Salamandastron (Redwall series, Book 5) by Brian Jacques

This review is brought to us by Malachi Stade, who just finished a semester internship with Redeemed Reader.  Thank you, Malachi!  

Salamandastron (Redwall series, Book 5) by Brian Jacques. Firebird, Reissue edition, 2003 (originally published 1992).  400 pages.   

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for: ages 10 and up

Bottom Line: In a stirring tale of badger lords, heroic hares, and a host of other creatures, a badger maiden embarks on a life-altering journey.

In Brian Jacques’s fantasy world, creatures wield swords, pens, and cooking ladles, and the great mountain, Salamandastron, rises up from the earth as a pillar of strength.

Hearing legends of Salamandastron’s treasure, Ferahgo the Assasin marches on the mountain with his vermin hoard. Meanwhile, Maria, a  young badger maiden raised in Salamandastron, rebelliously leaves the mountain with her friend, Pickle.

In the meantime, the Sword of Martin the Warrior is found at Redwall Abbey and then stolen by two stoats.  While two young abbey creatures set off after the stoats, Redwall itself must fight for survival against a new threat.

Salamandastron is one of my favorite Redwall books. It combines all aspects of Redwall into one rousing tale, filled with battles, singing shrews, delicious feasts, and of course, hungry hares. Salamandastron is the perfect conglomeration of storytelling to pique the interest of even the most skeptical reader by its simple humor, unbearable cliffhangers, and page-turning action.

Cautions: Violence (not graphic, but some intense battle scenes)  

Overall rating: 4 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 3.5
• Artistic value: 4

Categories: Middle Grades, Fantasy, Boys, Girls, Character Values