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Article-Card-Fantasy-books-9-12-2023-Update

Children's reading lists

15 must-read fantasy books for 9-12-year-olds

Loamhedge

The sixteenth book in the classic fantasy Redwall series – perfect for readers aged 9+. 
 
Young haremaid Martha Braebuck is unable to walk - and no beast knows why. The answer lies far away - at the ancient, ruined abbey of Loamhedge. And two old Redwall warriors, Bragoon and Sarobando, are determined to help her. 
 
But a murderous band of sea rats is heading for Redwall Abbey - and their leader, Raga Bol, is a mighty vicious beast. One brave badger, Lonna Bowstripe, wants revenge on Bol and his crew - and the fate of Redwall, and young Martha Braebuck, will depend on him . . 
 
Discover the complete list of titles in the Redwall series: 
Redwall 
Mossflower 
Mattimeo 
Mariel of Redwall 
Salamandastron 
Martin the Warrior 
The Bellmaker 
Outcast of Redwall 
The Pearls of Lutra 
The Long Patrol 
Marlfox 
The Legend of Luke 
Lord Brocktree 
The Taggerung 
Triss 
Loamhedge 
Rakkety Tam 
High Rhulain 
Eulalia! 
Doomwyte 
The Sable Quean 
The Rogue Crew

Rakkety Tam

The seventeenth book in the classic fantasy Redwall series – perfect for readers aged 9+. 
 
Rakkety Tam MacBurl is a brave border warrior who has travelled south in search of adventure. But when his army is attacked by an evil flesh-eating band, adventure finds him. 
 
Gulo the Savage, wolverine, flesh-eater and brutal killer, has come to Mossflower in search of his brother - who stole the mystical stone that will make one of them king of the lands of ice and snow. Any beast who gets in Gulo's way is dead meat. And he's heading for the peaceful Redwall Abbey - unless Rakkety Tam can stop him. 
 
Discover the complete list of titles in the Redwall series: 
Redwall 
Mossflower 
Mattimeo 
Mariel of Redwall 
Salamandastron 
Martin the Warrior 
The Bellmaker 
Outcast of Redwall 
The Pearls of Lutra 
The Long Patrol 
Marlfox 
The Legend of Luke 
Lord Brocktree 
The Taggerung 
Triss 
Loamhedge 
Rakkety Tam 
High Rhulain 
Eulalia! 
Doomwyte 
The Sable Quean 
The Rogue Crew

Doomwyte

The twentieth book in the classic fantasy Redwall series – perfect for readers aged 9+. 
 
When young mouse Bisky persuades the inhabitants of Redwall Abbey to go in search of the stolen jewelled eyes of the Great Doomwyte Idol of long ago, he has no idea that the fearsome Korvus Skurr, the black-feathered raven and his gang, are vying for that very same treasure. 
 
All too soon the brave Redwallers find themselves in the grips of adventure, solving mysterious riddles and battling villainous foes. From underground tunnels to the tops of trees, the fearless Redwallers unite with the tribes of the Guosim and Gonfelin against vermin, carrion and the dangerous, sinister Wytes on the most terrifying treasure hunt ever. 
 
Brian Jacques is one of Britain's best-loved storytellers - and Redwall is his most famous creation. 
 
Discover the complete list of titles in the Redwall series: 
Redwall 
Mossflower 
Mattimeo 
Mariel of Redwall 
Salamandastron 
Martin the Warrior 
The Bellmaker 
Outcast of Redwall 
The Pearls of Lutra 
The Long Patrol 
Marlfox 
The Legend of Luke 
Lord Brocktree 
The Taggerung 
Triss 
Loamhedge 
Rakkety Tam 
High Rhulain 
Eulalia! 
Doomwyte 
The Sable Quean 
The Rogue Crew

The Sable Quean

The twenty-first book in the classic fantasy Redwall series – perfect for readers aged 9+. 
 
Vilaya, the Sable Quean, and her hordes of vermin have a plan to conquer Redwall - a plan that begins with a devious kidnapping. Will the Redwallers risk their Abbey and all of Mossflower Wood to recover their precious children? 
 
Perhaps Buckler the Hare, Blademaster of the Long Patrol, can save the day. After all, he has a score of his own to settle with the Sable Quean . . . 
 
Brian Jacques is one of Britain's best-loved storytellers - and Redwall is his most famous creation. 
 
