High Rhulain

Grade 6 Up–The Redwall saga continues with a book that can stand entirely on its own. Tiria is a young ottermaid with amazing skill with rock and sling. She lives in Redwall with her father and the entire cast of beloved characters from earlier novels. When she starts to dream of a place called Green Isle and Martin the Warrior, she realizes that she is destined to go on a quest and follow in the steps of the High Rhulain, an otter queen. The book alternates between Tiria's adventures, her friends working on word puzzles back home to help her, and the hardships of the otters who live on Green Isle where they are slaves to a group of cats. Jacques combines action, poetry, songs, courage, and vivid descriptions to create a unique style. His characterizations are complex and show multiple sides of both adult and younger personalities. The pacing is well handled, especially in a book with three story lines that entwine. As with the other volumes, there is sacrifice, death, and bloody battles galore. Readers familiar with the series will relish returning to the Abbey. Those new to the Redwall universe will be looking for the previous titles to learn more about Martin the Warrior and Salamandastron._–Tasha Saecker, Caestecker Public Library, Green Lake, WI_
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Gr. 5-8. In this eighteenth installment of the Redwall series, Jacques chronicles the saga of ottermaid Tiria Wildlough, who, following dream visions from Martin the Warrior and an otter kinswoman, sets off for the Green Isle to rescue some otters enslaved by wildcat chieftain Riggu Felis, and take her rightful position as High Rhulain. Armed with a slingshot, and with assistance from a goose, an osprey, and Salamandastron's Long Patrol hares, Tiria journeys through Mossflower and across the Great Western Sea to do battle with the vicious cats. As always, Jacques adds to the intrigue with several subplots boiling just beneath the surface--including infighting among Riggu Felis and his dysfunctional family, and anagrams and riddles that must be solved to complete Tiria's story and uncover a missing lance and coronet. Elliot's detailed line drawings will help readers visualize the novel's many characters. A welcome book for series fans. Kay Weisman
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