The Crystal Prison (Deptford Mice Trilogy, Book 2) [Paperback]

Robin Jarvis (Author)

Book Description

Series: Deptford Mice | Publication Date: July 1, 2002

This terrifying second novel of the Deptford Mice Trilogy is now in paperback. When the Deptford Mice flee to the countryside, they never expect to find themselves embroiled in a series of murders. The country mice suspect that headstrong city mouse, Audrey, is the culprit. But the truth is far more sinister-for Jupiter now reaches vengefully from the dead.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this follow-up to The Dark Portal, which PW called in a starred review, "a spooky and enthralling animal fantasy just right for Redwall fans," book two in the Deptford Mice Trilogy finds the evil rat Jupiter dead, but a rash of murders blights the countryside. Ages 10-up. (Sept.)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-In this sequel to The Dark Portal (SeaStar, 2000), a young mouse named Oswald falls ill, and the powerful squirrel Starwife decrees that he can only be healed if his friend Audrey accompanies a formerly evil but now pitiful rat named Madame Akkikuyu to the countryside. In the country, a bucolic existence is threatened by an evil spirit who uses Akkikuyu to gain power and wreak havoc on the mice who live there. Although this book stands on its own, readers who aren't familiar with the first volume might become impatient with the first section, which introduces a multitude of characters and moves slowly, impeded by old-fashioned, florid prose. The pace picks up in the countryside, where an ever-hungry owl and the mysterious spirit bring menace and tragedy to the close-knit community of field mice who live there, and the final chapters are breathtakingly thrilling. Some literal-minded readers may wonder how a mouse could stride or possess a waist and long flowing hair, but fans of Brian Jacques's "Redwall" series (Philomel) and Avi's "Tales from Dimwood Forest" series (HarperCollins) will likely relish this tale.

Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587171619
• ISBN-13: 978-1587171611
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,209,466 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Totally fabulous book!!, August 17, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Crystal Prison (Deptford Mice Trilogy, Book 2) (Paperback)

This book is just great. It's stunning and crystal clear and I loved it. I can't wait to read Book 3 next! Make a mental note to yourself...Tell yourself to read this book immediatedly!

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Clone of the Redwall Saga?! What Do You Think?, March 25, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Crystal Prison ( The Deptford Mice Triolgy Book 2) (Hardcover)

The Crystal Prison is a far more enhanced versoin of the Redwall Saga with it's talking maice and animals. Even though it lack's Redwall's stunning fantasies, the Debtford Mice Trilogy sets a pretty fine point for a new author.It's simply wonderful with its great details and great plotline. I'd give it five stars if it wasn't for its confusing characters.
I started reading The Crystal Prison just like any other person would start: I would handpick it from the library or buy it. Usually, I'd check the cover art, as the phrase " never judge a book by it's cover" felt like the words of a dull critic. Nevertheless, I read this book and found it was pretty interesting, given its bizarre lines of characters.
The beginning is fairly simple, it starts off with the ending of Robin Jarvis' (the author) first novel. The Debtford mice have escaped the chamber of Jupiter and the rat infested sewers of the city. Forced by an evil witch named Starwife, they must move to the countryside. But despite an owl who hunts in the night, the countrymice that live in the plains have nought to do but to point their fingers at a young, outspoken female mouse named Audrey. What's left is a wilder conclusion you'd never believe!