Urchin of the Riding Stars by McAllister is the first book in the Mistmantle Chronicles series of children's books. The island of Mistmantle is the home of an animal kingdom consisting of squirrels, otters, hedgehogs, and moles. Urchin, a young foundling squirrel with light fur, wishes more than anything else that he could serve in Mistmantle Tower. His chance comes when Captain Crispin asks him if he would like to become a page. The next day when Urchin reports for duty, he finds the tower in an uproar. The only son of King Brushen has been brutally murdered. Having no leads to the murderer, the king agrees to have Captain Husk draw lots despite the misgivings of Brother Fir, the monk, and the other captains. The lots identify Crispin as the murderer, and he is sent into exile leaving Urchin in the capable hands of Captain Padra the otter. Under the treacherous influence and care of Captain Husk and Lady Aspen, the queen dies; and the king becomes merely a puppet leader with Husk in charge. Urchin and Padra must work together to protect the animals of Mistmantle, prove Crispin's innocence, and save the kingdom from the evil within its borders.
An entertaining read, I enjoyed this as a read aloud with my 9yo and 5yo boys, and we are happily moving on to the second book in the series. I would recommend it for ages 6 and up.
No comments:
Post a Comment