Discover the complete list of titles in the Redwall series: 
Redwall 
Mossflower 
Mattimeo 
Mariel of Redwall 
Salamandastron 
Martin the Warrior 
The Bellmaker 
Outcast of Redwall 
The Pearls of Lutra 
The Long Patrol 
Marlfox 
The Legend of Luke 
Lord Brocktree 
The Taggerung 
Triss 
Loamhedge 
Rakkety Tam 
High Rhulain 
Eulalia! 
Doomwyte 
The Sable Quean 
The Rogue Crew

The Rogue Crew

The twenty-second book in the classic fantasy Redwall series – perfect for readers aged 9+. 
 
Mossflower Country has never seen a creature more evil or more hideous than Razzid Wearat. Captain of the Greenshroud, a ship with wheels that can sail through water as well as the forest, this beast is a terror of both land and sea. And his goal? To conquer Redwall Abbey. 
 
From Salamandastron to the High North Coast, the brave hares of the Long Patrol team up with the fearless sea otters of the Rogue Crew to form a pack so tough, only they can defend the abbey and defeat Razzid Wearat once and for all. 
 
Brian Jacques is one of Britain's best-loved storytellers - and Redwall is his most famous creation. 
 
Discover the complete list of titles in the Redwall series: 
Redwall 
Mossflower 
Mattimeo 
Mariel of Redwall 
Salamandastron 
Martin the Warrior 
The Bellmaker 
Outcast of Redwall 
The Pearls of Lutra 
The Long Patrol 
Marlfox 
The Legend of Luke 
Lord Brocktree 
The Taggerung 
Triss 
Loamhedge 
Rakkety Tam 
High Rhulain 
Eulalia! 
Doomwyte 
The Sable Quean 
The Rogue Crew

Eulalia!

The nineteenth book in the classic fantasy Redwall series – perfect for readers aged 9+. 
 
Lord Asheye of Salamandastron has a prophecy: a new Badger Lord will soon reign over the legendary badger fortress, one who 'shuns both armour and sword'. But who is he and how is he to be found? 
 
A young haremaid from the Long Patrol regiment is dispatched on a dangerous mission to find him - but the unsuspecting future Badger Lord has been captured by a murderous gang of Sea Raiders, intent on conquering Redwall Abbey. 
 
While the fate of many creatures, both good and evil, are caught up in the saga, somehow the young ruler must escape and find a way to defend Redwall, for only then will be be able to fulfil his destiny as leader of Salamandastron. 
 
Brian Jacques is one of Britain's best-loved storytellers - and Redwall is his most famous creation. 
 
Discover the complete list of titles in the Redwall series: 
Redwall 
Mossflower 
Mattimeo 
Mariel of Redwall 
Salamandastron 
Martin the Warrior 
The Bellmaker 
Outcast of Redwall 
The Pearls of Lutra 
The Long Patrol 
Marlfox 
The Legend of Luke 
Lord Brocktree 
The Taggerung 
Triss 
Loamhedge 
Rakkety Tam 
High Rhulain 
Eulalia! 
Doomwyte 
The Sable Quean 
The Rogue Crew

High Rhulain

The eighteenth book in the classic fantasy Redwall series – perfect for readers aged 9+. 
 
The adventure continues in the next installment of the bestselling Redwall saga, High Rhulain. 
 
The otters of Green Isle have long been enslaved to the Wildcat Riggu Felis. They work and wait for the day their savior will arrive, the prophesized High Rhulain, who will lead them in battle and a return to glory. Meanwhile, young Tiria Wildlough, an ottermaid at Redwall Abbey, pines for her chance to learn the ways of the warrior, much against the wishes of her father. So when an injured osprey arrives at the Abbey, seeking help for its wounds and carrying tales of an embattled clan of otters, young Tiria knows what she must do. 
 
Perfect for fans of T. A. Barron's Merlin saga, John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series, and J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. 
 
Discover the complete list of titles in the Redwall series: 
Redwall 
Mossflower 
Mattimeo 
Mariel of Redwall 
Salamandastron 
Martin the Warrior 
The Bellmaker 
Outcast of Redwall 
The Pearls of Lutra 
The Long Patrol 
Marlfox 
The Legend of Luke 
Lord Brocktree 
The Taggerung 
Triss 
Loamhedge 
Rakkety Tam 
High Rhulain 
Eulalia! 
Doomwyte 
The Sable Quean 
The Rogue Crew

Outcast of Redwall

The eighth book in the beloved, bestselling Redwall saga - soon to be a major Netflix movie!

The eighth book in the classic fantasy Redwall series – perfect for readers aged 9+. 
 
When ferret Swartt Sixclaw and the badger Sunflash the Mace swear a pledge of death upon each other, it is the beginning of a long and bitter struggle between them. 
 
And when the Abbess of Redwall banishes a young creature from the Abbey, the Outcast of Redwall finds himself embroiled in their hostile battle. 
 
