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The Outcasts (Brotherband Chronicles #1)

4.41 of 5 stars 4.41 · rating details · 4,369 ratings · 435 reviews

In Skandia, there is only one way to become a warrior. Boys are chosen for teams called brotherbands and must endure three months of gruelling training in seamanship, weapons and battle tactics. It's brotherband against brotherband, fighting it out in a series of challenges. There can be only one winner.

When Hal Mikkelson finds himself the unwilling leader of a brotherband...more

440 pages

Published November 1st 2011 by Random House Australia (first published 2004)

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Mar 30, 2012 Jonathan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: want, children-s-literature, favourite-series, fantasy, australian

As a fan of John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series I was not sure what to expect with the first in his The Outcasts series. However I soon settled into this novel and came to appreciate and enjoy what he had written. Of course while his work is aimed predominantly at older children and younger teens it can be enjoyed by various age levels in my opinion.

There was a reasonable amount of various nautical terms floated around but nothing too technical. Flanagan does do an excellent job of helpi...more As a fan of John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series I was not sure what to expect with the first in his The Outcasts series. However I soon settled into this novel and came to appreciate and enjoy what he had written. Of course while his work is aimed predominantly at older children and younger teens it can be enjoyed by various age levels in my opinion.

There was a reasonable amount of various nautical terms floated around but nothing too technical. Flanagan does do an excellent job of helping the reader experience this almost historical world (after all his fantasy world is based on past civilisations) through the finer details without overloading them with information. But what really sells his work is the care he applies to his characters.

Each character is no stereotype even though they may at times appear that way. And it would be easy for him to fall into using stereotypes. However he fleshes out each character as a unique and interesting creation in a very humble manner that's incredibly accessible to the reader.

Flanagan's world is never kept too distant from the reader, his down to earth writing allowing reader's the chance to fall in love with what they read. Certainly some element of cliche exists in his work and he is no world-builder like Tolkien but what he does well is balance out the elements to create a story perfect for his target audience. He creates likeable characters, just enough details to realistically portray this as a real world and moreover adds warmth and passion to his writing. The characters and world come alive because the writer believes them to be and clearly loves writing for children and young teenagers.

That all said I fully enjoyed this and look forward to seeing if he can develop this series into one equally as interesting as The Ranger's Apprentice. And do I encourage you to read this? Certainly and not only because John Flanagan is an Aussie with a nice down-to-earth manner of writing. I recommend this because I see that he writes books that subscribe to the perfect children's writer manual: they are accessible at ten and equally accessible at 15, 20, 30, 40 and so on. So read them simply to enjoy the storytelling ability and life of the books.(less)

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May 08, 2012 Clare Cannon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: 9-14 years (boys)

Shelves: 08-12yrs, 13-15yrs

Another brilliant adventure from the author of the Ranger's Apprentice series, for boys 9-14 (and anyone else who loves historical action-adventure... I thought it was great!). The scene setting in the initial chapters may be the only challenge for reluctant readers, but from chapter five the action begins when the boys are divided into brotherbands who must compete for the ultimate championship. Each challenge is bigger than the last, and among the unevenly matched teams we desperately hold ou...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Lou Anders rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Kids and Adults

John Flanagan's The Outcasts is a wonderful book. It's great for boys age around 10-13, but I enjoyed it very much as an adult reader and plan to continue with the series. I'd previously read the first Ranger's Apprentice novel, and enjoyed that very much, but skipped ahead to The Outcasts rather than stay with that series. I will go back and read the other Ranger's Apprentice at some point too, I'm sure. These are great adventure stories in a fun (so far) low magic fantasy world. Recommended.

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Jun 04, 2012 Joe Clemons rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was pretty excited to read this new series by John Flanagan Author of Rangers Apprentice.
Outcasts didn't disappoint it was everything a John Flanagan story should be.
Its not very deep but there's still some good stuff going on with the MC being a half breed trying to find his place in there wild viking society.

