The Rogues [Paperback]

Jane Yolen (Author), Richard G. Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 20, 2008

During one of the stormiest chapters in Scottish history—the Highland Clearances—young Roddy Macallan battles to keep his family’s land. Scottish lairds are clearing the lands in order to raise English sheep. Families are fleeing and farms are being burned. But some Scots are fighting back— including Roddy. In the midst of this turmoil is the quest to recapture a brooch, given to Roddy’s family by Prince Charlie, which was stolen by the laird. But will Roddy be able to save his family’s treasure, as well as his family and their land from the horrific upheaval happening around him?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up—In the late 1700s and early 1800s, many Scottish lairds discovered that they could make money by leasing their land to English sheep farmers. As a result, thousands of poor Highlanders were removed from their homes. Roddy Macallan and his family are tenant farmers, and they have always relied on their laird to be a provider and protector. Now he is dead, and the greedy and cruel new man cares little for clan traditions and his responsibility for his people. He sends his brutal factor, Willie Rood, to burn out the villagers and take their livestock. Enraged, Roddy sneaks back to the village to find the family "Blessing" that his deceased mother always told stories about. He finds it, a valuable brooch given to an ancestor by Bonnie Prince Charlie, but Willie Rood steals it for the laird. Roddy is nearly beaten to death, but is saved by the outlaw Alan Dunbar, who then trains him as his apprentice. Enduring great peril, the men recover the brooch, escape the English Redcoats who've been sent after them, and make it to a settlement in North Carolina. The authors deftly weave historical facts into their action-packed adventure, and though the story is somewhat predictable, it is thoroughly engaging. They write in Scottish dialect and syntax, which readers should get the hang of fairly quickly. The story would make a great read-aloud for anyone who would like to tackle the accent.—Cheri Dobbs, Detroit Country Day Middle School, Beverly Hills, MI
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Review

“[S]uspense mounts and the plot races along flawlessly in this excellent historical adventure.” —Booklist, starred review

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Speak; Reprint edition (November 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142412066
• ISBN-13: 978-0142412060
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,139,012 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)