Outcast of Redwall: A Tale from Redwall

My favorite Redwall novel. If you haven't read the series begin with this one!

It was a great story. The one disappointment was the character Veil. We felt he should have had much more development. We felt he could have been a good guy, because his Mother and his surrogate Mother were both good hearted folks. He was raised in a nurturing environment and was not taught to be bad. Again, overall it was a great story.

There tends to be a certain sameness about Brian Jacques's Redwall books--which isn't to say they don't have a charm all their own--but this one presents a new angle. It begins when a young badger who remembers only slavery to a band of vermin led by the ferret Swartt Sixclaw manages to escape his captivity and take with him a kestrel named Skarlath who'd been marked for consumption as Sixclaw's dinner. The badger, who takes the name of Sunflash, vows to destroy Sixclaw and his band, and Skarlath undertakes to be his skyborne eyes and ears. As the tale continues, the two friends gradually make their way into Mossflower Forest, where stands Redwall Abbey, and there Sunflash learns that he is the great-grandson of Lord Brocktree and heir to the Badger Lordship of the Keep of Salamandastron. Meanwhile his continued harassment of Sixclaw's band leads to the unintended abandonment of the vermin chief's only pup, who is found by the Redwall otters and brought to the Abbey to be raised. Many beasts doubt that he can be made into a productive citizen--a ferret is, after all, vermin--and Veil, as the mysterious foundling is named, doesn't seem to be too interested in proving them wrong. When a case of poisoning nearly kills the hedgehog Myrtle, Veil is accused of the deed and exiled from the Abbey. But the mousemaid Bryony who has brought him up can't believe he is bad, and she sets out to follow him.

Jacques's theme--which kids may not catch, but reading-aloud parents should point out--could be interpreted in one of two ways: either "Blood will tell," and biology is destiny, or "Kids become what they're told they are," that is, if more Redwallers than Bryony had had faith in Veil's ability to become a good beast, he might have been done so; as things go, their distrust of him turns into a self-fulfilling prophecy. This tale is set in the days of the grandchildren of Martin, the legendary mouse warrior of Redwall, and follows several characters--Sunflash and Skarlath, Sixclaw and his vixen seer Nightshade, the hares of Salamandastron, the Abbey folk, Veil, Bryony and her molefriend Toggett--toward the inevitable confrontation before the great keep. It introduces some familiar characters, like Bella, the ancient badger, and several new ones with intriguing personalities, like Sunflash, who, although he can be ferocious in battle like all badgers, is really not a warrior at heart (indeed, what he loves best is tilling the ground and getting things to grow), and a hare who, in "head and heart," wants to be--and is, as far as possible--a squirrel archer. Populated as Jacques's universe always is by good beasts (squirrels, mice, otters, badgers, moles, hares, hedgehogs, voles, and the Guosim, the fierce Guerrilla Union of Shrews in Mossflower) and villainous ones (rats, ferrets, weasels, foxes, and stoats), full of song and delicious food, it offers all the delights for which the series has come to be known.

My husband read this as a child and its been great to explore the world of Redwall with our daughter. I hadnt heard of this series before and its been a joy to dive into. I would highly recommend for kids and families looking for fantasy series.

Love this book series

I want to give 5 stars but I just cant. First this story was more about Sunflash than it was Veil, honestly you can completely skip all the story points with him and Bryony up until he meets back up with Swartt and you wouldn't miss a thing. And on top of that this story shows just how hateful the Abbey dewellers were, complaining about him acting out while at the same time treating him how they do. Bella couldn't even claim her experience with Tsarmina as a reason for her actions. A low point in an otherwise wonderful series.

My grandchild loves to read.

The Redwall Series is probably my favorite middle grade series ever written. It was what first ignited my love of reading, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Though the stories follow the same basic formula, the characters are endearing and the writing is beautifully descriptive. This is a definite must read for anyone who loves lighthearted, middle-grade fantasy.

If you love Redwall, you'll love this installment. Betrayals, poisonings, double crosses, and long lost parents, sounds like an episode of Dynasty, but alas it's The Outcast of Redwall. Definitely give this book a read.

Love this book, great addition to my collection