Watership Down is a genuine masterpiece that absolutely earned its classic status—the world-building is stunning, the themes are meaty, and the writing is beautiful. But let's be clear: this is not a gentle bunny tale. Rabbits die horribly and often. The violence is more graphic than most parents remember from their own childhood reading.
The book rewards patient readers with sophisticated allegory about freedom, leadership, and survival. Kids who loved Warriors or are ready for YA will likely appreciate it. But it's genuinely dark and slow-paced by modern standards—some kids will be captivated, others will bounce off hard.
If your tween is ready for mature themes and can handle animal death (think Old Yeller intensity but more frequent), this is worth reading together. Just don't hand it to a sensitive 8-year-old expecting a cozy animal adventure. Maybe watch the equally intense 1978 animated film first to gauge their tolerance—if they handle that, the book will be fine.