Series: Redwall | Publication Date: February 23, 2010
He appears out of thin air and vanishes just as quickly. He is Zwilt the Shade, and he is evil. Yet he is no match for his ruler, Vilaya the Sable Quean. Along with their hordes of vermin, these two have devised a plan to conquer Redwall Abbey. And when the Dibbuns go missing, captured one by one, their plan is revealed.
Will the Redwallers risk the fate of their Abbey and all of Mossflower Wood to save their precious young ones from imprisonment? Perhaps Buckler, Blademaster of the Long Patrol, can save the day. He has a score of his own to settle. And fear not, these Dibbuns are not as innocent as they appear. After all, they’re from Redwall.
A Classroom Guide to the Redwall Series by Brian Jacques
Life’s been peaceful for Redwall’s diverse woodland creatures. But when the abbey’s youngsters mysteriously start disappearing, young hare Buckler, the Long Patrol’s Blademaster, and others embark on a dangerous quest to rescue them from evil Vilaya, the Sable Quean—who, with henchman Zwilt and vermin Ravagers, plans to take over Redwall and Mossflower Wood. The latest entry in the prolific, popular series will please devotees, with episodes comedic to dramatic and characters of all stripes and furs, from feisty shrew maid Flib to tough though tenderhearted warrior mole Axtel. Side stories and alternating characters’ experiences add intrigue, suspense, and depth to an absorbing, sure-to-be-requested read. Grades 5-8. --Shelle Rosenfeld
About the Author
Brian Jacques lives in Liverpool, England.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
A well-known radio personality in his native Liverpool--as well as an actor, stand-up comic, and playwright--Brian Jacques (1939-2011) was the host of "Jakestown" on BBC Radio Merseyside. Ever the performer, Jacques was well-known for applying his acting and entertainment background to his lively presentations to legions of young fans at schools across the United States and England. Brian Jacques was born in Liverpool, England on June 15th, 1939. Along with forty percent of the population of Liverpool, his ancestral roots are in Ireland, County Cork to be exact. He grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks. His interest in adventure stories began at an early age with reading the books of: Daniel Defoe, Sir Henry Rider Haggard, Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir Thomas Malory, Robert Michael Ballantyne, Robert Louis Stevenson, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Kenneth Grahame. He attended St. John's School, an inner city school that had its playground on the roof. On his first day at St. John's, at the age of ten, he had an experience that marked his potential as a writer. When given an assignment of writing a story about animals, he wrote about the bird that cleaned a crocodile's teeth. The teacher could not, and would not, believe that a ten year old could write that well. When young Brian refused to falsely say that he had copied the story, he was caned as "a liar". He had always loved to write, but it was only then, that he realized that he had a talent for writing. "My favourite teacher was Mr. Austin Thomas. He looked like Lee Marvin. Big Man. A Captain in World War II. He came to school on a big bush bike with the haversack on back. He was a man's man. Always fair. I was fourteen at the time when Mr. Thomas introduced the class to poetry and Greek literature. (Because of him, I saved seven shillings and sixpence to buy The Iliad and The Odyssey at this dusty used book shop.)" This interest in poetry extended to Wordsworth, Tennyson, and Goldsmith. It was also at St. John's that Brian met a teacher, Alan Durband (who also taught two Beatles, Paul McCartney and George Harrison), who, more than thirty years later would bring about a major change in his life. After Brian finished school at fifteen, he set out to find adventure as a merchant seaman. He travelled to many far away ports, including New York, Valparaiso, San Francisco, and Yokohama. Tiring of the lonely life of a sailor, he returned to Liverpool where he worked as a railway fireman, a longshoreman, a long-distance truck driver, a bus driver, a boxer, a bobby (Police Constable 216D), a postmaster, and a stand-up comic. Jacques passed away in February of 2011 at the age of 71.
This review is from: The Sable Quean (Redwall) (Hardcover)
I admit it: I'm a sucker for Redwall books. I've read all of them; when my Library ordered The Sable Quean, I was the first to place a request for it.
Of Jacques' most recent Redwall books, High Rhulain was the most disappointing, though Eulalia and Doomwyte were better -- but this one! The Sable Quean is, in my opinion, the best Jacques book to come out since Triss. (Taggerung is my all-time favorite, for those dying to know.)
Alright, I'll try to keep this spoiler-free:
The plot has a number of familiar Jacques elements, but he keeps you guessing here more than I might have anticipated. Memorable villains (if not the most ostentatiously evil) and an ensemble of sympathetically displayed woodlanders give the novel an excellent cast. I feel that Jacques should have focused more on his hero rather than on his hero's comical friend, but that is a minor quibble. This novel does not have the epic feel of Mossflower or The Long Patrol, but tends to convey even more than usual the folksy atmosphere of Jacques' world.
I can recommend this entry in the Redwall cannon with great enthusiasm. Check out your library and start reading. I did, and it only took me less than a week to finish, college work aside (yes, I still read Redwall books at 19). Happy reading!
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Brian Jacques has done it again. The Sable Quean is a terrific book, a worthy additon to the acclaimed Redwall series.
The beginning starts out well, but as the story began to follow the familiar routes of the previous books, I was a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I love the Redwall books. However, Jacques brilliantly rescues the story halfway through the book.
The Sable Quean is a magnificent book from Redwall, rivalling the first Redwall books and is quite possibly the greatest book yet from the Redwall shelf. This book is written proof that the amazing Brian Jacques is definitely NOT losing his touch. I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book in the Redwall series.
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This review is from: The Sable Quean (Redwall) (Hardcover)
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I pre-ordered the book and it overwhelmingly met my anticipation. It had the usual cast of characters with the addition of a warrior mole. I would indeed like to read about more of him. For fans of Mossflower Woods and Redwall Abbey, this tale is a welcome addition to you library. Hurry with the audiobook!!
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