Taash and the Jesters

by Ellen Kindt McKenzie

The Orphan Taash couldn't have imagined the perilous adventures awaiting him. At the end of the forbidden path, he finds himself on a desolate moor and sees witches casting a spell on an infant boy. Taash impulsively snatches the child away from these chanting demons—and is thrown into a terrifying stuggle against evil forces plotting to overthrow the king.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens

245 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1968

About the author

Ms. McKenzie is a retired writer who wrote part time between the 60's and 90's, her writing subscribes to her philosophy that writing for children should not be dumbed down or held to a low standard, but rather held to the same level of respectability as adult literature. She is also a concert pianist and loves mythology and history.

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book about a young boy, Taash, and the court jesters who come into his life, along with the witch Bargah and various other wonderful characters. My 6th grade teacher read it aloud to us (way back when) and the entire class was gripped. Thereafter I borrowed and re-borrowed the book from the library, and in adulthood finally tracked down a copy via on-line to read to our own children. We just finished it (again) in bed-time reading to our 8-year old, and I was once again enthralled. It is probably best age appropriate for 10-12 year olds, but certainly appeals to those older and younger. Our 8-year old daughter was able to follow it, although, admittedly, there were a lot of vocabulary questions, as in what does [fill in the blank] mean? It has a terrific vocabulary - even my husband was stumped by some words. (For example, how many youth or even young adult books use the word "sere"?)

It is appropriate to post this review today, June 24, 2014, as this is author Ellen Kindt McKenzie's 86th birthday. Sadly, there is remarkably little information about her on line, at least that I was able to access, but it appears that she is still living, and resides in California. Ms. McKenzie, I love your book! Happy Birthday! You are a treasure!

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok book, but not quite s exciting as I expected. The Kindle edition has a typo in every 4th paragraph, making it hard to understand and distracting to read.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the very first novel I read in grade three. I remember the story to this day and the magic of how it fired up images in my mind and feelings in my body. I started me on my lifelong love of reading. I told a very kind and caring friend about it once and she found a copy online and bought it for me for my 45th birthday. I read it and enjoyed it again, then sadly lost it in one of my many moves. Hope to find another copy and keep in my collection.

[Tail Dragger · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well written you are sucked in immediately. An orphan is rescued and trained by a jester (you learn all kinds of show biz pointers) in a world of kings and queens and evil witches. Has a solid rural Europe vibe.

[Rita Walton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my sister's favorite YA book. It is very good. Very sweet and fun.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read esp for kiddos. My niece loves it and it was my boyfriend's favorite when he was a kid. Still is. Would reccomend :)

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have only recently discovered this beautiful story. I have owned(and read) Kashka for decades, but I read this book and was surprised to find that I could love it even more than it's prequel.

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A very original and inventive tale of a young orphan, Taash, who had been raised in a cruel and abusive home in a village where he was treated like scum until the day the local witch was given the care of him. Of course, Bargah is not quite the witch she is made out to be and she, along with her companions, a young girl about seven or eight, and Kashka, a jester to the king, give Taash a home and an education and a family. It takes him a long while to warm up to them, but he starts to open up. He looks up to Kashka and idolizes him. All the while, there are hints that there is something sinister after Taash and that he is not just some orphan.


Taash gets dragged through a pool into a glen where he sees some witches with a baby performing some ritual. He snatches the baby and runs away. He calls the baby Teyal and is given shelter by a shepherd family. Eventually, after rumors about the missing infant prince start to get around, Taash knows he has to get the child back to his parents, so he sets out with Teyal and Lia, the eldest daughter of the family with whom he was staying. They are joined by Piff, another jester with an uncanny resemblance to Kashka. They are beset by danger and enemies but in the end, after being reunited with Bargah and Kashka, they are able to return the young prince to the king and queen, unmask the evil, cunning courtiers (although the witch Lady Ysene got away) and it is revealed that Taash is actually the king's younger brother who was stolen away as a toddler to be used in much the same fashion as what Ysene and her witchly sisters had planned for Teyal if Taash had not rescued him. It was Kashka who foiled her plan back then. So, all ends pretty well other than Ysene being on the lam.

I would have loved for more characterization between Kaskha and Piff and Taash. More background on Bargah. And what happened to Lia? Such an abrupt ending, alas. Still, fun read.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I searched for this book for years

I first started to read this book when I was 12 years old and in the 6th grade. Something happened and I did not finish the book, I had to return it to the library but I had made a diorama of Taash and the witches with the baby and the fire, the trees he had hidden behind and I tried to find the book again for years. This book was written the year I was born, and I first started reading it in 1980 but it was 40 years later when I finally found it. I couldn't remember if the book was Taash and the Jesters or Taasha and the Jesters, but I searched for it both ways and I never found it until now. I gave it 4 stars because it left that much of an impression on me that I was still looking for it after 40 years. I finally finished it and I am happy that I found it. It's a good story, good characters, good plot. Read it to your kids, it's a good one for reading out loud to them. I am would have read it to mine had I been able to find it back then

[Dianah (onourpath) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I last read this book many decades ago with my cousins, and now, a book challenge set it in my way again. One of my first "big kid" books, this one really hooked me, and it was odd to see what I had remembered and what I had forgotten. I had a very sweet reunion with a kid who doesn't know where he comes from, a (maybe) witch, a pair of hilarious twin jesters, and all the fine folk who help them on their long journey. If they could only dodge the (absolute) witch, her horrid brother, and the daft characters that are a bit too dim to help. Despite all the nostalgia, I can see that this has a tight plot, the characters are meticulously created, and the journey is either fabulous or horrid, depending on the day. 😉

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all time childhood loves. And I still love it!! My grade school librarian suggested it for me. I was an constant reader and was running out of books to read in our small library. Mrs. Oswald would always have something ready for me to grab onto. Many decades later I still enjoy this book so much that I had to seek out my own copy.

This is a story that completely grabs the reader and whisks them away to another time and place. I would recommend this to every young person to read... especially if they don't currently enjoy reading.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorites--read it again to celebrate my 50th birthday!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant book! A quick read. Meant for younger kids (I read it in 5th grade) but it still makes me smile. I have re-read it several times and still adore it.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely charming book. Boys and girls would love it. The twists and turns of the plot make it exciting and the characters make it fun. It is my all time favorite children's book.

[Karen Tompert · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite book from childhood. And though I now find the characters a little too prone to fortuitously(for the story) announce their intentions, I do still like it very much.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun children's fantasy adventure, first published in 1968. Fun for fans of the genre!

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Thanks for the Recommendation Jen.