LOAMHEDGE
by Brian Jacques
Philomel Books
ISBN: 0399237240
Ages 10-up
432 pages

Fans of Brian Jacques should be delighted with this latest installment of the Redwall series. As in the fifteen books preceding, LOAMHEDGE is full of mystery, adventure, romance, tragedy, and a myriad of characters we care about. In this book we are introduced to the wheelchair-bound hare named Martha Braebuck. More than anything, Martha would love to walk again, and this possibility comes to her through a vision/dream in which Martin the Warrior gives her some hints concerning the old abbey. If she can uncover these secrets, Martha should be able to lead a normal life.

When she shares her vision with other folks at the Abbey, they all work together to turn this miracle into a reality. This "quest" is helped along by the zany and loving characters of Braggon the otter and Sarobando the squirrel, best friends and former pranksters of the abbey who have been on their own world adventures and are ready and willing for yet another.

As always there are many layers to these stories, as interesting little characters weave in and out, creating subplots and more adventures. They include Martha's mischievous brother Horty --- who runs off with Sarobando and Braggon to help his sister, the evil searat Raga Bol (who holds the abbey under siege) --- and of course, all the fun "Redwallers" who are part of the colorful tapestry of the Redwall series.

Jacques's ability to create these wonderful personalities, evil and good, from animals is the height of skilled anthropomorphic writing. He has a huge following with a web site that is visited by many fans around the world (www.redwall.org). Outstanding artists lend these books an even greater depth --- all the covers are beautifully done, including this one with Troy Howell's beautiful painting. Charming ink drawings by David Elliot introduce each chapter and are also often featured on the web site.

Even if you have never read any books in this series before, you will still enjoy this latest addition to Redwall.

   --- Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts (stibbetts@maine207west.k12.il.us)

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