Top Ten List

Redwall: the graphic novel by Brian Jacques and Bret Blevins ill. New York The Penguin Group 2007.

ISBN: 9780399244810

When the peaceful life of Redwall is disturbed, the young mouse Matthias seeks to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior and save Redwall’s   inhabitants from destruction and villainy.

Media: pen and ink and watercolor.

4Q/5P

Curriculum Connection

5^th-7^th Language arts-literature

Theme of the novel is good against evil but also when is it necessary and just for pacifists to fight? Although Matthias is a mouse living in an abbey he longs to join in battle for adventure much to the dismay of the peaceful members of the abbey. But they acknowledge that their champion was one who came to save the Abbey from attack and destruction. The warrior later longed for peace and the Abbey was committed to keeping and teaching the ways of peace. Under attack the “good peaceful mice” and other symbolic herbivores identified with pacifism are constantly being outwitted and threatened by carnivores and animal symbolic of fierceness of cleverness i.e. foxes. But the pacifists who although resort to violence to win their freedom from attackers, eventually triumph and return to peaceful ways.

D. Guhl Summer 2009

Jaques, B. (2007). Redwall: The graphic novel, New York: Philomel Books.

ISBN: 978-0399244810

Hoping to become a hero and save Redwall Abbey, Matthias, the mouse, takes on Cluny, the rat, and his army.

Subjects: Heroism, Adventure, War, Loyalty

Media: Pen and Ink

Ages: Grades 5-7

Rating: 4Q/3P

km 6/24/09