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Stuart Quartet #4
The Rogues
When the laird brutally evicts all of the people in his Scottish village, Roddy Macallan, determined to get revenge and save his family, embarks on a dangerous quest to find a treasure his mother once told him about and teams up with a Robin Hood-esque rogue who roams the Highlands.
273 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
5 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
About the author
Jane Yolen
971 books3,230 followersJane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 18, 2009
This book takes place during the Highland Clearances and it caused me to give thought to why Scottish tenants were being turned off the land to be replaced by sheep from England. The usual explanation which is given in this novel is that the landlords were greedy, but this doesn't explain why grazing land in Scotland was needed. What happened to the grazing land in England? I tend to suspect that either environmental degradation had happened due to factory pollution or rabbits had destroyed the grazing land. This is something that happens when all the wolves that check the rabbit population have been killed. See an amazingly powerful Chinese novel called Wolf Totem by Jiang Rong which illustrates the role of wolves in an ecosystem.
The characterization in The Rogues was wonderful. I loved the young protagonist, the Robin Hood type outlaw and the Laird's daughter who was sympathetic to the poor folk.
I'm sad that this is the last of the Scottish background novels by Yolen and Harris. There certainly could be others taking place earlier in Scottish history.
The characterization in The Rogues was wonderful. I loved the young protagonist, the Robin Hood type outlaw and the Laird's daughter who was sympathetic to the poor folk.
I'm sad that this is the last of the Scottish background novels by Yolen and Harris. There certainly could be others taking place earlier in Scottish history.
February 15, 2020
While I liked Prince Over the Water quite a bit, The Rogues treads familiar, even stale ground. It’s different but not different enough. The characters (which the exception of Alan and Josie) are also one-dimensional and flat and our main character Roddy is pretty whiny and annoying most of the time.
My Script Doctor:
-We open in media res, with an orphan Roddy stumbling over the hills in the dead of night. His father and/or brother and/or last living relative has been killed during the Clearances, either by accident or on purpose. He seeks REVENGE.
-Willie Rood catches up to Roddy and tries to kill him. Alan Dunbar saves his life and takes him back to his cave.
-Roddy doesn’t want to confide his plan to murder the laird and his family. Alan Dunbar doesn’t ask questions. He can see Roddy is angry and thinks this will make him a useful apprentice when they go to steal the laird’s possessions. Roddy is 100% cool with this.
-Alan and Roddy do some sneak thievery. Alan is impressed at how bold/daring Roddy is, but also a little nervous--the kid really seems to have it out for someone and that makes him kind of a loose cannon.
-Middle part of the book involves adventures/daring escapes/sneak-thievery, and Alan and Roddy becoming friends.
Alan confides to Roddy that there’s a girl he loves and wants to marry.
Roddy confides that he wants to kill the laird. Alan is not as supportive of the idea as he expected.
-In the last third of the book, Roddy sees that Alan has “stolen” some of Bonnie Josie’s stuff. He gets excited, thinking that Alan is finally on his side. He goes off to steal more/possibly murder the laird’s niece, even though he’s a lot more conflicted about killing than he was before.
-Roddy realizes that Josie is cool and tried to help his people when they were driven off. He feels bad about having threatened her.
Alan shows up, thinks Roddy is going to kill Josie, and defends her.
Roddy realizes that this is the woman Alan loves and makes a surprised Pikachu face.
Alan sends Roddy packing. Because they have a real friendship, this is a painful moment. Roddy feels totally betrayed
-Fueled with anger, he goes off to try and kill either the laird or Willie Rood.
He gets caught and is tied up. In the morning he will be handed over to the magistrate and hung.
-Daring rescue by Alan and Josie, followed by an escape/chase sequence
Roddy feels bad at having separated Alan and Josie but is also glad that his friend came back for him
-Self-sacrificial moment from Alan; Roddy escapes and sets out for the New World
-The story could end on a bittersweet note in which we hope Alan made it but don’t know for sure, or else could have a happy ending where all the loose ends are tied up.
