Sunny and the Border Patrol by Maureen Young (Author) and Rebecca Popowich (Illustrator)

This review first appeared on Reader Views. Read the Reader Views Kids version here. 

Hares Harrow and Arty are Eastside Warren border patrollers—those charged with keeping an eye on things for Eastside Warren. They discover that the humans have interfered with their main source of food by putting up a fence around a garden. In order to find a plan to deal with this fence, Harrow, Arty, and a senior border patroller—Sunny—are charged with an adventure. They are to seek out a certain beaver who lives far away and get his help in dealing with the fence issue. But Sunny is…well…tough to work with, and she has her own prerogatives. Will Sunny put the mission in danger, or can everything be accomplished together?

Sunny and the Border Patrol is a young reader/middle grade (ages 7-11) adventure book featuring anthropomorphized rabbit—and other animal—characters. This allows author Maureen Young to sometimes dabble in slightly darker than typical themes because it allows the reader some more distance from the characters. That said, there may still be some scary moments for readers on the younger end of middle-grade. This is not said to discourage readers, only to be sure characters in physical peril can be tolerated.

Rebecca Popowich’s illustrations are fun pops of imagery throughout the book. They help break up the reading pleasantly and add character to the book. Their sketched nature adds a personal level to them as well as a distinct personality to the book that is welcome.

Overall, Young and Popowich have deftly teamed up to create a fun adventure for middle-grade readers with this, the first book in The Eastside Series. There is good pacing to the struggles and triumphs the adventurers face. Additionally, there is a good cast of distinctive characters whom Harrow, Arty, and Sunny meet along the way.

Sunny and the Border Patrol is an animal-character-based middle-grade adventure novel. While the main characters of Harrow, Arty, and Sunny get themselves into some scrapes (sometimes literally), the book is certainly still suitable for the middle-grade audience as a whole. Sketched illustrations by Popowich throughout offer a fun way to break up the text as well as add personality and a personal touch to the book. Overall, Young has crafted an adventurous read for the right reader.

Sunny and the Border Patrol by Maureen Young (Author) and Rebecca Popowich (Illustrator), FriesenPress