The Sable Quean

Gr 5—8—Buckler Kordyne, hare Blademaster of Salamandastron, and his trusty, always hungry, friend Diggs set out on what should be a quiet, uneventful journey in the latest addition (Philomel, 2010) to Brian Jacques's prolific series. The two are to deliver bell ropes to Redwall Abbey and then visit Buckler's family, but before reaching Redwall, they rescue a young shrew named Flib. The pair soon learns that the young animals of Mossflower Woods are being kidnapped by Zwilt the Shade, a ruthless villain who works for the vicious Sable Quean, Vilaya. Zwilt and Vilaya hope to use the young as a tactic to conquer Redwall Abbey, but they did not reckon on the involvement of Buckler and other heroic characters or the strength of the Redwall inhabitants. Filled with adventure, exciting battle scenes, and quirky characters, the story keeps listeners guessing. Jacques is a wonderful narrator, and a full cast brings to life all the unique traits of the creatures. The choice of music and the singing of the songs add to the magic. Fans of the series will enjoy this installment, but it can stand on its own.—Sarah Flood, Breckinridge County Public Library, Hardinsburg, KY