My Script Doctor:
-We open in media res, with an orphan Roddy stumbling over the hills in the dead of night. His father and/or brother and/or last living relative has been killed during the Clearances, either by accident or on purpose. He seeks REVENGE.
-Willie Rood catches up to Roddy and tries to kill him. Alan Dunbar saves his life and takes him back to his cave.
-Roddy doesn’t want to confide his plan to murder the laird and his family. Alan Dunbar doesn’t ask questions. He can see Roddy is angry and thinks this will make him a useful apprentice when they go to steal the laird’s possessions. Roddy is 100% cool with this.
-Alan and Roddy do some sneak thievery. Alan is impressed at how bold/daring Roddy is, but also a little nervous--the kid really seems to have it out for someone and that makes him kind of a loose cannon.
-Middle part of the book involves adventures/daring escapes/sneak-thievery, and Alan and Roddy becoming friends.
Alan confides to Roddy that there’s a girl he loves and wants to marry.
Roddy confides that he wants to kill the laird. Alan is not as supportive of the idea as he expected.
-In the last third of the book, Roddy sees that Alan has “stolen” some of Bonnie Josie’s stuff. He gets excited, thinking that Alan is finally on his side. He goes off to steal more/possibly murder the laird’s niece, even though he’s a lot more conflicted about killing than he was before.
-Roddy realizes that Josie is cool and tried to help his people when they were driven off. He feels bad about having threatened her.
Alan shows up, thinks Roddy is going to kill Josie, and defends her.
Roddy realizes that this is the woman Alan loves and makes a surprised Pikachu face.
Alan sends Roddy packing. Because they have a real friendship, this is a painful moment. Roddy feels totally betrayed
-Fueled with anger, he goes off to try and kill either the laird or Willie Rood.
He gets caught and is tied up. In the morning he will be handed over to the magistrate and hung.
-Daring rescue by Alan and Josie, followed by an escape/chase sequence
Roddy feels bad at having separated Alan and Josie but is also glad that his friend came back for him
-Self-sacrificial moment from Alan; Roddy escapes and sets out for the New World
-The story could end on a bittersweet note in which we hope Alan made it but don’t know for sure, or else could have a happy ending where all the loose ends are tied up.
May 9, 2009
Based during the Highland Clearances in Scotland, this book follows young Roddy as he and his family are driven from their home by the wealthy laird. The ageless themes of the powerful rich abusing the helpless poor always make a strong story. This book is made more powerful by Roddy's coming of age as he learns to judge who is good and who is bad. He learns, as we all do, that there is good and bad in everyone. Our ability to be selfless and strong in the face of trouble is what allows the good to win.
February 23, 2010
good book , good old fashion farmer story.
January 10, 2016
Good YA book with some historical facts. Didn't realize it was the 4th in a series as it's a pretty stand alone story, but wondering if my take would be different if I had read the other 3 first.
February 13, 2021
This is the fourth and final of Yolen’s Stuart Quartet, which tells stories from Scottish history. As a kid I loved this series because I was very into historical fiction, and it actually prompted me to go through a phase where I was very interested in Scotland and it’s history.
The Rogues deals with the latter end of a period called the Highland Clearances, when many Highlanders were driven off their land by nobles because it was more profitable to host grazing land for English sheep breeds than to keep renters who got by through subsistence farming. This uprooted many people who had lived in the Scottish Highlands for generations, and many of them — by the time this novel is set in — ended up moving to the American colonies.
Our main character is Roddy Macallan, a teenage son of a crofter family. When his village is run out of their homes by the corrupt laird, he separates from his family to retrieve a hidden heirloom that may pay their way to a new life in America. Roddy allies with the local rogue Alan Dunbar and the laird’s niece Bonnie Josie, to get what is rightfully his and escape the corrupt laird.