I really thought the book dragged though. Its spends most of the book in "brotherband training" which is really interesting but its the main plot and there isn't really any kind of su...more

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May 03, 2013 Fraser Eade rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Brother Band: The Outcasts
Fantasy Book

Brother Band The Outcasts is about Hal Mikkelson. He is a boy living in a fantasy world in the land of Skandia. A land similar to Scandinavia with the Skandians resembling Vikings. Hal was born half Skandian and half Auraulen so he was continuously thought to be Araulen despite his father being Skandian. Hal is 16 and is the right age to begin Brother Band training. Training to qualify someone to be a warrior. Hal ends up the leader of a Brother Band of outc...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Aaron Martens rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I read this book I already knew the story of the skandians because I have read the series this book started from. I was glad to see that the mentioned the Rangers in this book saying that they saved Skandia and rescued Erak the OberJarl or ruler of Skandia. Hal the main character of the story may not be big and extremely strong like other Skandians, but he is a lot smarter than the other Skandians. He doesn’t work alone though in the beginning Thorn a shipmate of his dead father helps him w...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Bekah Blais rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First picking up Brotherband I was a little nervous, and I wasn't quite sure I was going to like it as well as I had loved Rangers Apprentice. I am very glad i decided to read Brotherband it was a great book. I give it a 5 star rating.
Brotherband is about a young Skandian/Araluen Boy named Hal, Who isn't going to be a young boy for much longer. Hal and his best friend Stig are entering Brotherband training, training every Skandian boy must go through when they reach the age of 16. When they f...more

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Dec 13, 2012 andrew rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

12/13/12
Andrew Jung
John Flanagan
432pgs

Hal, a half Skandian and half Araluen boy who lives in Skandia, always had a problem in his life. His father was dead during the war and kids always made fun of him because her mother was an Araluen woman. However, things started to change when a one-armed drunk named Thorn started to live with him together. He always admired Hal's inventions and encouraged him. In the end, Hal was able to build a special kind of ship called "Heron", which impressed almost...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Karen Yingling rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hal is the son of an Araluen slave woman who was freed by her husband Mikkel, who was unfortunately killed in battle. Hal is chosen to be in the Brotherband training group in his town of Hallasholm, where Erak the Oberjarl is headquartered. He has good skills with boats, his friend Stig, and a faithful (is disheveled) retainer in Thorn, who despite his years of debauchery was once the fiercest of the Skandians. When the snotty Tursgud, as skirl, refuses to take Hal into his group, and the other...more

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May 28, 2012 Kit rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

HERE BE SPOILERS

Why, oh why, John Flanagan, must you create another wonderful book series and leave us on tenterhooks in a cliffhanger ending?

Ugh, I loved this book. It was very reminiscent of Ranger's Apprentice in the brotherly comradeship, and of course, some of the characters like Erak are recycled. Hal is very much like Will. Both are outcasts and have different talents than most people, but they find their place and turn out to have much talent. This is both good and bad, as I loved Will a...more HERE BE SPOILERS

Why, oh why, John Flanagan, must you create another wonderful book series and leave us on tenterhooks in a cliffhanger ending?

Ugh, I loved this book. It was very reminiscent of Ranger's Apprentice in the brotherly comradeship, and of course, some of the characters like Erak are recycled. Hal is very much like Will. Both are outcasts and have different talents than most people, but they find their place and turn out to have much talent. This is both good and bad, as I loved Will and Hal makes me feel like I'm reading about him again with all of his epic awesomeness, but this also had a downside in that it seems John Flanagan cannot write about other protagonists with character traits other than Will/Hal.

Alright, so to the actual book. I really liked how the Skandian culture was shown through the boys being competing in brotherbands. They were being taught vital fighting skills and camaraderie at the same time, which to me really exemplifies the Skandian mindset of fighting and friendship, how when a person dies, they die with their sword in hand and all their friends around.

Tursgud made me SO MAD. He was like a worse version of Horace. I loved the other boys though, especially Edvin, Hal, Stefan, and Jesper. I'd be happy to fight alongside or date any of them.

