Redeeming Rhubarb by Bob Richley is a simple and easy to understand, animal adventure book with underlying ideas of prejudice and forgiveness.
Let’s see what this book walks us into.
“In an abandoned factory near Mesa Drive, Strawberry, a young
mouse, lived with her family and a few other mice, who had turned
old offices into cozy homes. Over the years, mice from the factory
had made regular scavenging trips to the Goodwill Dumpster.
Scraps of fabric and bits of paper found in the factory were used to
fill mattresses for doll beds.”
Redeeming Rhubarb by Bob Richley
I have a question for all..? Have you ever hated someone without really knowing them? Not because they did something to you personally, but because that’s what you’ve always been told to think?
That’s the idea behind Redeeming Rhubarb, and that’s what i liked about it.
At first look, this books looked like a simple animal adventure about mice, rats, dogs, cats etc to me. And yes, there are plenty of action around that idea. But with all that, this is also a story about realising that the “enemy” isn’t who you think they are.
Rhubarb is a mouse who absolutely cannot stand rats. In his mind, they’re trouble(End of discussion). So when Barnabas, a rat, moves into the area, Rhubarb’s defenses worked. The interesting part? Barnabas never fights back. He doesn’t try to win arguments. He doesn’t seek revenge.
And honestly, that’s what makes the story work.
Also Read: Scariest Horror Books- Don’t Read Alone
Richley takes his time. Rhubarb’s prejudice wasn’t built in a day, so his redemption doesn’t happen in a day either.
I also loved Strawberry, Rhubarb’s daughter. Kids often see things adults miss, don’t they?
Then there’s Bailey, an abused street dog. Watching his journey toward trust and compassion was one of the book’s strongest side stories.
“When hatred and bigotry end, we can turn enemies into friends.”
So why 3.5 stars instead of 5?
Mostly because there are some sections which feels repeat of ideas that readers have probably already understood. I also felt the book occasionally explains itself a bit too much.
Still, I genuinely enjoyed the heart behind this book.
Also Read: Top 10 Books for Women’s Book Club
Storyline: (Spoiler!)
So, what happens when a mouse spends years hating rats… and then discovers he might be completely wrong?
That’s basically Rhubarb’s problem.
Rhubarb is a mouse who has strong opinions about rats and by “strong opinions,” I mean he thinks they’re all bad news. So when Barnabas, a black rat, moves into the neighborhood with his family, Rhubarb practically has his judgment ready before saying hello. Sound familiar?
Meanwhile, Rhubarb’s daughter, Strawberry, starts asking serious questions. You know, things like, “What if Dad is wrong?” She becomes friends with Barnabas’s family and begins seeing them as individuals instead of “the rats.”
As if family drama wasn’t enough, the animals face predators, attacks, hunger, and all sorts of wilderness dangers. There’s also Bailey, a street dog who’s experience with human is terrible. Watching Bailey slowly learn to gain trust is one of the book’s sweetest storylines.
Then comes the big disaster: a massive flood. During the crisis, Barnabas repeatedly risks his life to help others. (you all know where this storyline is going exactly)
At that point, Rhubarb can no longer ignore the truth.
Similar Read: The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley
| Genre | Fiction |
| Number of Pages | 248 pages |
| My Rating | 3.5⭐⭐️⭐️ |
| Release Date | May 22, 2026 |
What I Loved
What I liked most about this book is that it doesn’t teaches us. Instead, it just asks a simple question, believing that someone is wrong without even knowing him, is it correct?
That’s a question worth asking.
Quotes:
“Because I’ve been forgiven for so much, I can forgive others.”
Final Verdict?
Redeeming Rhubarb may seems to be about mice and rats on the surface, but it’s really about our society now a days. Judging people without even conversing with them. Overall it’s a good read.
If you like reading book blogs, you can checkout our latest updated Best Book Blogs 2026.
Who should read it:
- If your age is between 8–14 & you like to read animal adventures.
- If you are parents looking for family read-alouds with themes like kindness/forgiveness etc.
- If you liked Charlotte’s Web, The Tale of Despereaux, Redwall etc..
Books like Redeeming Rhubarb by Bob Richley:
- Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
- Sophia Starr and a Dog to Love by Sarah Lipman
