Harriet's Hare by Dick King-Smith illustrated by Roger Roth

I read this book because I was looking for science fiction books to recommend to fourth graders at a Christian school.
Although I enjoyed this book thoroughly,  I won't be recommending it to them for one main reason (see points to discuss/warnings below).
Harriet's mother died when she was little and has since then lived a lonely existence on the farm with her father.  On her first day of summer vacation she meets a hare  . . .really an alien from the planet of Pars who decided to take a vacation on Earth in the form of a hare.  He eases Harriet's loneliness that summer.  Before he leaves he vows to make something good happen in her life.
A sweet ending!
Points to discuss/warnings: The folklore in England places a lot of value on hares, claiming they are really witches and are magical.  Superstitious attitudes and beliefs are woven throughout the story.  The main reason I am not recommending this book to the fourth graders is Jessica, a new woman in the countryside/village, used to be married to a husband who physically abused her.  A couple of times characters mention how he used to "knock her around" when he was drunk and gave her a black eye/bruises.
*Borrowed from the library.
Guided Reading Level: O (3rd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.2