Although, now that I think about it, that was one thing I didn't like. There was this random character Lotte, who seemed to just be put in for a distracting romantic interest for Hal. She was just there, and Hal didn't even think about her the same way that Will did Alyss. Perhaps she'll have a bigger role in later books, instead of a Mary Sue-esque pretty girl?

I SO saw the whole conflict with Zavac coming; it was hard not to, but that's how John Flanagan intended it. Because the book was in omniscient pov, the reader sees Zavac's murder of the traders and how he intends to steal the Andomal (so brilliantly named 'thing'). But when the Herons were slated to guard the Andomal, I was like 'OH NO' because, obviously, Zavac was going to make a reappearance and try to steal it. I anticipated some serious stuff going down, but Hal was all like, "Imma go leave my incredibly important post to check if my boat's okay because a guy who was the FIRST MATE FOR THE OBERJARL OBVIOUSLY CAN'T TIE MAH BOAT WELL ENOUGH AND OBVIOUSLY NOTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THE ANDOMAL BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SAFE FOR 300 YEARS HURR DURR DURR." I was literally screaming 'what the heck Hal how can you be so utterly moronic?' And then Zavac shows up and swipes the Andomal while the Herons are zonked out on the ground. Nice job guys. And then Erak throws his weight around and everyone's going to be a pariah so they decide to leave on a mission where they'll probably die. UGH CLIFFHANGERS. But seriously, John Flanagan did a great job of tying that together and making all suspenseful and whatever.

Wow, this intelligent review has degenerated into me ranting psychotically. FIVE STARS; CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT.(less)

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Apr 16, 2012 Kai Gomes rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Outcasts
By: John Flanagan

In a land called Skandia, a country full of highly trained, ruthless warriors there was a boy named Hal who was viewed as an outsider because he was half-Araluen. But that changed as he started Brotherband training. There was only one way to become a true Skandian warrior, that is, by passing the Brotherband training. It takes 3 months of hard training in seamanship and weapons use and includes competitions against other Brotherbands in different challenges. The Bro...more

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Apr 01, 2012 Denae rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: epic-fantasy

John Flanagan is one of the few who can pull off omniscient pov really well (Eoin Colfer being another). Yet, he still knows how to keep a book centered around a few central characters. He knows better than to spend too many pages about side characters we don't care about (like Robert Jordan does).
At the same time, I found it hard to get into this book. Araluen is just more interesting than Scandia, richer. Perhaps because it's more similar to the usual medieval culture we read about, and Scandi...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Sammy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: medieval

I was hoping John Flanagan would never end The Ranger's Apprentice and was sad when he did, but then I saw this book was coming out and I immediately thought, "I have to read that." I am somewhat learned when it comes to sailing which made this book all the more enjoyable, with the sailor-term dictionary at the front of the book helping me along the way.
I love the way Hal is portrayed, he reminds me of Will. I think these new characters will definetly take some more getting used to, after all, i...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I like this story a lot! *sings because she feels like it* Seriously, all of John Flanagan's books have that perfect fantasy adventure feel that I love :D This one was no different!

Tamora Pierce is one of my favorite authors, and John Flanagan's books remind me of her's! If you like Tamora Pierce, I think you'll like him.

ANYWAYS, about this book: It's been a while since I read the Ranger's Apprentice series, but I always kind of related them to medieval Britain- and I always related Skandia to m...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"The Outcasts" was a fabulous start to John Flanagan's new Brotherband series. In fact, it kept me up reading until 3am, even though I had to get up 5 hours later. You would think that would make it five stars, but I only gave it 4. Maybe it was the overabudance of sailing jargon that even by the end of the book I still had a hard time with. It may be that in typical Flanagan style there is a cliffhanger ending (argh!!!! I hate that!) It may be that I have fallen so in love with the characters i...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Tim Roast rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you think Vikings on boot camp then that's pretty much what this book is.

The book begins with a guide to sailing terms with definitions to terms such as starboard and yardarm. Well, personally I would have put this at the end. Anyone picking this up and reading from the beginning might plough through this technical bit before giving up because it is a little bit of a chore, or was for me at least, and that would be a real shame.

