This is the second time I have read 'Mattimeo'. It is a wonderful book and only one of the many books in the Redwall series for children but read by all ages: written by the brilliant late Brian Jacques. I love these magical books. They fascinate me. The Redwall characters, a mix of many animals who live together in harmony, goodwill and peace (when the 'baddies' will let them) are nevertheless always ready to defend their Abbey and lifestyle against those bent on eliminating them from the youngest to the oldest creature. There is so much in these books to teach children on a deeper level too.

The theme as always is the triumph of good over evil. In this book evil is in the form of the wicked fox Slagar and his equally unpleasant but often dim witted followers. Slagar has a score to settle with the Redwallers and is out for revenge in retaliation for the death of his evil mother, an alleged healer and facial injuries to himself in an earlier book. His plan is to steal the youngsters of Redwall and sell them to slavers. The book is full of exciting adventures and as with every Redwall book has enchanted me all over again.Go on give it a try!

Another one to maybe not read to kids under 10. (Along with Rakkety Tam and Pearls of Lutra)

Jee-Uk Yang
Mrs.Ebarvia
11-29-07
tThe book that I read was Mattimeo by Brian Jacques. It is the third book in the Redwall series. He published his first book, Redwall, in 1986. Some other famous novels are The Bellmaker, The Legend of Luke, Rakkety Tam, and more. Mattimeo is about a rat, Mattimeo, fighting against other animal armies under Slagar the Cruel with his friends and his dad’s army. The story ends by killing Slagar the Cruel.
tThe interesting thing that I found in this book is that the author used animals instead of using humans. The author used animals just like humans. Most novels about war I have read involved animals. When I first started reading this book, I thought it was a churlish book because animals are used as humans. But by the time goes, the author used one animal’s features to solve problems. I thought it was really interesting and I also thought that it was childish because there weren’t any problems that they couldn’t solve it by themselves.
tAs I have mentioned in the previous paragraph, all the characters solved the problems by themselves. There were many obvious plots. For instance, when a hero is fighting against a villain, the hero never loses. Only about once or twice in the story, the hero dies. If the author set the story as in the back and forth forms, which is giving some loses to the hero and give some wins to the enemy, it should be more exciting.
tDespite its weaknesses, such as obvious plots, the novel is an enjoyable one to read. I have heard that there are lost s of different age groups as fans of this book. You should be able to tell why that is. It gets better and better as you read the book. It is like a video game you play on TV, except that you are not using your fingers that much and you are just looking at it.

We'll see if I stick to this opinion once I get to my old top faves (Marlfox, High Rhulain, and Rakkety Tam), but I'm pretty sure that this is the best Redwall book. It's really got it all. Everyone is astonishingly and dramatically intense about things (but without losing the classic Redwall focus on family and friendship and apprecation of life). There's travel and defense of the Abbey, there's some of the best villains in the series . . . also, props to Jacques for having multiple generations get in on the action. We need more books willing to do that and do it well.

I am enjoying this series, though I only seem to read about 1 book a year. Trying to fit them in and read the series in order.
As the reviews say, if you liked Watership Down, you'll like this. Too bad it took me 20 years to find and get to them!

Adventure galore! I didn't remember much of Mattimeo at all (from having read it as a child), and it kept me guessing all the way through. Matthias and his friends lead the reader on an adventure to save the children of Redwall Abbey, but of course Jacques gives us the story from the rescuers perspective, as well as the young hostages, Mattimeo and his friends. But Cornflower and the Redwallers that are left behind deal with an adventure all their own as well. As usual, Jacques weaves a fascinating story mixed with tragedy, a little comedy, some love, suspense galore and of course, bravery and battle.

What can I say? Jacques has done it again! In fact, I'd even go so far as to say I love this book the best out of the three I've read so far. Beautiful characters, beautiful story, hair-raising stakes...I couldn't get enough and am eagerly jumping into the next book!

Mattimeo is a sequel to Redwall and Mossflower books. The peaceful creatures of the Redwall Abbey are preparing a feast for the turn of the season. Young Mattimeo is son of Matthias who is Redwall's warrior, which makes him a target. A sly fox named Slagar the Cruel and his band of slavers are planning to capture Mattimeo and young ones from the abbey to work as slaves in this mysterious underground kingdom. After being drugged at their feast and discovering that their young ones were gone, Matthias and his 2 companions set out on a long and epic journey fighting evil and finding new companions while they find their young ones.

This is one of the best books that I have read, it has many side conflicts that can have a chain reaction and affect other conflicts that they have. I also thought that the book having clues that would fit together and relate to something was cool.

This book was Phenomenal because it just made me want to read it non-stop. the characters, setting, and time zone just fascinated me and I had a blast reading it. Mattimeo to me represents all the good things in life being constantly run over by the bad things. But somehow the good things always turn out to be greater than all the bad things that it faces. This series has been my favorite for a really long time because it is so packed with action and adventures of everyday life.

Rating: All-Time Favorite

This book was my entry to the Redwall series as a kid and has remained one of my absolute favorites of the series. This is technically the third entry, and I noticed some growth in the writing between this and the first two. It was a little less black and white with a little less of the less than ideal depictions of mental health being tied to being evil.

I definitely still teared up at parts of this one, and it held up on reread as an adult.

At first, I didn't really enjoy the audio, but they are narrated by Brian Jacques and a full cast, and I ended up enjoying this one much more than I did Redwall or Mossflower. It can be a smidge cheesy, but it was a lot of fun. I listened to this over a long period of time as my bedtime book, and I am glad that I did.

Overall, I am feeling a lot more positive about my reread and read-on of the Redwall series. It will definitely take some time because it's long and is not going to be my main priority, but it is just so cozy to revisit these stories that I picked up around 7-8 and really cemented me as a lifelong fantasy reader.

Such a cute series. I encourage all parents to read the Redwall books to their children. John is reading a chapter to me every night before we go to bed.

Once again treated to hearing Brian Jacques narrate to a full cast dramatization of his book. Perhaps because I truly enjoy the story of Redwall so much, I liked this one better than the second book, telling the history leading to Redwall's construction. Learning the fate of Matthias and Mattimeo after the defeat of Cluny of the Scourge was more thrilling for me; particularly the father/son dynamic, and being the child of a hero. Matthias learning how to stand upon his own to fight for goodness when before he skid along on his father's reputation. Also, the mystery of the identity of Slagar the Cruel intrigued me, however, considering the first book, it wasn't too long. The addition of the underground empire felt odd to me, other than making a destination for the slavers. It felt less developed. I might have missed why they were there, who they were, and their ultimate goal.
The death of the enemies in Jacques' stories glow like an epic for a cosmic justice being fulfilled against those that harm the righteous. Once more I felt the inclusion of others being a hero of the moment, particularly female characters, is a high point of this series. There is certainly the main character that gets their triumphs and accolades, yet, it is always a task that requires the help of others; such as, the return of the GOUSIM, a delight for me as I truly loved their staunchly collectivist action, and thinking with its foibles.
For example, the sub-plot of the attack on Redwall once the heroes have left, is an exploration of yet another riddle-- I admit to finding it suspiciously present in every book thus far, ever-conveniently solving the problem at hand, but I do find it clever and fun-- for the residents to solve that helps them to save their abbey, and home. I note that it is the female Cornflower, who is questing for a solution left behind by the female church mouse that designed Redwall. Makes me wonder, what other characters will find their legacy of mysterious words for future generations to find.
The next book in publication order has a female main character, and again, returns to the past offering more information about the landscape, its history, and its connection to the beloved Redwall.
It was half way through the book that I realized this portion had been included in the animated series of Redwall.