The Battle of Hackham Heath (Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years Series #2)

by John Flanagan Narrated by John Keating

Overview

John Flanagan, author of the bestselling Ranger's Apprentice fantasy adventure epic, delivers a second prequel to Ruins of Gorlan, the novel that started it all, with Halt and Crowley preparing for war against a near-unstoppable enemy
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When the former Baron Morgarath escaped to avoid punishment for treason, an uneasy peace fell on Araluen. But Morgarath, now in hiding, is already planning his next move, recruiting an army of savage, overpowering beasts known as Wargals. Newly crowned King Duncan knows he must assemble his troops for battle.
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To find out the full extent of Morgarath's plan of attack, Halt prepares for a seemingly impossible task--climbing the deadly cliffs of the Mountains of Rain and Night and venturing deep into enemy territory to spy. After all, the winner of this war could be determined by one wrong move.
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At the Battle of Hackham Heath, the fate of a Kingdom will be decided. This origin story of how Halt came to be Araluen's most famous Ranger - and how war will decide the future of the next generation - will thrill Ranger's Apprentice fans and new readers alike.

Editorial Reviews

School Library Journal

01/01/2017
Gr 6–10—In this companion to The Tournament at Gorlan, Flanagan continues his new prequel series. In the aftermath of an intense battle to restore King Duncan's kingdom, Halt and Crowley commit themselves to securing the realm's safety by ensuring that evil Morgarath never returns. Dividing their duties, Crowley escorts a pregnant Queen Rosalind to a safer location, while Halt goes on a scouting expedition to the Mountains of Rain and Night, where Morgarath is thought to be training an army of fanged and furry semihuman creatures called Wargals. Relying on mind control to direct the beasts, Morgarath seems unstoppable. A showdown and culminating clashes highlight the Rangers' ability to rely on unseasoned recruits, local terrain, and well-choreographed infantry and cavalry tactics to outplay the enemy. Despite some tragic losses, Duncan's depleted army lives to fight another day, leaving the door open for Morgarath to make another move in future episodes. Flanagan is a master of using context clues for challenging vocabulary, and his narrative is as delightfully descriptive and imaginative as ever. VERDICT This is not as page-turning or humorous as other "Ranger's Apprentice" titles, but Halt and Crowley still rule as beloved heroes with wide appeal.—Vicki Reutter, State University of New York at Cortland

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169352641
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	11/29/2016
Series:	Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years Series , #2
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "The Battle of Hackham Heath"
by .
Copyright © 2016 John Flanagan.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Young Readers Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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