For those of you who contacted me about how much you enjoyed Andrew Sanders’ first home-school book review for 9-12 year old kids, you are in for another treat!
The book Mossflower, written by Brain Jacques, starts the series of Redwall. Published by the Berkeley Publishing Group in 1998, this fantasy adventure invites the reader to experience the highs and lows of the woodlander life. Brain Jacques lives in Liverpool England, where he invents his lovable stories for children and takes long walks with his dog. Initially, his stories were only known in England, but in 1986, with the appearance of the Redwall series, children around the world have followed Martin the Warrior and his legendary sword. Talking animals fill the pages. In the forest of Mossflower Woods, the story dramatically unfolds.
The story consists of a unique combination of characters. The mouse, Gnoff, who is a thief of thieves, is plump, tricky, and loves to sing. With his ditties he keeps his companions rolling in laughter. Dinny the mole proves himself to be a faithful friend. When diggers are needed to bring about the fall of Kotir, Dinny valiantly steps forward. Martin the Warrior, who is a mouse, completes the trio of main characters. He is cunning and fearless. Undeniably, Martin’s courageous spirit establishes him as a leader of the oppressed woodlanders. On the side of evil, Tsarmina, a wild cat, ruthlessly rules from her
castle, Kotir, with an icy grip and demands the woodlanders tribute.
The conflict of the story revolves around Martin’s battle with Tsarmina. In the beginning Martin is put into prison for trespassing on Tsarmina’s land. While he is imprisoned, he meets Gnoff and learns of the woodlander’s plight. After a daring escape, Martin, Gnoff, and Dinny, who is Gnoff’s mate, head to Salamandastron to recruit Boar the Badger Lord and his fighting hares to help defeat Tsarmina. Boar agrees to help them. Using his skill as a blacksmith, Boar fashions Martin a new sword from the metal of a fallen star because Tsarmina broke Martin’s first sword. Unfortunately, before Boar and his army venture to Mossflower, a fleet of sea rats ruthlessly raids the fortress and Boar is killed. Martin and his friends take advantage of the chaos and steal one of the sea rat ships filled with oar slaves. Upon arriving in Mossflower, Martin encourages the woodlanders to take up arms against the army of Kotir.
The climatic ending occurs as the battle erupts between the woodlanders, led by Martin, and the forces of Kotir. Ingeniously, the woodlanders construct a catapult, which annihilates the walls of Kotir. They leave no stone standing.
Meanwhile, Dinny and his fellow moles dig tunnels from the River Moss to the underground caverns of Kotir. As the castle floods, Tsarmina, who is terrified of water, cowardly paddles to shore to flee the devastation. Kotir is completely destroyed. With the battle raging on, Martin spies Tsarmina and confronts her with his majestic sword. Tsarmina’s only weapon is her vicious claws, which can not save her from drowning. In the end Martin courageously triumphs over Tsarmina’s tyranny.
Mossflower captures the imagination and carries the reader along the adventure. Using vivid word pictures, Brian Jacques tells his tale with clever characters and intense battles. One example of a lovable character is observed in Dinny’s “mole speech” when Martin and Gnoff begin their journey to Salamandastron. “You’ns baint leaven this yurr mole behoind!” he reminds them (124). When facing Tsarmina, Martin’s courage is described intensely with “the red glitter of total war shinning hot in his eyes”(356). Additionally, the way Brain Jacques describes Tsarmina’s death is perfect. “Water filled her world, dark, swirling, eddying, tugging, longing to fold her in it’s wet embrace…filling her mouth, nostrils, and finally her eyes”(356). Without a doubt the combination of these elements in Mossflower creates on engaging and memorable experience for anyone who loves action and adventure.
Thank you, Andrew! Fabulous critique! I just have one question…how do you pronounce Brian Jacques last name? grins…
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Have you visited my online homeschool bookstore just for preteens? You’ll find my favorite books on Christian faith, fine arts, history, math concepts, novels, and many more categories for 9-12 year olds. If your son or daughter has a favorite book to recommend, please send me an email with the details. I’d love to publish their home-school book review!
