Triss, by Brian Jacques

Triss is a squirrel, and has spent most of her life in slavery. One night, she decides to break out and escapes with a few friends. They set off by sea to find the famous Redwall Abbey, the safe-haven that Triss and her friends need. But danger isn't far behind. The cruel slave master, King Agarnu, and his daughter, Kurda, have a faster ship and notice quickly that their slaves have escaped. Can Triss make it to Redwall in time?

Whilst Triss is making her way to Redwall, in a distant land, three friends sneak away from their home to have an adventure. And in Mossflofer Woods, a young pair of Dibbuns stumble across something ancient and legendary. The three groups are drawn together by fate, and Triss finds out if she can be the heroine the stories foretold her to be.

This is a tale from Redwall - a wonderful kingdom full of enchanted creatures (there are many other books in this series if you like this one). The animals are personified and have different accents, making them endearing or dislikeable as soon as you are introduced to them. I loved reading Triss and have read it several times since I bought it years ago. The story of an admirable heroine who has spirit and stands up for what she thinks is right, is the kind of book everyone should read, if only to encourage you to be yourself and face challenges with determination and self-belief.