A rabbit helps a grieving family heal in Melanie Cheng's 'The Burrow'

Melanie Cheng's novel "The Burrow" explores a family's grief through the lens of a pet rabbit named Fiver. The story draws inspiration from Richard Adams' "Watership Down," as the family adopts the rabbit after a tragic event. Fiver symbolizes the family's collective sorrow and the fragility of life. As they navigate their emotions, the characters reveal their struggles with connection and understanding, paralleling Fiver's vulnerable existence as a prey animal. Cheng uses Fiver's presence to create suspense and highlight the family's journey toward self-discovery. The narrative captures their slow transformation as they learn to cope with their loss and support one another.