The Eagle of the Ninth [Paperback]

The Ninth Legion marched into the mists of Northern Britainand they were never seen again. Four thousand men disappeared and their eagle standard was lost. It's a mystery that's never been solved, until now . . .

Marcus has to find out what happened to his father, who led the legion. So he sets out into the unknown, on a quest so dangerous that nobody expects him to return.

Rosemary Sutcliff(1920-1992) wrote dozens of books for young readers, including her award-winning Roman Britain trilogy,The Eagle of the Ninth,The Silver Branch, andThe Lantern Bearers, which won the Carnegie Medal.The Eagle of the Ninthis now a major motion picture, The Eagle, directed by Kevin MacDonald and starring Channing Tatum. Born in Surrey, Sutcliff spent her childhood in Malta and on various other naval bases where her father was stationed. At a young age, she contracted Still's Disease, which confined her to a wheelchair for most of her life. Shortly before her death, she was named Commander of the British Empire (CBE) one of Britain's most prestigious honors. She died in West Sussex, England, in 1992.

The future of a legion is in Marcus's hands.

Sutcliff has a genius for the re-creation of an historical period. Horn Book Reflections

An unusual blend of stirring action and poetic symbolism. Authentic in background, skillful in plot, and perceptive in characterization. Booklist

Imaginatively conceived. The New Yorker

Decades later, I can still hear echoes of The Eagle of the Ninth in my head: the chink of mail, the tired beat of the legionaries' feet. The Independent

What a splendid story it is, compulsive reading! Junior Bookshelf

Discussion Questions

1. What is the difference between loyalty and duty? Marcus Flavius Aquila embarks on a quest to reclaim the lost eagle standard of the Ninth. How is his need to accept this opportunity conneclƒ$