Redwall #1 by Brian Jaques

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Puffin/Philomel Books; 1ST edition (September 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• Buy The Book: Amazon

 When Redwall was published in 1987 it catapulted author Brian Jacques to international stardom. And small wonder! This enthralling tale is jam-packed with the things we long for in a great adventure: danger, laughter, hairbreadth escapes, tragedy, mystery, a touch of wonder, a truly despicable villain, and a hero we can take to heart.

That hero is Matthias, a young mouse who must rise above his fears and failures to save his friends at Redwall Abbey. The villain is Cluny the Scourge, one of the most deliciously despicable rats of all time. The unforgettable cast of supporting characters includes the stalwart badger Constance, an irrepressible hare named Basil Stag Hare, and the elderly wisemouse Brother Methuselah.

But most of all there is Matthias, seeking his true destiny in a journey that will lead through danger and despair to true wisdom.

 When I first heard about this book it didn't seem quite that interesting, even though it turned out to be exactly what I liked. I started reading and it was like, yeah, this is okay. Then all the action, adventures and fighting started and I was sucked right in. I like that the characters are little mice in habits, it's really cute, and the way the author describes them, it makes you want to see it. I haven't really ever read anything quite like it, there's warriors, yeah, but those are just cats. This is a total personification, the mice stand up and walk around, wear clothes and stuff. I liked that some characters were perfect little church mice, then there were characters like Constance the badger who wanted to beat the enemy to a pulp.

My favorite character was definitely Constance! She's awesome because she takes action, beats stuff up! Not like The Father Abbot, who wants to do things as peacefully as possible. Then there was Basil Stag Hare, he is the best dude character. He has this funny way of talking, and he's like Constance, take action, beat up the bad guys, and he's a real drama queen too. The best character for cuteness was Silent Sam, he is a baby squirrel who doesn't talk. He's just the most adorable thing, and he ends up fighting the rats with the best of them!

My least favorite was.... Chickenhound the fox. His mother is all clever and smart, then he is just a fool. He escapes the rats and then doesn't watch himself and gets himself killed.

This book was pretty clean, I don't remember there being any language or anything. Just violence.