Olivia Pickett
Title: Mossflower
Author: Brian Jacques
Publisher: Firebird
Year of publication: 2002
Story Introduction
 Brian Jacques presents us with a fantasy world were creatures seek to
break free of the iron claw of the wildcat queen, Tsarmina. The main setting
for the story is in the woods bordering Kotir called Mossflower. It is about the
evil wildcat queen who plans to rule all of Mossflower with a totalitarian
regime. Making every creature beg for mercy at their knees. Until the quickthinking mousethief, Gonff, and the brave warrior mouse, Martin, meet in
the dungeons beneath Kotir. The peaceful woodlanders help them to
escape and then they set off on a dangerous quest, with Dinny the mole,
to the mountain of dragons, Salamandastron. There they hope to find Boar
the fighter, who is the only one they believe can bring an end to Tsarmina's
tyrannical reign.
Protagonist/Antagonist
Protagonist:
Martin the warrior
 Strong mouse warrior from
the north.

Vows to slay Tsarmina for breaking
Antagonist
Tsarmina
Cruel ruler of Kotir and
of Mossflower.
She acquired the throne by
his father’s sword.
the ultimate of killing her
 Joins up with the woodlanders to
father and blaming it on her
help end Tsarmina’s cruel reign.
Brother.
Central Conflict
 The central conflict is the battle between the woodlanders and the wildcat
queen. The epic battle of good versus evil. The pleasant woodlanders fight
to protect what is rightfully theirs. The problem is that the queen wants to
rule all of Mossflower and take every creature as slaves. They are fighting
desperately to keep their freedom. They think that Boar the Fighter, the
rightful ruler, is their only hope of winning the land back. The true hero
however has already fallen into their midst and will eventually help them to
take back what is theirs and restore peace to Mossflower.
Minor Characters
 Gonff
He is a mousethief who goes
Bella of Brockhall
She is the daughter of Boar the
with Martin on the quest and
Fighter, rightful ruler of Mossflower.
helps him out along the way.
Her home, Brockhall, is also home to
He is Martins best friend and
all the woodlanders fleeing
companion.
Tsarmina’s rule.
Minor Characters (cont.)
 Dinny the Mole
He is Martin and Gonff’s during
Their quest to Salamandastron.
He is one of the best diggers in all of
Mossflower, and is an important
character in the novel.
Minor Characters (cont.)
Bella of Brockhall
Gonff the Mousethief
Dinny the Mole
Critics
 “Packed with action and imbued with warmth…. Richly inventive.”
- Kirkus Reviews
(On the back of book)
 “I seem to be unable to get enough of the little rodent inhabitants of that
country. Brian Jacques is a lovely storyteller, although I’m interested to see if
he can break away from the “evil tyrant threatening the humble but
tenacious villagers” routine for any of the following books.”
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201341.Mossflower
What I think
 I liked this book because of the use of animals instead of people. This
aspect made the book more interesting because all these creatures were
acting and carrying out their lives almost just like humans. The author does
a great job of act like humans but still have animal characteristics and
behaviors. Even though they walk, talk, and are civilized they still hunt and
eat and act like they would in nature.