Overall this is not my favorite book in the series, because it’s a little slow, but it’s still very good. As an adult there are different parts of the book that appeal to me more than they did reading this in middle/high school. There are some characters and dynamics that are only mentioned as minor details because of how they relate to the main character, but I would actually love to see *those relationships as they’re own story. Of course since this is a YA novel that would never have been the focus of the book anyway. But the book is still compelling and gives a good insight into the plight of Scottish peasants who had to flee from their homeland. I would recommend this book to any young readers between 13 and 17 who enjoy historical fiction
The Rogues deals with the latter end of a period called the Highland Clearances, when many Highlanders were driven off their land by nobles because it was more profitable to host grazing land for English sheep breeds than to keep renters who got by through subsistence farming. This uprooted many people who had lived in the Scottish Highlands for generations, and many of them — by the time this novel is set in — ended up moving to the American colonies.
Our main character is Roddy Macallan, a teenage son of a crofter family. When his village is run out of their homes by the corrupt laird, he separates from his family to retrieve a hidden heirloom that may pay their way to a new life in America. Roddy allies with the local rogue Alan Dunbar and the laird’s niece Bonnie Josie, to get what is rightfully his and escape the corrupt laird.
Overall this is not my favorite book in the series, because it’s a little slow, but it’s still very good. As an adult there are different parts of the book that appeal to me more than they did reading this in middle/high school. There are some characters and dynamics that are only mentioned as minor details because of how they relate to the main character, but I would actually love to see *those relationships as they’re own story. Of course since this is a YA novel that would never have been the focus of the book anyway. But the book is still compelling and gives a good insight into the plight of Scottish peasants who had to flee from their homeland. I would recommend this book to any young readers between 13 and 17 who enjoy historical fiction
December 16, 2019
This book had a good story and a good setting, however I think the author does not spend enough time describing scenes and characters and that can cause confusion. I also think the author goes too fast with the story and "jumps" scenes without much transition. However, I like the story and the way the author set up the scene originally but throughout the story the descriptions tend to get less detailed.
October 9, 2020
Jane Yolen is a highly regarded author, and one of my favorite authors.
I read the first 5 chapters, 45 pages.
This is a well written book, but it is just not the kind of story I want to read.
And maybe I should just slog through to the end, trudging across the tundra, mile after mile to expand my horizons. But there are so many books I want to read, and I do not get nearly as much reading time as I would like.
I read the first 5 chapters, 45 pages.
This is a well written book, but it is just not the kind of story I want to read.
And maybe I should just slog through to the end, trudging across the tundra, mile after mile to expand my horizons. But there are so many books I want to read, and I do not get nearly as much reading time as I would like.
October 24, 2017
Bit slow going at first for me. The story just didn't flow quite right, in my opinion.
August 2, 2020
Once again, Jane Token and Robert J. Harris deliver a fascinating take of a defining moment in Scottish history. I both love and recommend this book.
October 13, 2020
Good story that shows the impact of the clearances in Scotland in the mid-1700s. They were devastating to the Scottish highlanders, but helped build America.
March 16, 2024
Not a book I would have normally read, but a student gave it to me cause “you’d probably like old history stuff”. Not bad tho
February 24, 2011
The Rogues explores an era in Scotland when lairds expelled crofters from their land to rent it to English sheepherders as grazing land. Roddy is a young man whose family is burned out of their cottage and forced off the land. While striving to help them relocate to America, he embarks on a dangerous adventure in the Highlands of Scotland.
This in one of those novels in which you can lose yourself in another land and another time for a few hours. After browsing the Internet for general knowledge of the Scottish Clearances, I found the authors’ details are accurate and paint a realistic background for characters who could have been real, and, in fact, are based on people who once lived, as reported by the authors in the afterword. Down to the Scottish brogue, the authors recreate the countryside and culture of the time of the Clearances, the 1700’s. These basic facts and details are necessary for an historical fiction work to live. Readers bring an expectation to historical fiction. They have faith that the foundations of the story are real and that they can come away understanding something about our world and its peoples. When they can trust the historical details, “trying on” the characters’ situation, dilemmas, conclusions, and consequences, takes on significant meanings. For instance, I gained another perspective of the constant struggle for freedom, and the hard choices people must make about their welfare and the welfare of those around them.
