Dickens & Rumi

book

Rakkety Tam

Brian Jacques · 2004

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Rakkety Tam by Brian Jacques. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Violence; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.

Book 17 · The Redwall AdventuresSource checked

Where to get it

Find in a libraryBuy on Bookshop.orgBuy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop.org affiliate, Dickens & Rumi may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 4/5 · Frightening scenes 4/5 · Violence 4/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 5/5 · Creativity & curiosity 4/5
Series positionBook 17 · The Redwall Adventures
Recommendation4.3/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Death of a character 4/5
Recommendation 4.3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
14Scored categories
14Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Nov 6, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth14 scored categories14 evidence notes
Show Wikipedia summary

Open to load a short Wikipedia summary.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Violence4/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience5/5
  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Good role models4/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 18 · High RhulainStrongest cautions: Death of a character 4/5 · Violence 4/5Open next review →
  1. Book 1 · RedwallAges 14+
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · MossflowerAges 14+
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  3. Book 3 · Mattimeo
    Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Death of a character3/5Graphic injury2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  4. Book 4 · Mariel of Redwall
    Violence4/5Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  5. Book 5 · Salamandastron
    Death of a character5/5Violence5/5Frightening scenes4/5Graphic injury4/5Alcohol or drugs3/5Religious themes1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  6. Book 6 · Martin the WarriorAges 14+
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury3/5Romance3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Religious themes1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  7. Book 7 · The Bellmaker
    Violence5/5Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Graphic injury2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  8. Book 8 · Outcast of Redwall
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  9. Book 9 · The Pearls of LutraAges 16+
    Death of a character5/5Violence5/5Frightening scenes4/5Graphic injury3/5Religious themes2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  10. Book 10 · The Long Patrol
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury2/5Religious themes2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  11. Book 11 · MarlfoxAges 14+
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Religious themes1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  12. Book 12 · The Legend of Luke
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  13. Book 13 · Lord Brocktree
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  14. Book 14 · The Taggerung
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury2/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  15. Book 15 · Triss
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  16. Book 16 · Loamhedge
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury3/5Religious themes2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  17. Book 17 · Rakkety Tam
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Religious themes2/5Romance2/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  18. Book 18 · High Rhulain
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury3/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  19. Book 19 · Eulalia!
    Death of a character5/5Violence5/5Frightening scenes4/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Religious themes1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  20. Book 20 · Doomwyte
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  21. Book 21 · The Sable Quean
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  22. Book 22 · The Rogue Crew
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same

Keep going

What should you do next?

One review should lead naturally to the next useful choice.

Keep browsingSearch for another bookUse age, interests, vibe, or content preferences.Search →

What’s in it?

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

Multiple named and unnamed characters die, including soldiers and defenders; the central villain is ultimately killed violently.

Graphic injury3/5
Why this rating?

The plot includes flesh-eating enemies, slaughter, mortal wounds, and a villain's head being severed on a sharpened shield.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

The material suggests occasional harsh insults and threatening descriptions, but no strong profanity is indicated.

Religious themes2/5
Why this rating?

A spiritual appearance by Martin the Warrior and a sacred sword are meaningful to the quest, though organized religion is not central.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

A relationship develops between Tam and Sister Armel, ending in marriage and a child, but romance is secondary to the adventure.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

Threatening vermin armies, captivity, pursuit, ambushes, dangerous crossings, and an apparently unstoppable wolverine create sustained peril.

Violence4/5
Why this rating?

Frequent fantasy battles, ambushes, armed assaults, captivity, torture-like threats, and animal combat drive much of the plot.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience5/5
Why this rating?

Courage is central: characters confront invading armies, rescue captives, defend homes, and face Gulo in single combat.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

The imaginative world, talking-animal societies, riddles, magical history, inventive tactics, and quest structure strongly encourage fantasy imagination.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The cast includes many animal species and distinct cultures or groups, but this is fantasy-species variety rather than human social representation.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

It may support vocabulary, reading stamina, and social-emotional reflection, but teaching factual knowledge is not its main purpose.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

Characters rescue captives, feed travelers, protect communities, cooperate across groups, and risk their lives for friends.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

The story supports loyalty, friendship, sacrifice, resisting tyranny, service to others, and using courage against cruelty.

Good role models4/5
Why this rating?

Tam, Doogy, Armel, Brooky, and their allies show loyalty, bravery, leadership, and willingness to risk themselves for others.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in Rakkety Tam would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Rakkety Tam, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.

Add your perspective

Sign in from the homepage to rate this title.

These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

Something wrong with this guide? Report age, caution, series, cover, or title issues.