Some books entertain.
Some books teach.
And every once in a while, a book quietly challenges readers—children and adults alike—to examine the assumptions they carry in their own hearts.
Redeeming Rhubarb is one of those rare books.
At first glance, it appears to be an exciting animal adventure set against the backdrop of Colorado’s devastating 2013 floods. Mice, rats, cats, dogs, bats, cougars, storms, rescues, danger, and survival create a fast-moving story that young readers will eagerly follow. But beneath the adventure is something much deeper: a thoughtful exploration of prejudice, forgiveness, redemption, courage, and grace.
The central character, Rhubarb, is not an easy hero to love.
He is stubborn, fearful, prejudiced, and deeply wounded by experiences from his past. His hatred of rats has become part of his identity, and he passes that hatred to his daughter Strawberry almost as if it were an inherited family tradition. Yet Strawberry sees something her father cannot. When she encounters Barnabas and his family, she discovers kindness where her father sees only enemies.
That relationship becomes the emotional heartbeat of the novel.
Rather than presenting prejudice as something only “bad people” possess, Bob Richley portrays it as something that often grows from fear, pain, grief, and unresolved wounds. That makes Rhubarb a surprisingly believable character. Readers may not always agree with him, but they understand how he became who he is—and that makes his eventual redemption all the more powerful.
Barnabas serves as the perfect counterbalance.
He responds to hatred with dignity rather than revenge. His compassion, wisdom, poetry, humility, and willingness to sacrifice for others continually challenge both Rhubarb and the reader. His presence reminds us that character is revealed through actions, not appearances.
One of the greatest strengths of Redeeming Rhubarb is that it trusts young readers with complex ideas.
The book tackles racism, stereotypes, addiction, grief, courage, family loyalty, forgiveness, sacrifice, and faith without becoming preachy. Instead, these themes naturally emerge through the lives of memorable animal characters. Parents will likely find themselves pausing throughout the story for meaningful conversations with their children.
The Colorado flood itself becomes more than a historical backdrop.
It becomes a metaphor for life’s unexpected disasters and the choices we make when everything familiar is swept away. The danger feels real, the tension remains high, and readers are reminded that crisis often reveals the true character hidden inside each of us.
Richley’s illustrations complement the storytelling beautifully, helping younger readers connect emotionally with the characters while never distracting from the narrative itself.
Perhaps most impressive is the author’s willingness to let redemption take time.
Real transformation rarely happens in a single conversation. Rhubarb’s journey unfolds gradually through failure, loss, humility, and difficult choices. That patience gives the ending genuine emotional weight rather than easy sentimentality. Even the author’s note encourages families to continue the conversations beyond the final page, inviting readers to consider how bias forms and how kindness can overcome it.
Why We Love It
At Reading With Your Kids, we believe the very best books help families do more than simply finish another story.
They create conversations.
Redeeming Rhubarb is exactly that kind of book.
It opens the door to discussions about kindness, fairness, forgiveness, judging others, courage, family relationships, and choosing compassion over fear. It reminds us that every person has a story we cannot see, and that hearts can change when love is given room to work.
Children will enjoy the adventure.
Parents will appreciate the depth.
Families will remember the conversations long after the final chapter.
Our Recommendation
We enthusiastically award Redeeming Rhubarb the Reading With Your Kids Certified Great Read designation.
This is an ambitious, emotionally rich middle-grade novel that combines exciting adventure with timeless lessons about grace, redemption, and the courage to see others not through the lens of prejudice, but through the eyes of compassion.
It is a story that reminds us that bridges are always stronger than walls—and that redemption is possible for every heart willing to change.
Highly Recommended for families, classrooms, homeschoolers, church libraries, and anyone who believes stories have the power to make the world a little kinder.
