This wasn't in our household as a kid so I read if with no nostalgia factor. In fact, I knew so little about it that I assumed there was water and ships involved. As well as rabbits, which I somehow knew. Maybe all the rabbits got on a boat and had whacky adventures or something? Well, no, and the title is definitely *not* referring to something capsizing.
My unbiased, cynical opinion for those who read it when they were 12 and have fond memories: You are 100% correct. This is just a great adventure book, written by someone who is clearly fond of adventures, humans and rabbits all at once. (Could be nicer to dogs & cats though.) You get camraderie and perseverance and watch characters grow into roles thrust upon them by circumstance. Hazel, not the strongest or the smartest, becomes such a great leader in such a plausible way that I was totally unsurprised to find that any number of people are willing to give you management lessons based on the book. The chapter where Bigwig stands his ground is worth the price of admission on its own--it's the most thrilling performance by an underdog in a literary fight since Enkidu went 15 rounds against Gilgamesh and drew a majority draw. Could have used more female rabbits, and one good joke gets used twice, but those are perhaps the only mis-steps I saw.
Bottom line: Read this book if you haven't, get it for your kids if there's not a copy in the house.
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