portrayed.
Overall, this is a fantastic debut.
May 13, 2021
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARe-copy in exchange for this honest review.
I found this a really hard-going read. Kai is a lovable character both in the narratives that relate to his six-year old experiences and those that have moved forward in time to when he is 15. He has so much love to give and is so eager to discover his world and all that it holds. And yet he is continuously neglected by his parents as he witnesses their chaotic self-destruction into lives utterly consumed by drink and drugs. This heartbreaking journey leads Kai to discoveries about tragedy and loss which make this book so painful to read as he experiences more and more awful things. This book says some important things about class, addiction and childhood trauma, and how it erodes the innocence and love the young Kai has. However, there is hope as he matures that he will make it in the end.
I found this a really hard-going read. Kai is a lovable character both in the narratives that relate to his six-year old experiences and those that have moved forward in time to when he is 15. He has so much love to give and is so eager to discover his world and all that it holds. And yet he is continuously neglected by his parents as he witnesses their chaotic self-destruction into lives utterly consumed by drink and drugs. This heartbreaking journey leads Kai to discoveries about tragedy and loss which make this book so painful to read as he experiences more and more awful things. This book says some important things about class, addiction and childhood trauma, and how it erodes the innocence and love the young Kai has. However, there is hope as he matures that he will make it in the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews