Have you ever picked up a book thinking it was going to be one thing, only to realize it was something completely different? Well, that's exactly what happened when I read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo!
When I first heard about this book, I thought, "Okay, a story about a toy rabbit. This should be cute!" And while it definitely has some sweet moments, it turned out to be a much deeper and more emotional story than I expected.
Seriously, who knew a china rabbit could teach us so much about life?
I've actually read lots of Kate DiCamillo's books over the years, so I was excited to read another one. And here's something fun: I finished this entire book in ONE DAY! I'm 13, so it was a pretty quick read for me, but that doesn't mean it wasn't worth reading!
So, was it worth spending my day reading about a rabbit? Let's find out!
🐰 What's the Book About? (No Spoilers!)
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane follows a beautiful china rabbit named Edward Tulane, who belongs to a little girl named Abilene.
Abilene absolutely LOVES Edward. She dresses him in fancy clothes, takes care of him, and treats him like he's practically a real person.
But here's the thing about Edward...
He's kind of full of himself.
Okay, maybe REALLY full of himself.
Edward loves his fancy clothes, his beautiful appearance, and being admired. But even though Abilene loves him more than anything, Edward doesn't really understand what it means to love someone back.
Then, one day, something unexpected happens, and Edward is separated from Abilene.
Suddenly, his comfortable life is completely turned upside down.
Next, when I say Edward goes on a journey, I mean he REALLY goes on a journey!
My mom knocked on my bedroom door at one point and asked me where the book takes place, and my answer was, "Literally everywhere!"
She looked at me like that wasn't a very helpful answer. 😂
But I told her she'd just have to read the book herself to find out!
And honestly, I think that's part of what makes this story so interesting. You never really know where Edward is going to end up next or who he's going to meet along the way.
Don't worry, I'm not giving away any spoilers here. If my mom doesn't get to know, neither do you! 😉
💭 My Thoughts: Definitely Not Just a Cute Rabbit Story!
First of all, I was NOT expecting this book to be so emotional!
I thought it would be a fun little adventure about a rabbit traveling around, meeting people, and maybe getting into some trouble.
And yes, there's definitely an adventure. But there's also a lot of sadness, love, hope, and some pretty big life lessons.
At the beginning, Edward’s honestly not the most lovable rabbit. He's pretty selfish, a little stuck-up, and seems to think the world revolves around him.
But, as you go through the story, you start to see different sides of his personality.
I don't want to give away too much, but I really liked how Kate DiCamillo used Edward's experiences to make readers think about some pretty important things.
Who knew a china rabbit could be so complicated?
❤️ A Story About Love, Loss, and Second Chances
One thing that surprised me about this book was how much it made me think about love.
Not just the kind of love you might see in a romance movie, but the love between family members, friends, and people who care about each other.
The book also explores what happens when life doesn't go exactly the way you planned.
There are happy moments, sad moments, and moments that might make you stop and think for a minute.
I don't want to spoil anything, but I think one of the biggest messages is that the people we meet can have a huge impact on our lives.
Sometimes even the most unexpected experiences can teach us something important.
That's a pretty big lesson to learn from a rabbit!
🌟 My Favorite Thing About the Book
I really liked how each person Edward meets brings something different to the story.
Some of the characters only appear for a short time, but they still make the book memorable.
🤔 Was There Anything I Didn't Love?
Okay, as much as I enjoyed this book, I wouldn't give it a perfect 10/10.
Some parts were a little slow for me.
There were times when I wanted the story to move along faster or when I was waiting for something more exciting to happen.
I also didn't feel completely hooked every single moment.
If you're someone who loves books filled with action, mysteries, or huge plot twists, this one might feel a little different.
It's more of a thoughtful, emotional story than an action-packed adventure.
But even though there were slower parts, I still wanted to find out what would happen to Edward next.
And considering I finished the whole thing in one day, I guess it kept my attention pretty well!
📖 What Age Is This Book Good For?
One thing I really like about Kate DiCamillo's books is that you don't have to be a certain age to enjoy them.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is actually a great choice for younger readers, too!
It's generally recommended for ages 7–10 and up, depending on reading level and how comfortable you are with emotional stories, but I’m 13 and still enjoyed it!
Younger kids might enjoy having it read aloud to them, especially because there are some beautiful illustrations throughout the book. It would make a great “chapter-a-night bedtime story” and I’ve already recommended it to a family I babysit for.
I think that's one of the cool things about books. Sometimes you can read the same story at different ages and notice completely different things.
A younger reader might really enjoy Edward's adventures and all the different people he meets, while an older reader might connect more with the lessons about love and loss.
Just know that there are some sad moments, so it's not all sunshine and happy rabbits!
I'd recommend this book if you:
❤️ Enjoy stories with a meaningful message
🐰 Like unusual main characters
📚 Want a shorter book you can finish pretty quickly
💭 Enjoy books that make you think about life
🥹 Don't mind a few sad or emotional moments
Whether you're 8, 13, or even an adult, I think there's something you can take away from Edward's journey.
⏰ How Long Did It Take Me to Read?
This is something I’m actually pretty proud of: I finished this book in one day!
Since it was around 200 pages, it was definitely manageable if you have some free time like I did on a rainy Sunday and enjoy reading.
Since I'm 13, it was a pretty quick read for me. Younger readers might take a little longer, and that's totally fine!
I wouldn't say every page was super exciting, but it was easy enough to keep going, and I wanted to see where Edward's journey would take him.
Sometimes it's nice to read a book that doesn't take forever to finish, especially when you have school, activities, and everything else going on.
Plus, there's something really satisfying about starting AND finishing a book on the same day!
✍️ Fun Fact: I Actually Met Kate DiCamillo!
Okay, here's something really cool that I have to share!
A couple of years ago, I actually got to meet Kate DiCamillo in person at an author event!
I've read lots of her books over the years, so getting to meet the person who wrote some of my favorite stories was pretty exciting.
I made her a friendship bracelet and got to give it to her at the event. Kate DiCamillo even did autographs after the speaking part of the event and I left with a few of my favorites signed!
How cool is that?!
It's one thing to read books by an author you love, but it's a completely different experience to actually meet them. She was super nice. It was fun to hear her stories.
Even though it was a couple years ago, I still think it's pretty special that I got to give her something I made and have some of my favorite books signed by her.
I've read quite a few of Kate DiCamillo's stories over the years, and I think it's fun to see how different her books can be while still having such meaningful messages.
Would you like me to review more of her books? Let me know! I have plenty of thoughts about some of the others I've read!
⭐ My Final Rating: 8/10
Overall, I really enjoyed The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo.
Was it my favorite book of all time? No.
Were there some slower parts? Definitely.
But did it surprise me, make me think, and leave me with a message I'll remember? Absolutely!
What I liked most was that this book had a lot more meaning than I expected. It made me think about friendship, love, and how the people we meet can affect our lives.
And even though some parts were a little slow, there were definitely moments that stuck with me after I finished reading.
I also love that it's a book little readers can enjoy, but older kids (like me!) can still appreciate. You definitely don't have to be a little kid to enjoy a story about a toy rabbit.
So, if you're looking for a shorter book with a lot of heart, I'd recommend giving this one a try.
Just don't expect it to be a simple story about a cute rabbit!
My final rating: 8/10 ⭐
Happy reading!
– Hallie 📚✈️
Have you read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane? Have you read any other books by Kate DiCamillo? I'd love to know which ones are your favorites!
Thanks for reading another Hallie Travels book review! When I'm not exploring new places with my parents, you can usually find me exploring the pages of a good book!