Discover the complete list of titles in the Redwall series: 
Redwall 
Mossflower 
Mattimeo 
Mariel of Redwall 
Salamandastron 
Martin the Warrior 
The Bellmaker 
Outcast of Redwall 
The Pearls of Lutra 
The Long Patrol 
Marlfox 
The Legend of Luke 
Lord Brocktree 
The Taggerung 
Triss 
Loamhedge 
Rakkety Tam 
High Rhulain 
Eulalia! 
Doomwyte 
The Sable Quean 
The Rogue Crew

Not since Roald Dahl have children filled their shelves so compulsively

He is a wonderful storyteller, immersed in his own kingdom

Brian Jacques was born and bred in Liverpool. At the age of fifteen he went to sea and travelled the world. He worked as a stand-up comedian and playwright and hosted his own programme, Jakestown, on Radio Merseyside. His bestselling Redwall books have captured readers all over the world and won universal praise. He died in 2011.

The Long Patrol

The tenth book in the classic fantasy Redwall series – perfect for readers aged 9+. 
 
Tammo dreams of joining the Long Patrol, the legendary army of fighting hares who serve Lady Cregga Rose Eyes, ruler of Salamandastron. And with Damug Warfang's mighty battalion of savage vermin on the rampage, young Tammo's dream is about to become a brutal reality . . . 
 
Discover the complete list of titles in the Redwall series: 
Redwall 
Mossflower 
Mattimeo 
Mariel of Redwall 
Salamandastron 
Martin the Warrior 
The Bellmaker 
Outcast of Redwall 
The Pearls of Lutra 
The Long Patrol 
Marlfox 
The Legend of Luke 
Lord Brocktree 
The Taggerung 
Triss 
Loamhedge 
Rakkety Tam 
High Rhulain 
Eulalia! 
Doomwyte 
The Sable Quean 
The Rogue Crew

The tenth book in the beloved, bestselling Redwall saga - soon to be a major Netflix movie! 
 
Tammo's dream comes true when he is given the chance to run with the Long Patrol, the legendary fighting hares of Salamandastron. But Damug Warfang, head of a thousand Rapscallions - the deadliest horde of foebeasts ever to jump from ship to store - is looking for slaughter and plunder. Can any beast stand against the conqueror and his savage troops?

Marlfox

The eleventh book in the beloved, bestselling Redwall saga - soon to be a major Netflix movie!

The eleventh book in the classic fantasy Redwall series – perfect for readers aged 9+. 
 
Queen Silth, vixen ruler of Castle Marl, has one mission: to create a rich oasis of beautiful treasures on her island home. And with an army of water rats and the cunning Marlfox offspring with their legendary magical powers at her command, the murderous queen seems destined to succeed. 
 
"I found this book extremely hard to put down, mainly due to the lovable characters, brilliant humor and the enchanting story line which had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion." - a 5-star review 
 
Discover the complete list of titles in the Redwall series: 
Redwall 
Mossflower 
Mattimeo 
Mariel of Redwall 
Salamandastron 
Martin the Warrior 
The Bellmaker 
Outcast of Redwall 
The Pearls of Lutra 
The Long Patrol 
Marlfox 
The Legend of Luke 
Lord Brocktree 
The Taggerung 
Triss 
Loamhedge 
Rakkety Tam 
High Rhulain 
Eulalia! 
Doomwyte 
The Sable Quean 
The Rogue Crew

The Bellmaker

The seventh book in the beloved, bestselling Redwall saga - soon to be a major Netflix movie!

The seventh book in the classic fantasy Redwall series – perfect for readers aged 9+. 
 
When Joseph the Bellmaker is warned in a dream that his daughter Mariel is in danger, his hopes of saving her are slim. For the evil Foxwolf and his horde of rats are coming to Southsward and Mariel is his prisoner. But can the legendary Martin the Warrior return from the past to save them. Or is it too late . . . ? 
 
"This is a great book and in my opinion can be enjoyed at many levels for all ages. Full of action and adventure and, of course, a wicked enemy as always." - a 5-star reviewer 
 
Discover the complete list of titles in the Redwall series: 
Redwall 
Mossflower 
Mattimeo 
Mariel of Redwall 
Salamandastron 
Martin the Warrior 
The Bellmaker 
Outcast of Redwall 
The Pearls of Lutra 
The Long Patrol 
Marlfox 
The Legend of Luke 
Lord Brocktree 
The Taggerung 
Triss 
Loamhedge 
Rakkety Tam 
High Rhulain 
Eulalia! 
Doomwyte 
The Sable Quean 
The Rogue Crew

Brian Jacques 
 
A Tale of Redwall 
 
The Bellmaker 
 
Red Fox

The seventh book in the beloved, bestselling Redwall saga - soon to be a major Netflix movie! 
 
