Rakkety Tam

Rakkety Tam is the 17th installment in Brian Jacques' beloved Redwall series, offering a standalone adventure within the larger universe. It follows the mercenary squirrel Rakkety Tam MacBurl and his companion Wild Doogy Plumm as they become entangled in a quest to stop Gulo the Savage, a ruthless wolverine leading an army of vermin. Gulo seeks the mystical Walking Stone to solidify his tyrannical rule, leading him to clash with the peaceful inhabitants of Redwall Abbey and the valiant Long Patrol. Parents should be aware that, like many Redwall books, this story contains significant violence, including battles, character deaths, and descriptions of a 'flesh-eating' villain, culminating in a climactic duel. It is best suited for children aged 8 and up for independent reading, or 6+ for a read-aloud where discussions about good versus evil and the nature of conflict can occur.

There has never been a Redwall hero quite like Rakkety Tam, the roguish Highlander squirrel who sets off for Mossflower Wood on a mercenary errand and loses his heart to the charms of Redwall Abbey. And there's never been a villain quite like Gulo the a vicious beast-eating wolverine who descends upon the Abbey in search of a relic called the Walking Stone. Readers will cheer at the return of the Long Patrol, the antics of a renegade vole thief, and the emergence of a new champion to wield the sword of Martin.