Cress Watercress by Gregory Maguire

 

When I saw that Gregory Maguire had a new novel coming out last month, I already knew I was going to get it, whatever it was. The fact that it was an illustrated middle grades novel about a rabbit made it that much better. I've been a fan of Maguire's work since I read Wicked in college, and I've read most things he's come out with since then. I don't always love all of it, but I'm definitely a fan of his. I was excited to see what this story would be like, so I picked it up pretty soon after it was delivered.

The plot follows a young rabbit named Cress. She lives in a forest with her mother and baby brother Kip. As the novel begins, Cress and her family are moving to a new home. Her father has recently disappeared and is presumed to have been killed by a predator of some sort, and her mother wants to move to a place that has more neighbors, for their protection. Cress is very sad to leave her comfortable warren, and becomes even sadder when she arrives at the Broken Arms, an old tree in which her mother has rented an apartment. 

Their apartment is tiny and musty, and her new neighbors are a colorful group of characters that begin annoying her almost immediately. Their landlord, an owl named Mr. Titus Pillowby Owl, is standoffish and unfriendly. Their super, a mouse named Manfred Crabgrass, is usually grouchy. Their fellow tennants, a family of squirrels named the Oakleafs, are loud and too chatty, especially their three small sons. There are dangers to be aware of too - a fox named Renard, a bear named Tunk, and a snake named The Final Drainpipe are all sneaking about looking for their next meal. Cress tries to settle in, but can't help being a little prickly. She is still secretly hoping her father will reappear and take them all back home, but as more time passes, that seems less and less likely. Throughout the course of the story, Cress must come to terms with her loss and start building a new life in which she can be herself, embrace her talents, and find peace with her family and friends.

This story was phenomenal. I was in love from page one. The characters were cute and lovable and the story was a nice blend of action and quiet moments. Maguire maintained a wonderful fairytale-like tone throughout the text that made everything feel like a grand adventure, but he mixed that in with his signature quirky style and slightly sharp humor. The blending of the two styles was a joy to read and often had me snickering. The illustrations throughout the story were stunning as well. They seemed to be imbued with brightness and really gave the me the feeling of sitting in a forest dappled with sunlight. The character illustrations were incredibly charming too - this is certainly a novel meant to be read aloud with a child peeking over your shoulder. 

The themes presented here were surprisingly complex for a book about talking animals. The main issue in the novel is Cress and her family processing the loss of their father and finding a way to move on with their lives. Maguire doesn't shy away from showing their anger and their sadness as they grieve this loss, but he keeps the focus on their growth and hope as the story moves on. Cress also grapples with self confidence, building healthy friendships, empathy for others, and thinking creatively throughout the plot, and she learns this lesson in a way that does not feel patronizing to readers. It just feels lovely--like all of this is possible for us too if we open our hearts to it. 

I loved pretty much everything about Cress Watercress. It felt like a classic children's novel with just a tiny bit of an edge, and I was completely charmed by it from page one. This is a wonderful novel for younger readers, especially if read aloud with a parent. It's definitely another Gregory Maguire favorite for me too, and it definitely cements the idea in my mind that I need to keep following his work for both kids and adults.     

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 15/24

Total Books Read in 2022: 36