Taggerung

September 1, 2001
Redwall lovers, rejoice! The epic continues with Taggerung, the 14th book in Brian Jacques's popular series. An otter born in Redwall Abbey is kidnapped by members of an opposing clan who believe he is destined to be a great Taggerung, or warrior hero; Tagg later rebels against his adoptive tribe and goes in search of his true home.

When Deyna, an otter from Jacques's Redwall series who was kidnapped when he was only a few days old, realizes that he can no longer live among the vermin who raised him, he undertakes a quest to find a new life. The actors in this full-cast production create wonderful voices for the many characters Deyna meets on his way: Nimbalo the Slayer; Boorab, the greedy hare; and the wise badger, Cregga, are particularly memorable. Jacques's novel is filled with songs, many of which the actors sing beautifully a cappella. The fine moments make the production's weaknesses more regrettable. The music overpowers the singers in the few songs accompanied by music, several minor characters are difficult to understand, and there are no pauses to indicate scene changes within chapters. Still, this is good family fun. A.F. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

August 1, 2003
Gr 7 Up-The 14th title in Brian Jacques' Red Wall series is given the same full cast treatment other recent episodes in the saga have received. In this installment, a river otter who was abducted from Red Wall as an infant and made "Taggerung," a kind of honorific leader, of a band of vermin, escapes his misidentity and is restored to his birth family and Red Wall society. With numerous plot twists, revelations of both devious and magnanimous deeds, and folk celebrations-both vermin and Red Wallian-along the way, the tale unfolds with typical deliberation. Those new to the series get enough information to be able to cast sympathies and build trepidations from the start, but it is only on the fifth cassette that anything like a reprise of the saga previous to this volume is recounted in a straightforward manner. And, like any good legend, those familiar with the usual cast will welcome their reappearance and anticipate future related ones. The readers-who also sing, snuffle, and sigh-are excellent and their voices are varied in pitch, tone, and pacing. This audiobook demonstrates the art of storytelling.-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.