The Outcast (Guardians of Ga'hoole, Book 8) (Paperback)

by Kathryn Lasky (Author) "But this was not to be, Nyroc realized as he flew into the night..." (more)
Key Phrases: gnaw wolf, rogue smith, sacred watch, Ember of Hoole, Barn Owl, River Legs (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Nyroc has exiled himself from the Pure Ones. He flies alone, feared and despised by those who know him as Kludd's son, hunted by those whose despotism he has rejected, and haunted by ghostly creatures conjured by Nyra to lure him back to the Pure Ones. He yearns for a place he only half believes in -- the great tree -- and an uncle -- the near-mythic Soren -- who might be a true father to him. Yet he cannot approach the tree while the rumor of evil clings to him. To prove his worth, Nyroc will fly to The Beyond the Beyond seeking the legendary Relic and bring it, a talisman of his own

About the Author
KATHRYN LASKY's many books for young people have received such honors as the Parents' Choice Award, the National Jewish Book Award, and a Newbery Honor citation. Her picture books include The Emperor's Old Clothes, illustrated by David Catrow; A Brilliant Streak: The Making of Mark Twain, illustrated by Barry Moser; and Marven of the Great North Woods, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439739519
• ISBN-13: 978-0439739511
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,242 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 8 in The Guardians of Ga'hoole Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book in the Guardians of Ga'Hoole family!, September 4, 2005

A Kid's Review

This book was really great! The plot was well focused, and a lot of the characters grew and developed. It, of course, was focused on destiny, and this is the book where Nyroc, now named Coryn, finally fufills part of that magnificent destiny.

Nyroc, rejected by the Pure Ones and by even the peacable owls, is an outcast, flying alone and thinking of all that has happened. But in Ambala he meets up with an old friend of Soren, and with his free will goes to a lawless place- Beyond the Beyond- where he believes his destiny will come true. However, when Coryn saves an egg for a family of Burrowing Owls, he isn't as sure of what that destiny is.

When he reaches the Beyond, he meets a "gnaw wolf" in a pack of dire wolves. This wolf has a lame leg and as the tradition of the pack remains, he must go to the Sacred Volcanoes where the Ember of Hoole lies, waiting for the new king. Meanwhile, Otulissa meets Gwyndor in the Beyond, and they together find Nyroc. Otulissa believes Coryn is the true heir of Hoole and teaches him basic colliering (which Coryn is awesome at).

Little does Coryn know that his mother is coming for him, and is recruiting desperate dire wolves for her army. And at a crucial moment, it becomes a race for the Ember within one of the volcanoes and a new king must emerge- or die trying.

Like I said, this book was T3H 00B3R3ST. It is definitely worth your read and we get to actually hear upon how Soren is! Yay! I really loved the depth in it and it was rather beautiful. Kathryn Lasky did a good job and deserves several pats on the back! Another great book in the Guardians of Ga'Hoole!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Outcast Reviewed by Soren, April 1, 2006

A Kid's Review

Finally! The eagerly anticipated 8th installment in the best-selling Guardians of Ga'Hoole series! The Outcast, as all Guardians of Ga'Hoole fans would most certainly agree, was probably the most exciting and nerve-racking book so far. The tensiom between Coryn (once Nyroc) & Soren, his uncle? I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! This book includes many new phrases, which fans love to add to their vocabulary, like gnaw wolves, creelies, Sacred Ring, cheiftain, lochinvyrr, ect. Well, as most of you know, the series has been following a new character instead of Soren- Nyroc. Nyroc, son of Kludd & Nyra, is heir to the Pure Ones. Not the likely main character choice, eh? However, Nyraoc is, unlike his parents, very kind-hearted! The seventh book ends with him cursing his very father's scroom on the edge of a lake. This is where the Outcast picks up in it's Prologue. In this book, Nyroc changes his name to Coryn, which is Nyroc backwards. It also sounds a lot like Soren. The main point of these 2 books is the tension between an outcast and a guardian, and how they cannot meet eachother, for one is not welcome, and the other one doesn't know the other exists. Coryn, being a shadow king, is not welcome at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree, where his uncle, Soren, lives. To be accepted in the Great Tree, Coryn must retrieve the Ember of Hoole hidden deep within one of the volcanoes of the Sacred Ring, where noble King Hoole hid it 1,000 years ago. If Coryn succeeds, then that means he is the heir of Hoole and that he is king of Ga'Hoole. If Coryn gets the Ember, then he can meet his uncle. Read this book!!! It will be worth everything!!! Trust me!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Conclusion to Guardians of Ga'hoole, October 26, 2005

By	S. Rogers "raven lunatic" (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am an adult woman (24 years old) who thoroughly enjoyed all of the series of Katharine Lasky's books. I was first attracted to these books because I work with owls, and despite some minor scientific errors (i.e. the owls would start eating each other if enclosed together, as in the books), found the books to be imaginative and intriguing. As the series progresses, the stories get more complex and a hint darker. In this book, a new species of animal, the dire wolves, is introduced, and with them, a new type of society. In this book, Nyroc, a young barn owl, nephew to Soren, works through the burden of his lineage and the horror of his previous experiences. While searching for the ember of Hoole, he must learn to negotiate the society of the dire wolves and the social issues that come with it. Otulissa, the know-it-all spotted owl, joins him in his quest. This is a very satisfactory conclusion to the series. If you are reading this review, and have not read the rest of the series, please do, for although this book can be read by itself, prior reading of the rest of the series enriches the experience. I would recommend this book for anyone of any age who is interested in animals, particularly owls, and who enjoys fiction for the younger reader.