Cousins Bee and Alice (white, age 12) reunite after many years for their grandparents’ 50th anniversary in late 2019. Bee adores their grandparents and lives with her mom in the small Minnesota town where her and Alice’s moms grew up. Religious faith is important to Bee, but she’s secretly questioning some teachings of her conservative Lutheran church since realizing she likes girls. Alice’s family lives in Seattle. Alice only has a relationship with their grandma, who visits Seattle alone because of a family rift. She’s not religious, but she practically worships roller derby. None of these differences matter to the two girls, who stay connected by text after Alice’s family returns home; they’re determined to uncover the source of the family divide. Then the pandemic disrupts daily life. Bee misses her dad’s more accepting church in Minneapolis and finds herself more and more at odds with her opinionated grandpa. Alice’s learning differences are better accommodated by the changes in schooling, but she misses roller derby. As the girls navigate differing perspectives about pandemic precautions, shared grief over their grandma’s death, and dismay and anger at death of George Floyd, they solidify their friendship and commit to bringing their moms, at least, together. Rich, complex characterizations ground this deeply felt story told in the girls’ alternating voices. (Ages 9-13)

To rebuild their broken family, a pair of audacious tween cousins must confront the long-buried secrets that destroyed it in this upper middle grade novel told from dual perspectives.

Twelve-year-olds Alice and Bee are practically strangers when their grandparents’ anniversary party reunites their estranged families and ignites their own fast friendship.

But their reunion doesn’t last long—Bee’s mother and grandfather are dead set on keeping the liberal Seattle faction of the family away from the conservative Minnesota crew. “It’s complicated,” the grown ups tell them over and over (and over!) again.

Bee and Alice grow closer despite their geographical distance, determined to keep their friendship going—and to uncover the big family secret. What happened all those years ago, and why did it tear their family apart?

Just when they've started to make progress, the COVID pandemic strikes. Bee and Alice watch as the world shuts down and their loved ones grow further divided along their fractured lines. Somehow, it’s up to the twelve-year-olds to clean up the mess that the grown ups have made.

This powerful, timely story cuts deep, touching on recent historic events and intimate family details alike. With an age-appropriate approach, Rabbit Rabbit tackles religion, sexuality, bodily autonomy, and other juicy stuff you're not supposed to talk about at Thanksgiving.

Readers will fall headfirst for Alice and Bee as the unforgettable tweens make space for their friendship and shifting identities while standing up to their far-from-perfect family, with all the love and grace they can muster.