Taggerung by Brian Jacques

Reviewed by Ben F.
Grade 11

Stolen away from his true family at Redwall Abbey as a babe by the vermin Juskarath clan, otter Deyna has grown up amongst villains his entire life, groomed and trained since his kidnapping to become the legendary Taggerung; the future leader and greatest fighter in the clan. Vermin life has been simple among the Juskarath, but when Tagg cannot kill another clan member, he leaves to discover his true heritage and become the noble warrior he wishes to be. Torn between his fake vermin father and the kindred calling him through visions, Tagg sets off to discover his origins, meeting and aiding creatures he comes across, but his peaceful travels are dampened by an elite vermin band determined to eliminate him. Joined by harvest mouse and chronic liar Nimbalo the Slayer, the two set out for the gates of Redwall and Tagg’s remaining family for one last battle against his past.

Taggerung is a story of anthropomorphic animals and warriors, set in an old English setting of peaceful villages, grand battles and dangerous, wild heroes; an important notation to any reader unfamiliar with the works of Brian Jacques. With that said, Taggerung is a grand epic of one hero who knew he was more than his villainous given identity and risked everything to prove it. The plot unfolds steadily, almost tediously, yet is more than satisfactorily rewarding to the patient reader.

This is a book for the patient, coming in at just over 300 pages, as well as for animal-lovers, fans of wolf-fiction, older English writing, classic hero-villain warrior tales, medieval settings, furs, and the odd therian. Recommended to those over 13, though the story was originally crafted by Jacques for even younger readers; you may choose at your discretion.

The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby

Reviewed by Ben F.
Grade 11

In 1798, a pair of inventors arrived in New York with a dream to shape a city of skyscrapers, machines, and the most extraordinary technology imaginable. They were the Morningstarr twins; a brother-sister duo who crafted incredible designs for solar-powered street cleaners, zig-zagging elevators, and one impossible cipher leading to treasure untold. Three hundred years later, the cipher is ever a mystery, and another pair of twins in present-day York seek answers in the creations the Morningstarrs left behind. BHut the Cipher is much more than a mystery—it’s as alive as the city itself.

Eccentric twins Tess and Theo Biedermann face a difficult reality; real estate developer Darnell Slant is buying up old Morningstarr buildings—including their apartment complex. Banding together with neighbor and graphic artist Jaime Cruz, the three set off to unlock the secrets of the famed Old York Cipher, nowadays a mere myth for tourists. Following the few clues the Morningstarrs left behind, the trio will have to move fast to solve the mystery before their building is sold, but the Cipher has its own agenda.

The first book in the York series, is a dazzling story of the steampunk city we never knew we needed, interlaced with a clue hunt to rival The 39 Clues. Written with vivid descriptions of shining streets and machinery for every possible task, it’s hard to say which is more intriguing; the Cipher or the city itself. As for our heroes, Tess and Theo are quirkily loveable protagonists in their brilliant youth and drive to solve a puzzle that has evaded understanding for centuries.

The Shadow Cipher is a brilliant steampunk mystery that shines in its depiction of a beloved city reimagined in the most eccentrically fantastic way, and the secret that lives inside it. Easily recommended to all 10-and-up fans of steampunk, mystery, brilliant clue hunts and mechanical marvels. Ten and up rating based off approximate reading-comprehension skills; York, much like its namesake, is no small feat to comprehend.