Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Eighth adventure stays fresh with suspense and high stakes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In RETURN OF THE TEMUJAI, Hal and his brotherband are sent to a mountain pass on horseback to build weapons. There's talk that the Temujai warriors seek a quick passage to the sea through Skandian territory and are ready to attack the fort there. Hal thinks a few of the giant crossbows like the one on his ship can hold them off. As building gets underway, Lydia scouts in enemy territory and discovers they're right. A skirmish ensues, and the Skandians triumph, for now. But there are other ways to the coast, and Hal and his brotherband are sent by ship to scout a river in enemy territory with very little mapped of the area to guide them. It doesn't take long for them to discover how dangerous both the river and the approaching enemy really are.
Is It Any Good?
Though the main characters don't change much in this eighth Brotherband story, they take readers on a truly exciting and suspenseful adventure. Everyone is doing what they do best. Hal designs the weapons and makes the tough decisions. He comes up with a brazen escape plan in Return of the Temujai. Lydia creeps into enemy territory and throws her deadly darts. Stig and Thorn, completely outnumbered, hold off the enemy with skill and style. And the Heron rides the dangerous rapids.
Temujai are a formidable force and the Skandians need a peace treaty to avoid a war they can't win. So while we don't get to see much change for readers' favorite characters, the stakes for Hal's people are pretty high. This keeps the Brotherband series feeling fresh, even eight books along.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the skills of the brotherband in Return of the Temujai. How do they all work together? Which member of the brotherband would you be?
In a surprise attack, Lydia uses her blunted darts to knock out guards rather than kill them. Why? Would the Temujai have done the same if roles were reversed? How do you know?
What do you think is next for the Heron brotherband? Will you read more of their adventures, or the stories in other John Flanagan series?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Adventure
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship , Animals
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Philomel
- Publication date : October 1, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 18
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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