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Summary
Summary
Urchin the squirrel believes he is destined for greatness. Dropped from the sky by a gull onto the island of Mistmantle, he helps fight against cruel new laws and reveals the true murderer of the king's son.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7-Urchin the squirrel believes he is destined for greatness. Dropped from the sky by a gull onto the island of Mistmantle, he is rescued by Crispin, captain to hedgehog King Brushen. He becomes Crispin's page and is quickly embroiled in the murder of the King's young son. When Crispin is framed for the crime and banished, Urchin remains on Mistmantle, working for another captain, Padra the otter. Eyewitness to a power struggle for the throne, he helps fight against cruel new laws and reveals the true murderer. This story will appeal to fans of Brian Jacques's "Redwall" series (Philomel) as well as to readers who enjoy court intrigue and battle scenes with tons of tails and fur. While the action contains too many coincidences to be believed (someone is always perfectly placed to overhear just the thing needed for the next chapter), the characters are memorable and likable, and the writing is smooth and evenly paced. Urchin rises above other animal stories with flashes of humor as well as weighty issues like murder and cruelty to the weak. Although the plot devices and characterization are fairly stereotypical, the book is worth purchasing, especially given the popularity of this genre. Young readers will be pleased to see this new series hit the shelves.-Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The first book in the Mistmantle Chronicles introduces a mystical, medieval island and its anthropomorphic woodland denizens. The hedgehog King Brushen rules the island of Mistmantle and his squirrel, otter, mole and hedgehog subjects. The mists that surround the island give it its name, and also hide it from outsiders-except for one pregnant squirrel who finds her way to its shores in time to give birth to a child of prophecy ("He will bring down a powerful ruler") before she dies. Crispin, a squirrel who serves as one of the king's Captains, discovers the baby on the shore and names him Urchin. The young squirrel is thrilled when Crispin, "[his] hero," later asks Urchin to be his page. But Urchin's joy is short-lived when the king's young son is murdered, and-by an arcane system of drawing lots-Crispin is determined to be the murderer. Urchin, the otter Padra (his new master) and other loyal subjects strive to uncover the conspirators set on overthrowing King Brushen. " `And, Urchin,' Padra added quietly, `whatever those sharp squirrel ears pick up, be careful of repeating anything.... I know Crispin was innocent and so do you.... But there is danger in high places on this island.' " McAllister's story may appeal to fans of the Redwall series, though Jacques provides a more intriguing mythology. Still, Urchin and his young friends make friendly, virtuous heroes, and younger readers may well look forward to their future adventures. Ages 8-up. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
On a night of shooting stars, a newborn squirrel falls from the sky. It's been prophesied that the infant--who grows into spunky page Urchin--will bring down a king, and so he does, more or less. It's a classic tale, well-told here with an engagingly furry cast of squirrels, moles, otters, and hedgehogs. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Evidently hoping to tap into the Redwall audience, McAllister furnishes a cast of squirrels, hedgehogs and other small creatures with an island surrounded by magical mists, a pair of obscure prophecies, a castle atop a nearly forgotten reservoir of Evil and a kindly king who comes under the thumb of a murderous vassal. Into the intrigue scampers Urchin, an orphaned squirrel of an unusual color who, plainly destined for great things, rises from obscurity to become a Page at the Tower, undertake a seemingly hopeless mission and return just in time to take part in the climactic battle. No one here speaks in dialect, but the characters are all standard animal fantasy types, and the sudden appearance of a hitherto-somehow-unnoticed mercenary army isn't the only plot propping that goes on. The tale's competently told, but all in all, it's same-old-same-old--and McAllister lacks Brian Jacques's gift for vivid descriptions of food and pageantry. Voracious readers might pick up this series opener, while waiting for something better. (Fantasy. 11-13) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr. 5-8. McAllister, whose Hold My Hand and Run0 (2000) showed a flair for historical fiction, here tackles fantasy of the animal-kingdom stripe--a complete narrative but with promises of further volumes to come. "Loyal as a hedgehog, determined as a mole, bright as a squirrel, valiant as an otter"\b \b0 is the way the world of Mistmantle is described in the book. Urchin, a pale squirrel whose mother died during childbirth, is from another place, although he does not know this as he grows to become a page to Captain Crispin. When Crispin is falsely accused of the murder of the baby prince hedgehog and exiled, Urchin serves Padra the otter as palace intrigue saps the life and strength of the king and queen. Evil places beneath the tower feed the conspirators, and Urchin finds himself not only trying to save babies threatened with "culling" but also seeking Crispin's return. The sense of justice is a little weak and the characters one-dimensional, but this certainly has involving moments, and Urchin is a sweet hero. --GraceAnne DeCandido Copyright 2005 Booklist