When Joseph the Bellmaker is warned in a dream that his daughter, Mariel, is in danger, his hopes of saving her are slim. For the evil Foxwolf and his horde of rats are coming to Southsward and Mariel is his prisoner. But Joseph and his four young warrior friends lead a crusade against Foxwolf and his invading army. Can the legendary Martin the Warrior return from the past to save them. Or is it too late . . . ?

The Taggerung

The fourteenth book in the beloved, bestselling Redwall saga - soon to be a major Netflix movie!

The fourteenth book in the classic fantasy Redwall series – perfect for readers aged 9+. 
 
Sawney Rath, ferret chief of the Juska tribe, and his band of villains kidnap a baby otter from Redwall to raise him as the Taggerung - a legendary animal said to have supernatural fighting skills. The young otter is trained to be a ruthless killer, but the Redwall spirit lies deep within him and as he grows older he begins to dream of another life . . . 
 
"Once again, Brian Jacques has excelled himself. In this, the fourteenth book in the incredible Redwall series, he manages once more to retain a gripping plot, whilst showing how it feels to lose a loved one. The devious plot twists and twines to the very end. This is must for any book lover, and casts a spell on the reader from beginning to end." - a 5-star reviewer 
 
Discover the complete list of titles in the Redwall series: 
Redwall 
Mossflower 
Mattimeo 
Mariel of Redwall 
Salamandastron 
Martin the Warrior 
The Bellmaker 
Outcast of Redwall 
The Pearls of Lutra 
The Long Patrol 
Marlfox 
The Legend of Luke 
Lord Brocktree 
The Taggerung 
Triss 
Loamhedge 
Rakkety Tam 
High Rhulain 
Eulalia! 
Doomwyte 
The Sable Quean 
The Rogue Crew

The Legend of Luke

The twelfth book in the beloved, bestselling Redwall saga - soon to be a major Netflix movie!

The twelth book in the classic fantasy Redwall series – perfect for readers aged 9+. 
 
Martin the Warrior leaves Redwall Abbey on a journey to discover the truth about Luke, the father he barely knew. His voyage takes him home to the northland shore where, from a dusty old book, he learns of Luke's dramatic pursuit of the evil pirate stoat, Vilu Daskar. 
 
"Redwall is an excellent series for children, teenagers, and adults! Brian Jacques was a master storyteller and wrote some of the best descriptions a writer could. You won't regret the time you spend in the Redwall universe." - a 5-star review 
 
Discover the complete list of titles in the Redwall series: 
Redwall 
Mossflower 
Mattimeo 
Mariel of Redwall 
Salamandastron 
Martin the Warrior 
The Bellmaker 
Outcast of Redwall 
The Pearls of Lutra 
The Long Patrol 
Marlfox 
The Legend of Luke 
Lord Brocktree 
The Taggerung 
Triss 
Loamhedge 
Rakkety Tam 
High Rhulain 
Eulalia! 
Doomwyte 
The Sable Quean 
The Rogue Crew

Redwall

'Mice are my heroes because, like children, mice are little and have to learn to be courageous and use their wits' Brian Jacques

A constant hit ever since Martin the Warrior first took up arms against his foes

There are quests and riddles; cunning treachery and chivalric derring-do; and, in a feature that became a hallmark of the entire series, groaning boards spread with sumptuous feasts, lovingly described

The combination of a completely imagined world full of domestic detail...with a strongly created mythology to underpin them, big-scale plots and Jacques's rolling prose quickly turned Redwall into a leading international brand in children's books

Written long before Harry Potter and Twilight burst into the mainstream, Jacques's Redwall series offered up endless adventure and complex, sympathetic characters

The Tales of Redwall, adventurous battles between good and evil set in a world of mice and squirrels and foxes, have captured the imaginations of millions of children (and adults) across the globe

Brian Jacques (pronounced 'jakes') was born in Liverpool in 1939, and grew up in Kirkdale, close to the docks. He left school at the age of fifteen and worked as a railway fireman, bus driver, postmaster and stand-up entertainer, before beginning his writing career with a residency at the renowned Everyman Theatre. 
 
His first book for children, Redwall, was published in 1986. Twenty-one further books in the series were published to global acclaim, with millions of copies sold worldwide. In 2021 Netflix announced plans to release an animated film of Redwall that will introduce the series to a new generation of fans. 
 
Brian died in Liverpool on 5 February 2011.

