Description:

The murderous Rapscallion army is on the move. Dealt a humiliating defeat by Lady Cregga Rose Eyes, the Badger Lady of Salamandastron, who still pursues them, the Rapscallions are heading inland to take an even greater prize: the peaceful Abbey of Redwall. The elite fighting unit of hares, the Long Patrol, is called out to draw them off. At the forefront is the young hare Tammo, the lead sword in one of the most ferocious battles Redwall has ever faced?ready to fight to the death!

?[Jacques is] a masterful storyteller. . . . As in the other Redwall books, the combination of an absorbing plot, robust characterization, and detailed description make the novel a page-turner.?
?The Horn Book

Amazon.com Review

As young Tammo dreams of joining the Long Patrol--the legendary army of fighting hares that serves the Lady Cregga Rose Eyes, Ruler of Salamandastron--the brutal reality of a battle with Damug Warfang's mighty battalion of savage Rapscallions fast approaches.

Brian Jacques has proved time and time again his ability to transport readers into a world of fantasy and adventure that many writers of adult books would love to emulate. The Long Patrol certainly proves the point yet again, but distinguishes itself by being perhaps the very best of all the Redwall books so far. Relying less and less on the old, familiar Redwall characters and more and more on the ingenuity and passion of younger blood, The Long Patrol will certainly win Jacques a fresh following while continuing to delight his existing army of fans. --Susan Harrison

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-8?In this latest "Redwall" entry, Tammo, a young hare, becomes a member of a contingent of fighting forest folk who seek to defend the imperiled Redwall Abbey, led by the badger Lady Cregga Rose Eyes. Tammo and his comrades do battle against the Rapscallion foe, whose leader is the evil greatrat, Damug Warfang. Eventually the forces of good meet and clash with their evil enemies in a battle of legendary proportions. Good triumphs, of course, but not before several noble warriors have met their deaths. There is a tremendous amount of violence in this book. The characters maintain some of their animal characteristics, but it is their human qualities that make them either appealing or repugnant. The bad Rapscallions are thoroughly dishonest, traitorous, and cruel. The badgers, mice, hedgehogs, moles, and other assorted creatures that represent goodness may have foibles but they are unremittingly kind and generous. Pen-and-ink thumbnail sketches appear at the head of each chapter and strongly communicate the sense of drama. Some of the creatures, most notably the laboring class of moles, speak in an impossible, jaw-breaking dialect that may slow some readers down a bit; nevertheless, this is a worthy addition to a series that has found a definite niche among fantasy lovers. It breaks no new ground, but it is a satisfying adventure with a comforting, predictable conclusion. Its closing lines pave the way for yet another sequel.?Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC
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