THE SIEGE: Guardians of Ga'Hoole - Book Four
by Kathryn Lasky
Scholastic
ISBN: 0439405602
Ages 8-12
208 pages

Things are never going to be quite the same for Soren, who faced and defeated his own brother in battle. Soren will forever have the memory of that fight in his mind and heart. What makes things worse is that it is soon clear to the guardians of Ga'Hoole that they have not heard the last from Soren's brother. Kludd is still very much alive and has a large following of "Pure Ones," barn owls who think they are the superior owl species and that the Guardians should be wiped out.

In order to protect the Ga'Hoole tree and all it stands for, Soren and his group of special friends must go to the one place Soren hoped he would never see again --- they have to infiltrate the St. Aegolius Academy for orphaned Owls and find out what is happening there. Are the owls at "St. Aggies" connected to the "Pure Ones" in some way?

Soren and his friends must dig deep into their reservoirs of courage and intelligence to get into St. Aggies, to find out what the leaders there are planning, and to get out again. Soren and his group are not the only ones who find themselves face-to-face with terrifying circumstances, for all the owls who live and work in the Ga'Hoole tree find that they are being threatened and a great battle awaits them all.

Building on the owl world that she created in her other Ga'Hoole books, Kathryn Lasky captivates us with the gripping and terrifying events that fill the lives of these extraordinary owls. Many of them must face new challenges and confront old demons. There is no guarantee that Soren and his friends will all survive the new threats that confront them. Spiced with a sprinkling of mythology, mysticism and wonderful characterizations, THE SIEGE is an excellent continuation of a unique series.

   --- Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber, editor of Through The Looking Glass Children's Book Review (www.lookingglassreview.com). Marya can be reached via email at lookingglass@direcway.com

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