Along with historical accuracy there is suspense of adventure in this book. The greedy, merciless laird and his band are always a threat, while the landscape, too, is often an obstacle. Teens can relate to Roddy’s determination to succeed despite the odds, and parents might be grateful for several adult characters who are good role models. They will need to know about a few instances of bad language using the “d” word, and the British “b” word. There is some drinking and a scene in which a man is killed. They also need to know that wars and battle are handled with the care of someone who understands the cost of real combat to people’s lives, whether they live or die on the battlefield. Human life is respected and guarded: “The taking of man’s life is a scar that heals hard” (185).
Dunbar is the most engaging character who is proof that people and their problems are complex, as we hear through Roddy’s words: “And then I thought: What a puzzle he is. One moment a rogue and the next a man worthy of the Highland Chiefs of old” (247). Through his quest Roddy matures and grows wiser - a bildungsroman theme with the authenticity of lifelike history, the excitement of adventure, and the moral and physical trials that come with it.
This in one of those novels in which you can lose yourself in another land and another time for a few hours. After browsing the Internet for general knowledge of the Scottish Clearances, I found the authors’ details are accurate and paint a realistic background for characters who could have been real, and, in fact, are based on people who once lived, as reported by the authors in the afterword. Down to the Scottish brogue, the authors recreate the countryside and culture of the time of the Clearances, the 1700’s. These basic facts and details are necessary for an historical fiction work to live. Readers bring an expectation to historical fiction. They have faith that the foundations of the story are real and that they can come away understanding something about our world and its peoples. When they can trust the historical details, “trying on” the characters’ situation, dilemmas, conclusions, and consequences, takes on significant meanings. For instance, I gained another perspective of the constant struggle for freedom, and the hard choices people must make about their welfare and the welfare of those around them.
Along with historical accuracy there is suspense of adventure in this book. The greedy, merciless laird and his band are always a threat, while the landscape, too, is often an obstacle. Teens can relate to Roddy’s determination to succeed despite the odds, and parents might be grateful for several adult characters who are good role models. They will need to know about a few instances of bad language using the “d” word, and the British “b” word. There is some drinking and a scene in which a man is killed. They also need to know that wars and battle are handled with the care of someone who understands the cost of real combat to people’s lives, whether they live or die on the battlefield. Human life is respected and guarded: “The taking of man’s life is a scar that heals hard” (185).
Dunbar is the most engaging character who is proof that people and their problems are complex, as we hear through Roddy’s words: “And then I thought: What a puzzle he is. One moment a rogue and the next a man worthy of the Highland Chiefs of old” (247). Through his quest Roddy matures and grows wiser - a bildungsroman theme with the authenticity of lifelike history, the excitement of adventure, and the moral and physical trials that come with it.
May 23, 2013
Maybe I'm just burnt out on these books, but I was expecting to like this book best of all and it never really grabbed me. This book takes place during the Highland Clearances when the Scottish tenant farmers were forcibly "evicted" from their homes by their lairds in order to make way for English sheep. The story sounded like it would be a bit Robin Hood, and there is a little bit of that in there, but I never really connected with Roddy, the POV character. I think I may have enjoyed the story more if it had been written for adults and from the POV of the adult characters of "The Rogue" Alan Dunbar and/or the laird's niece "Bonnie Josie." Still, the history was interesting. I wasn't very familiar with Scottish history until reading these books, and for a different audience this book will probably be more engaging than it was for me. I did like how it tied back to the previous book as Roddy is obviously descended from the main character in Prince Across the Water.
September 6, 2010
Roddy Macallan lives on the land with his father, his cousin, and his elder brother in the Scottish Highlands. Until the laird decides to run sheep instead, and begins to burn out all the families that have lived on McRoy land for generations. Everyone flees. Except Roddy. Who returns to uncover the mystery his mother kept hidden up through her death. A mystery the family needs now in order to survive.
If Roddy, himself, can survive long enough to return to them.
This is the fourth book of Yolen and Harris’s Scottish Quartet, but there is no necessary order as each story is distinct within itself. My favorite of the four is Girl in a Cage, followed by Queen’s Own Fool, but I enjoyed this story as well, especially the depiction of the secondary characters, the Rogue named Alan Dunbar and the former laird’s daughter known as Bonnie Josie.
If Roddy, himself, can survive long enough to return to them.
