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British Children's Author, Brian Jacques, died over the weekend.
I heard this while listening to NPR and could only stared in wide-eyed traumatized shock for several minutes. Brian Jacques Redwall series means a lot to me. I read Mossflower in the sixth grade and was completely enchanted. Before, if I read anything, it was usually short, between 150 and 200 pages - easy reads. I'd like to think that the Redwall series made me a more literate child, expanded my vocabulary, and introduced me to such detailed, sensory writing that wasn't purple. It also encouraged me to read books that were hundreds of pages; normally, I would have been intimidated, because I always thought of myself as stupid (because people told me I was - teachers, other students, my sister).
And, for a girl who was bullied relentlessly, had no friends, and a really sucky family life, the Redwall books were easy to get lost in and forget that I was utterly alone. Nobody in that series was alone; they all had great, supportive friends and places that felt like "homes" - even Martin, outcast and wandering so far, was able to find somewhere to belong.
R.I.P Mr. Jacques. Your works touched so many lives and saved at least one lonely little girl.
I heard this while listening to NPR and could only stared in wide-eyed traumatized shock for several minutes. Brian Jacques Redwall series means a lot to me. I read Mossflower in the sixth grade and was completely enchanted. Before, if I read anything, it was usually short, between 150 and 200 pages - easy reads. I'd like to think that the Redwall series made me a more literate child, expanded my vocabulary, and introduced me to such detailed, sensory writing that wasn't purple. It also encouraged me to read books that were hundreds of pages; normally, I would have been intimidated, because I always thought of myself as stupid (because people told me I was - teachers, other students, my sister).
And, for a girl who was bullied relentlessly, had no friends, and a really sucky family life, the Redwall books were easy to get lost in and forget that I was utterly alone. Nobody in that series was alone; they all had great, supportive friends and places that felt like "homes" - even Martin, outcast and wandering so far, was able to find somewhere to belong.
R.I.P Mr. Jacques. Your works touched so many lives and saved at least one lonely little girl.