After that false start the book follows 16-year-old Hal, a thinke...more

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Mar 06, 2012 IndyPL Kids Book Blog rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure

In Hal’s village all of the 16 year-old boys go through Brotherband training. During Brotherband training the boys are divided into teams and learn skills that will make them successful sailors, warriors and teammates. It’s kind of like basic training in the military and kind of like the TV show Survivor mixed together.

Hal ends up the leader of a team of misfits and outcasts. Eachof the boys on Hal’s team have talents but not talents that get any respect. When Hal’s team does better than anyone...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Barb Middleton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

If you liked the Ranger’s Apprentice series you will like John Flanagan’s new series that follows the same formula. Instead of Will, there is Hal. Instead of Halt, there is Thorn. Instead of Horace, there is Stig. All have flaws and strengths. There is plenty of action and humor throughout the story. This formula works and it’s highly entertaining.

Hal is an outcast in Skandia because of his mixed parentage. His Mom, a former Araluen slave, was set free by his Skandian dad who later married her....more If you liked the Ranger’s Apprentice series you will like John Flanagan’s new series that follows the same formula. Instead of Will, there is Hal. Instead of Halt, there is Thorn. Instead of Horace, there is Stig. All have flaws and strengths. There is plenty of action and humor throughout the story. This formula works and it’s highly entertaining.

Hal is an outcast in Skandia because of his mixed parentage. His Mom, a former Araluen slave, was set free by his Skandian dad who later married her. Hal is an inventor and talented navigator. The Skandians revere muscle over brains. Hal’s never known his dad, Mikkel, who died in a battle with Thorn, his best friend, at his side. Thorn promised Mikkel to look after Hal; however, Thorn lost his hand right after Mikkel died and fell into depression. It wasn’t until Hal was 10 that Thorn made good on his promise and turned his life around. Now, Hal is 16 and entering Brotherband, a training ground for young boys before they become skilled Skandian warriors and seamen. He ends up leading a team of outcasts, boys who are chosen last because of what the others view as defects. Not only does Hal’s team learn to work together, they become good friends, warriors, and sailors. Read this story to see how the outcasts struggle to win contests and learn what it means to stand up for what’s right.

The plot moves at a fast pace and the characters are engaging. I enjoyed the descriptions of sailing and how Hal created a new type of sail. The adults usually do the right thing but not always. The bully in the story is really completely consumed with winning and I thought the adults could have addressed this more. This character doesn’t change from the beginning to the end. Hal wants to be accepted by the townspeople and struggles with being an outcast. Stig probably changes the most as he tries to control his temper. A minor thing that I didn’t think worked well with the story was how it began. I thought the book could have started when Hal makes his failed invention that floods his Mom’s kitchen and that the story of how Thorn ended up involved in Hal’s life could have been slowly revealed. It’s all thrown at the reader at the beginning. Well, almost all. I did like the surprise later on. I just thought Flanagan could have sprinkled it throughout to create more suspense in the beginning.

A fun, entertaining book.(less)

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Dec 29, 2011 Tyrean rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hal, an outcast mentored by an outcast, befriend by outcasts, is a well-written character in the midst of a somehwat expected plot. Yet, for all the familiarity of the plot, and even some of the characters, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Flanagan has a way of taking some familiar characters and giving them a new look and a new way of dealing with tough situations.

At first, it seems that Hal is up against his entire society, but we find that he has unexpected allies, and his wits serve him well...more

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Dec 12, 2011 Kathy Davie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action, children, fantasy, homey, history

First in the Brotherband Chronicles children's adventure-fantasy series revolving around eight young men of Hallasholm who are anxious to prove themselves to their peers and countrymen. This story is set several years after the events in Battle for Skandia, number 4 in the Ranger's Apprentice series.

My Take
The prologue is half-finished which made a reveal later in the story a bit confusing. I'm not really sure why Flanagan bothered with a prologue.

The main theme is team building as the eight p...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Andrew Shuping rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hal doesn’t really fit into the typical mold of a Skandian nor does he really fit in well anywhere for that matter since his mother is an ex-slave from Araluen. So when he comes of age and begins brotherband training he’s a bit worried, especially about Tursgud who makes Hal’s life miserable every chance he gets....and is bound to be one of the leaders of the brotherbands. So its with a just a wee bit of surprise and trepidation that Hal finds himself a leader of a brotherband, a brotherband of...more Hal doesn’t really fit into the typical mold of a Skandian nor does he really fit in well anywhere for that matter since his mother is an ex-slave from Araluen. So when he comes of age and begins brotherband training he’s a bit worried, especially about Tursgud who makes Hal’s life miserable every chance he gets....and is bound to be one of the leaders of the brotherbands. So its with a just a wee bit of surprise and trepidation that Hal finds himself a leader of a brotherband, a brotherband of other outcasts. Like him. No one takes this brotherband seriously, yet each of the boys has their own unique talents and bit by bit they begin to show the others what they’re really made of. Meanwhile a mysterious ship filled with Magyaran pirates has made landfall...what have they come for? And what role with Hal and his brotherband play?

I loved Flangan’s Ranger Apprentice series so I approached this new one with both glee and a bit of trepidation. After reading the description of the book I was a bit worried that Flangan was recreating Will Treaty (the main character in the Ranger Apprentice series) just in a different nation. I mean Hal sounds a good bit like him--an outcast, an Araluen, smart and quick on his feet, a leader...but he’s much more as well. He’s an inventor always seeking to improve things, a shipbuilder, and a swordsman like his dad. And even though some of the characters, such as Steig, have some traits similar to other Ranger Apprentice characters they stand on their own. My worries were clearly unfounded as Flangan has once again crafted a fantastic tale of adventure and intrigue.

It’s clear that Flangan has grown as a writer as this book jam packed with action, adventure, and humor--such as Erak’s storeroom of treasure. The story has a good pace and keeps you turning the pages till the very end. I started the book rather late at night with the anticipation of only reading a couple chapters, yet as the hours past I kept saying one more chapter till I finished it (and was quite glad that I stayed up till the end.) Flangan still creates characters that aren’t perfect, that have flaws for everyone to see. Such as Thorn (who is one of my favorite characters,) Hal’s mentor, who begins the story as a drunk one armed former warrior. And by the end shows everyone what he’s really made of.

I have some minor concerns about where the series takes us, but...I’m going to trust in Flangan. This is a great start to a new series, with a new group of heroes, and I can’t wait to read and find out what happens next.(less)

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Nov 19, 2011 Gaby rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: coming-of-age, fantasy, middle-grade-readers, wishlist

I'd loved John Flanagan's Ranger Apprentice series and had high hopes for the first book in his new series, The Outcasts. This time, Flanagan tells the story of Skanians, a race and culture similar to the Vikings, through the point of view of Hal. Hal's father, Mikkel, was a renowned warrior who had traveled with Erak and was killed in battle while Hal was a very young child. Mikkel's best friend Thorn promises to look after Mikkel's son and wife. Hal grew up with his Araluen mother, always a bi...more I'd loved John Flanagan's Ranger Apprentice series and had high hopes for the first book in his new series, The Outcasts. This time, Flanagan tells the story of Skanians, a race and culture similar to the Vikings, through the point of view of Hal. Hal's father, Mikkel, was a renowned warrior who had traveled with Erak and was killed in battle while Hal was a very young child. Mikkel's best friend Thorn promises to look after Mikkel's son and wife. Hal grew up with his Araluen mother, always a bit of a stranger in his home. Until he somehow saves the life of Stig, another outsider of sorts.

Stig and Hal become fast friends. Stig is hotheaded, loyal, and natural athlete. Hal is innovative, meticulous, and a careful planner. Together, they make a strong team. They make friends with other boys. By the time that the boys are of age for the Brotherband training, they're excited and eager to prove themselves.

For Skanians, Brotherband training is a rite of passage and a chance to make a name for themselves. The year that Hal and Stig participate, there is an unusual number of boys. Instead of two teams, Erak agrees to create three teams. The last team is made up of the boys that we're selected by the other leaders - much like those last chosen during gym class but with much higher stakes. Stig is Hal's loyal lieutenant and Hal agrees to lead the group. It becomes clear through his carefully thought out decisions that Hal has both the mind and personality to lead by example. Though their group, the Herons, face groups with greater strength and skill, the competition teaches the boys the power of teamwork and loyalty.

In The Outcasts, John Flanagan gives us another set of heroes to root for and adventures to enjoy. I loved The Outcasts and am looking forward to the next in the series. It's a book I'd recommend for young readers and something I think even reluctant reader of a nephew would enjoy.

Ages 10 and up.
ISBN-10: 0399256199 Hardcover $18.99
Publisher: Philomel (November 1, 2011), 432 pages.(less)

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Nov 09, 2011 Katrina Ly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP!

THIS BOOK WAS SO AWESOME!

i cannot believe he ended like that!!!!

no john flanagan! u must not do this to us!!!!!!!!!

nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

how long must i wait for the next?! how long?! how long must i suffer?!

ok so anyway, i am calm now.

so to any who was just thinking about reading this book, let me give you a basic run-down of what to expect. the book opens to a scene where erak and his crew r raiding some village. it is ridiculously easy, which makes i...more

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Oct 02, 2011 James rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Brotherband
Book 1 The Outcasts by John Flanagan
Hal Mikkelson lives with his mother
in Hallasholm
(the capital of Skandia, modern day Norway) and is always inventing something new to help his Mum run her eating house and inn. Sadly, most of his inventions don't work, and he ends up getting in trouble from her. Hal and his best friend Stig also get bullied by Tursgud (the local bully) and his thug-like friends. But when Thorn (a man who lost his arm in a raid) teaches him to defend himself, and to a...more

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Feb 26, 2012 Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, ya

The Outcasts is the first book in the Brotherband Chronicles, a new series by John Flanagan. I really enjoyed his Ranger's Apprentice series and was interested to try his new series.

So far, the new series is not as good as Ranger's Apprentice. The character of Halt was an anchor for that series, and there is no character who plays the same role here. There is a lot of introductory narrative in this book, so it's possible I will enjoy future books more.

Boys of a certain age in the land of Skandi...more

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May 20, 2012 Carson Brooks rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book Brother band by John Flanagan is the first in the outcast series. It takes place in Skandia (Scan-dy-A) which is John Flanagan's interpretation of medieval Norway. It is a viking culture that use's boats called wolfships to raid other settlements. The main character named Hal is a young inventive lad who is about to take part in the Skandian coming of age, Brother band training. Where Hal has to overcome all the odds stacked against him and his crew of misfits and sail to victory.

One o...more

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Mar 05, 2012 J Leigh Bralick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4.5 stars.

This has to be one of my favorite John Flanagan books to date. I love the ocean and sailing and everything that goes with it, so that right off was a huge draw for me. Plus I love the Skandians from the RA books, and it was fun to see the return of some familiar characters. Some of the things that I found mildly annoying about the writing in the RA books are much less noticeable in this book, and some of them are gone altogether. There's still a little bit of head-hopping, and the occa...more 4.5 stars.

This has to be one of my favorite John Flanagan books to date. I love the ocean and sailing and everything that goes with it, so that right off was a huge draw for me. Plus I love the Skandians from the RA books, and it was fun to see the return of some familiar characters. Some of the things that I found mildly annoying about the writing in the RA books are much less noticeable in this book, and some of them are gone altogether. There's still a little bit of head-hopping, and the occasional repetition of information or over-explanation of emotions/thoughts/etc. But as I said, much less than in his earlier writings.

But this book is so much more than just a fun sailing novel in a great setting. Where this book really shines, I think, is in its study of leadership, maturity, and heroism. This isn't just an underdog story about the kids who have everything going against them fighting to win, although that's the shell of the plot. Hal is a true leader...but he doesn't start out there. He has failings, doubts, and weaknesses, and he has to grow into his role as a leader. He and his friends make dreadful mistakes and have to accept responsibility and face the consequences. All the outcasts have their failings, and throughout the story they come to realize how damaging their actions can be to their friends, as a team. They have to learn to look inside themselves, to discover their strengths and their worth, and use these things not to glorify themselves (like the despicable Tursgud) but to better themselves and their friends.

One of my favorite parts of this story was Thorn's character. He has to walk this path of discovery all over again for himself, just as his young friend Hal does. The history of his friendship with Oberjarl Erak is heart-wrenching and beautifully insightful into the hearts of both these men...into the meaning of sacrifice and valor and trust. One thing I didn't particularly care for was the token romance. There's a brief mention of some possible romantic interest very early in the book, and then...(view spoiler)

I loved that the Brotherband training wasn't smooth sailing (uhh...no pun intended) for the outcasts. Neither were their obstacles simply token problems to keep them from rising easily to victory. All of their struggles resulted from the weaknesses or flaws of the individuals, and each failure brought them closer to wholeness. And the ending. Oh my. Heartbreaking and exhilarating...and so frustrating! I mean, it wasn't frustrating in how Flanagan handled the ending, the way sometimes endings are all wrong. No, by no means. It was a brilliant ending. But just the events that happen right at the end had me in this downward spiral of anguish as I could just feel what was coming and I knew I couldn't stop it....Aghh. I can't wait for the next book. Well done, Mr. Flanagan.(less)

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Dec 31, 2011 Brandon Slade rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is the type of book that makes you happy as you're reading it. It is a tale of adventure, courage, and brotherhood. The outcasts in the Skandian society band together and form an inseparable group based on shared experiences and because of the fact that they're all outcasts. They make mistakes, but eventually realize the need for forgiveness. They don't get carried away with winning so much that they don't help out a fellow brotherband when they're in need. And they use all of their talents...more

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Dec 21, 2011 David rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, kids-fiction, young-adult

The Outcasts (Brotherband #1) by John Flanagan is the beginning of a new series following a group of young Skandian boys who are outcasts of their age group and outcasts from their society.

Hal, Stig, Wulf, Ulf, Edvin, Jesper, Stefan and Ingvar are the boys the others want no part of. Most of them don't possess size and strength, yet they have skills and courage - which they will need every ounce of to do battle at sea against the other bands, the Wolves and the Sharks, in the ultimate race.

Set...more

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Nov 14, 2011 Shannon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I got this as a free copy from a book rep only to open the front cover and see a list of sailing terms you should really know. Immediately I groan in my head because if there's one genre that really doesn't excite me it's sailing/boating. Regardless of this I persevered purely due to John Flanagan's name (despite never having read any of his before). Despite my initial reaction I really grew to enjoy the characters (mostly), the plot line and the humour.

Outcasts follows the Brotherband training...more

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About John Flanagan

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

John Flanagan grew up in Sydney, Australia, hoping to be a writer. It wasn't until he wrote a highly uncomplimentary poem about a senior executive at the agency where he worked, however, that his talent was revealed. It turned out one of the company directors agreed with Joh...more

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Books by John Flanagan

The Burning Bridge (Ranger's Apprentice, #2)

The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice, #1)

The Battle for Skandia (Ranger's Apprentice, #4)

The Icebound Land (Ranger's Apprentice, #3)

The Siege of Macindaw (Ranger's Apprentice, #6)

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Trivia About The Outcasts

2 quizzes

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Quotes from The Outcasts

“One thing' Erak said. 'Tell your men to keep their noses clean while they're in Hallasholm. I don't want any trouble.'
Zavac nodded and smiled. 'I understand. This is a quiet town and you don't want the peace disturbed.'
Erak smiled back, but it was like a smile on the face of a shark. 'No. This is a very violent town and if your men cause trouble, my people will break their heads a for them. I don't want to be paying any blood money for damage done to your crew. Understand?'
Zavac's smile faded. He looked for some sign that the Oberjarl was joking, but he saw none. He nodded again, slowly this time.” — 4 people liked it

“Stig: 'Of course, she'll sail rings around Wolfswind,'
Hal: 'Then why didn't you tell him that?'
Stig: 'I like my head where it is.” — 3 people liked it

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The Outcasts (Brotherband Chronicles #1)

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