This is the fourth book of Yolen and Harris’s Scottish Quartet, but there is no necessary order as each story is distinct within itself. My favorite of the four is Girl in a Cage, followed by Queen’s Own Fool, but I enjoyed this story as well, especially the depiction of the secondary characters, the Rogue named Alan Dunbar and the former laird’s daughter known as Bonnie Josie.
October 13, 2012
This is told from the point of view of a young crofter whose family is evicted from their highland home to make room for Enlgish sheep. After generations of tenancy, the farmers' homes are burned and destroyed with little to no time to rescue their goods. Animals are seized and they are told to leave the area or face punishment.
I found this fascinating since family legend states that this was the reason one line of my ancestors left Scotland for Canada. The brutality of the wealthy toward the poor doesn't seem to have changed over the centuries. Even though this is a specific ethnic group in a specific situation, the truths are universal.
It is a page turning adventure and a coming-of-age story, as well as an historical chronicle of a shameful event in Scottish history.
I found this fascinating since family legend states that this was the reason one line of my ancestors left Scotland for Canada. The brutality of the wealthy toward the poor doesn't seem to have changed over the centuries. Even though this is a specific ethnic group in a specific situation, the truths are universal.
It is a page turning adventure and a coming-of-age story, as well as an historical chronicle of a shameful event in Scottish history.
March 7, 2008
This book is incredibly slow to begin, picks up some speed and interest, but carries the reader along hesitantly before bringing it to conclusion.
I struggled to find interest in this book. It came, but after much effort. And for a decent portion I was interested and wanting to read more. However, as the boy and the rogue worked and journeyed together, I found their arguing and stubborness irritating and all too repetitive. it was a one-note theme that clung to far too many chapters.
Unless you have strong interest in Scottish history, I wouldn't recommend this book.
I struggled to find interest in this book. It came, but after much effort. And for a decent portion I was interested and wanting to read more. However, as the boy and the rogue worked and journeyed together, I found their arguing and stubborness irritating and all too repetitive. it was a one-note theme that clung to far too many chapters.
Unless you have strong interest in Scottish history, I wouldn't recommend this book.
March 14, 2008
This book was really good. Part of the reason I probably liked it is because it is kind of like Kidnapped. The main character, Roddy, was very silly, constantly jumping to conclusions. That was embarassing just to read! Also, Roddy was always ready to fight, it seemed.
Yet, I liked the characters, and the setting.
Yet, I liked the characters, and the setting.
July 23, 2011
Historical novel of the Clearances in Scotland in the 1800's. A tale of adventure when Roddy and his family are cleared off their land to make way for sheep for the wily new laird. After many adventures with the Rogue, Roddy finally finds the brooch called The Blessing and uses it to take himself to America where he is reunited with his family.
October 22, 2011
This is one of my absolute favorite books ever. It's a wonderful classic tale that fans of Stevenson's Kidnapped would really enjoy. I think it's the best of Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris' Scottish novels. Roddy and Alan are amazing and very likable characters. I've probably read this book ten times myself!
February 16, 2009
Well, let's see here. I love Scottish people, so plus one for the accents. The thing that makes me laugh whenever I think about it is they nearly killed themselves and each other several times over for a brooch. Josie was the only smart character.
September 21, 2013
This was a great adventure story. It would a good recommendation for boys (or girls). I was a bit disappointed by how the story ended up though. It seemed a little too neat and tidy. Happy endings are good and all,but this one just seemed rushed.
November 17, 2011
Interesting from a historical perspective but didn't hold my interest.
April 2, 2015
There could have been more depth to the story and characters. Good thing Dunbar was so patient with Roddy, but then he was only 15--ha, ha! It reminded me of RL Stevenson's "Kidnapped."
August 12, 2010
good abit bloody and sad
December 3, 2018
A sort of extension from Prince Across the Water, The Rogues is worth a read. The book is based in history with some twists that are an immersive adventure. As always my favorite part is how Yolen and Harris incorporate language that makes you feel as if you are standing right next to the men on the glen. You'll be speaking Highland Scots by the time you're done.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews