As young Tammo dreams of joining the Long patrol--the legendary army of fighting hares which 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 that he has the ability to grab his readers by the throat and transport them into a world of fantasy and adventure that many writers of adult books would love to emulate. The Long Patrol, A Tale of Redwall, 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. (9 years and over) --Susan Harrison