By Kaylie Seed
Content Warning: child abuse
Part historical fiction, part Cornish folklore, Jane Johnson’s The White Hare takes readers on a mysterious journey as Magdalena, her daughter Mila, and Mila’s daughter Janey move to the far west of Cornwall in hopes of starting over but have different ideas as to what that should look like. When stubborn and aggressive Magda comes across a gothic house sitting atop a cliff overlooking the ocean, she dreams of restoring it to its original glory as a venue where fantastical parties can happen. Quiet and anxious Mila, on the other hand, only wants a safe space for her and Janey as they try to outrun a scandal from Mila’s past. Introverted and imaginative Janey uses her favourite stuffed animal, Rabbit, as a way to escape, and tells unsettling stories that Rabbit has told her about White Valley.
The relationships between Magda, Mila, and Janey are all complex. What I appreciate about the complexity between these three is that it felt genuine. Families are complicated and messy, and Johnson portrayed that authentically throughout The White Hare. At its core, The White Hare focuses on trauma that can create rot in the family unit and the attempt to break that cycle of trauma. What this central theme parallels are secrets of their new home and the odd things that have been happening in White Valley for some time.
The pace of the plot is quite slow in the beginning; however, Johnson keeps the reader engaged by creating mysteries surrounding White Valley that the reader will want to uncover. As the plot progresses and comes closer to its conclusion, the story picks up speed until all of the secrets are revealed. The White Hare is an exceptionally atmospheric read as Cornish folklore is mixed with the supernatural and readers who enjoy Kate Morton and Alice Hoffman, or those looking for a mysterious read, will want to pick this one up.
Thank you, Simon and Schuster Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.