Taggerung (Redwall, Book 14) [Paperback]

Brian Jacques (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Redwall

In the fourteenth Redwall novel by New York Times bestselling author Brian Jacques, the clan of Sawney Rath kidnaps one of Redwall's own-a baby otter who they believe is destined to become their Taggerung, the warrior hero of ancient legend. But as the young Taggerung grows, he rebels against his destiny and goes off in search of the place he was born-a home he can barely remember. Tagg is pursued by a member of Sawney's clan, out to destroy the deserter and claim the title of Taggerung. Is the otter the Taggerung after all? And if he is not, who is he?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Brian Jacques's 14th fantasy in the popular Redwall series exceeds expectations in this suspenseful tale of good versus evil where the nefarious vermin seek to destroy the peace-loving mice, moles, shrews, and otters of Redwall Abbey. The villainous Sawney Rath clan of rats, weasels, foxes, and ferrets believe Deyna, an otter born of the community at Redwall, is their Taggerung, a great warrior destined to lead them. Members of the Sawney Rath clan kidnap Deyna from his home as a young otter, but to no avail. As Deyna grows, he embarks upon a search for his true family at Redwall.

As ever, the master storyteller's language lends his swashbuckling adventures a mysterious and magical quality, as well as a hint of the Old World as the characters address each other with thees and thous. Hearkening back to medieval times, Jacques presents a tale of courageous warriors and grotesque evildoers alike, each group journeying toward conflicting ends. Danger, fear, action, heroism--Taggerung is an intense page-turner with startling plot twists that will keep readers on their toes. (Ages 9 to 15) --Yvonne Schindler --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Redwall lovers, rejoice! The epic continues with Taggerung, the 14th book in Brian Jacques's popular series. An otter born in Redwall Abbey is kidnapped by members of an opposing clan who believe he is destined to be a great Taggerung, or warrior hero; Tagg later rebels against his adoptive tribe and goes in search of his true home.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Ace; First Thus edition (August 27, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441009689
• ISBN-13: 978-0441009688
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 6.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (112 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #578,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Series > Fantasy & Adventure > Redwall

More About the Author

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Taggerung, the best to date, October 9, 2001

By 

J. Worden (Concord, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Taggerung (Redwall, Book 14) (Hardcover)

I have been following this series since I first was enthralled by the first book, Redwall. So when this book came out I went out and picked it up, hoping it would live up to expectations. The truth of the matter it did not make my expectations it blew them away. I was expecting another hero, defending Redwall or the citizens of Redwall, who overcomes another impossibly huge army, by the Sword of Martin. Well this book was nothing like this, it was totally different than any of the previous Redwall books.

The Taggerung is a prophetic warrior, in vermin tribes, that will lead its tribe to victory against any obstacle. In this case an otter is the Taggerung and he is stolen from his parents at a very early age by Sawney Rath. He wants the Taggerung to become his son and lead the tribe to countless victories. The vermin leader, surprisingly, shows respect and almost father-like love to the otter cub and trains him everything he knows about fighting. Eventually clan problems occurr, and the Taggerung has to run from his foster father and clan. He eventually meets Nimbalo the Slayer, similar to Gonff the mousethief, and they many grand adventures on their search for the Abbey of Redwall. During the Redwall plot line, Deyna or the Taggerung, is never forgotten by his family, but they move on to take care of things in the Abbey. Mhera, his sister, becomes involved in a complex puzzle, one that is much better than in any other Redwall book, that takes up much of her time and teaches her to be a leader. The third plot line is the cowardly Gruven, and his adventures to capture the Taggerung and craven flight away from the Taggerung.

This book seems to be the start of a new direction in the Redwall saga. I hope Brian Jacques will continue to use Deyna in more books, because he is the most interesting character he has created to date, even more so than Martin. This book is also Mr. Jacques most mature Redwall book, seems he is trying to gain a larger audience of teenagers and adults. Anyway, I can't wait for the next book, it can't come soon enough.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing new edition to the Spectacular Redwall Series, September 20, 2001

By 

Nancy E. "Nancy" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Taggerung (Redwall, Book 14) (Hardcover)

For many seasons rumors have gone around that one day a powerful warrior beast called the Tagggerung will join the Juska rat clan and be the most powerful of them all. THe rumors about this beast are almost unbelievable but Sawney Rath wants nothing more than to find him, so when he dose the whole clan is shocked to learn that the Taggerung is no vermin, but an otter! Little Tagg grows up amoung the vermin living a tragic life, never knowing who he really is. But one day he realizes that something is wrong with his life, very wrong.
Meanwhile at Redwall, the Abby has been without an Abbess and Warroir for more seasons than they can count. The only member of the Abby from the old times that hasn't died from old age is Lady Cregga Rose eyes, the badgermum. But soon a series of riddles shows up around the Abby. Riddles that can tell who the Abbess really is.
When I saw this book I was a bit surprised. It was longer than any Redwall book I've seen in a while, but apparently the longer books are the better they are. I haven't Read a Redwalll book this good since Marlfox. Tagg's story is very entertaining and their are countless refrences to a Classic Redwall book that fans of the series will recognize. The new charecters are well drawn (my favorite being little Nimbalo) and for once, Brian Jacques introduces a serious issue in the series, one that readers may relate too. I reccomend this book strongly to fans of the series. You won't be dissapointed!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Plot Theme Opens in Redwall Series-YES!, November 6, 2001

By 

A 12-year old reader (Milwaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Taggerung (Redwall, Book 14) (Hardcover)

I've loved the Redwall books ever since first grade when I read Redwall for the first time. I've read it 16 times since, but that's not the point. When Taggerung came out, I was delighted, even more so when I actually read it. Much as I love the Redwall series, the later books' plots do get rather repetitive. I don't hold that against Mr. Jacques. The books are still good. But Taggerung was a completely new plot, standing apart from the others, but just as good; better than some. The plot twists and turns, with things happening that I didn't think would ever occur. I was frequently surprised by the outcome of a section, and the characters were all perfect, developed so they'd fit their station perfectly. The repetitive theme of "Martins sword and/or tapestry is lost, a young creature, male or female, goes out to find it, and invariably succeeds, killing the villain in the process" was gone, though some fragments remained, which was terrific. I happen to like that redundant theme. Anyway, if you like fantasy, you should definately read this book-oh, except you should read the other 13 books in chronological order first. That will make Taggerung better. Happy reading!