and
The Outlaws of Sherwood
Authors: Brian Jacques and Robin McKinley
Age level: Jr/Sr. High School
Recommended by: Judith Broadbent Summary: Redwall
is a novel set in an abbey inhabited by mice and one mouse becomes the hero by recovering the lost sword and defeating a large rat and his horde who are attempting to destroy the abbey. This is an allegory. (Most students then read all of the works in this series.)
The Outlaws of Sherwood is a different look at the Robin Hood story and the development of the characters is done is such a way that students can readily identify with them.
Teaching suggestions:
These two books can effectively be used to teach a unit on the development of a hero or a heroic legend. I use them in conjunction with several other works and do comparison/contrast and specific essays showing how the hero is developed in each or how they fit the characteristics for heroic legends.