***SOON TO BE A NETFLIX SERIES*** 
 
Welcome to Redwall Abbey. Inside its enormous doors, mice live in peace, helping those in need and throwing epic feasts for the great and the good of Mossflower Woods. 
 
But outside a grave threat is gathering. An army of evil rats led by a vicious, one-eyed warlord, is on its way. 
 
Matthias is just one little mouse but he knows it'll take more than stones and mouse-sized arrows to keep the rats at bay. Enlisting the help of a military hare, wild sparrows and argumentative stoats, Matthias sets out to defend his freedom, his friends, and the abbey he calls home. 
 
Includes exclusive material: In the Backstory you can learn to make a Redwall Abbey pudding! 
 
Vintage Children's Classics is a twenty-first century classics list aimed at 8-12 year olds and the adults in their lives. Discover timeless favourites from Peter Pan and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to modern classics such as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Seven Strange And Ghostly Tales

A collection of terrifying tales from the creator of the Redwall series.

Dare you visit the vampire's tomb at midnight when the church bell tolls? 
 
Or descend to the fiery pits of hell with a boy who has sold his soul to the devil? 
 
If not, read no further. For these are strange and ghostly tales - gruesome, pitiful, spine-chilling . . . 
 
But don't be surprised to find that supernatural events can also be wickedly funny - and even raise a ghost of a smile!

The Fate of Thomas P Kanne (Storycuts)

A modern scourge is remedied by a mythological nightmare in this terrifying cautionary tale against graffiti.

Brian Jacques was born and bred in Liverpool, where he lives today. At the age of fifteen he went to sea and travelled the world. He has worked as a stand-up comedian and playwright and now hosts his own programme, Jakestown, on Radio Merseyside. His bestselling Redwall books have captured readers all over the world and won universal praise.

Thomas P Kanne is the Phantom Snake, an elusive graffiti artist who has made many enemies in his attempts to vandalise his home city of Middlechester. Mr Bausin, the caretaker of the local museum is a seemingly harmless old man with a dark secret, but more importantly, a vendetta against the Phantom Snake. When Mr Bausin finally gets to confront his nemesis in the dark, abandoned corridors of the Egyptian exhibit, Thomas faces a terrifying game of cat and mouse. 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, this short story was previously published in the collection Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales.

The Sad History of Gilly Bodkin (Storycuts)

This is the story of poor Gilly Bodkin's ghost, forced to roam the paths where he died until he can taste the sweet he lost his life trying to get.

Gilly Bodkin met a terrible accident in 1690 while searching for a sweetmeat. The poor boy's ghost is left to wander woods and highways searching for that elusive sweet that he lost his life trying to taste. This is his sad story. 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, this short story was previously published in the collection Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales.

The Lies of Henry Mawdsley (Storycuts)

In an interesting spin on the traditional Faustian pact, schoolboy Henry swaps a week's worth of absolute credulity from everyone he encounters, for his soul.

Henry Mawdsley is a terrific liar. However, the more people get to know him, the less they believe in his lies - and it won't be long until nobody in his town believes a word he says! So when a chance encounter with the devil offers him the opportunity to have everyone believe his lies unconditionally for a week for the measly price of his soul, Henry jumps at the chance. But as the week draws to a close, and the date of Henry's descent into hell gets closer, he begins to fear for his life . . . 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, this short story was previously published in the collection Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales.

RSB Limited (Storycuts)

If Jonathan didn't have an anonymous pale protector at his new school, he'd be a victim; because he does, the bullies are instead.

When Jonathan joins a new school, he is an easy target for R.S.B. Limited, three bullies who demand money in exchange for 'protection.' Unable to afford the rates, he is subjected to a humiliating daily ritual. However, a pale anonymous boy who looks eerily similar to Jonathan has been glimpsed around the school - and he's not going to let R.S.B. Limited get away with their bullying any more. 
 
Part of the Stroycuts series, this short story was previously published in the collection Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales.

Jamie and the Vampires (Storycuts)

Desperate to fit in, school boy Jamie accepts a dare to sit on a newly discovered vampire's grave with unexpected consequences.

Jamie is just an ordinary boy dealing with ordinary struggles: trying to fit in and avoiding his overbearing mother. However, the discovery of what his friends call a Vampire's Tomb reveals an opportunity for Jamie to prove himself. All he has to do is wait in the graveyard as the church clock strikes midnight. He's not scared - vampires don't exist . . . right? 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, this short story was previously published in the collection Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales.

Brian Jacques

Books by Brian Jacques

Series by Brian Jacques

Redwall

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15 must-read fantasy books for 9-12-year-olds

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