The Burning is the sixth novel in the Guardians of Ga'Hoole

Guardians of Ga'Hoole

Guardians of Ga’Hoole is a fantasy book series written by Kathryn Lasky and published by Scholastic. The series, which ended in 2008 with the publication of The War of the Ember, has a total of fifteen books. Apart from the main series there are a few more books and spin offs set in the same universe...

 book series.

Plot

The book begins with the Chaw of Chaws flying to the Northern kingdoms to deliver Dewlap to the Glauxian Sisters' Retreat. After that, the Chaw breaks up into two groups, one to find Moss, an old warrior, and another to find allies from the Glauxian brothers. They do not receive allies but still train with ice weaponry. On their return to the Great Tree, Gylfie gets kidnapped by pirates and held hostage in their lair. She escapes with the help of Twilla, another owl who pretends to be Glaux, but then attacks. In the confusion, Gylfie gets away.
Meanwhile, the Guardians (now back at the Tree) prepare to fight the Pure Ones in the canyon lands. While the Battle of the Burning transpires, Gylfie races into the war with two divisions of Northern kingdom warriors. Soren is reluctant to kill Kludd when he is backed into a cavern. This act is therefore done by Twilight. When the COC is flying back to the tree, Soren wonders what will happen to the Pure Ones... but that's another story.

Characters

Soren, Barn Owl

Barn Owl

The Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...

, Tyto

Tyto

The genus Tyto includes all barn owls except for the bay owls - that is, the true barn owls, the grass owls and the masked owls collectively making up the subfamily Tytoninae...

 alba, from the Forest Kingdom of Tyto; a Guardian at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.

Gylfie, Elf Owl

Elf Owl

The Elf Owl is a member of the owl family Strigidae that breeds in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is the world's lightest owl, although the Long-whiskered Owlet and the Tamaulipas Pygmy Owl are of a similarly diminutive length. The mean body weight of this species is 40 grams...

, Micrathene whitneyi, from the Desert of Kuneer; Soren's best friend; a Guardian at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.

Twilight, Great Gray Owl, Strix

Strix (genus)

Strix is a genus of owls. They belong to the typical owl family Strigidae, one of the two generally accepted living families of owls, with the other being the barn-owls . Common names are earless owls or wood owls though they are not the only owls without ear tufts, and "wood owl" is also used as a...

 nebulosa, a free flier, orphaned within hours of hatching; a Guardian at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.

Digger, Burrowing Owl

Burrowing Owl

The Burrowing Owl is a tiny but long-legged owl found throughout open landscapes of North and South America. Burrowing Owls can be found in grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts, or any other open dry area with low vegetation. They nest and roost in burrows, such as those excavated...

, Athene

Athene (owl)

Athene is a genus of owls, containing two to four living species, depending on classification. These birds are small, with brown and white speckles, yellow eyes, and white eyebrows...

 cunicularia, from the Desert of Kuneer; lost in the desert after attack in which his brother was killed by Owls

OWLS

OWLS is a mnemonic used by general aviation airplane pilots to assess an unprepared surface for a precautionary landing.Like all mnemonics this check has become part of aviation culture and folklore.OWLS:* Obstacles* Wind direction...

 from St. Aegolius; a Guardian at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.

Boron, Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl

The Snowy Owl is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. The Snowy Owl was first classified in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus, the Swedish naturalist who developed binomial nomenclature to classify and organize plants and animals. The bird is also known in North America as the Arctic Owl, Great...

, Bubo scandiacus, the King of Hoole.

Barran, Snowy Owl, Bubo scandiacus, the Queen of Hoole.

Ezylryb Whiskered Screech Owl

Whiskered Screech Owl

The Whiskered Screech Owl or Whiskered Screech-Owl , is a small scops owl found in North and Central America.-Description:...

, Megascops trichopsis, the wise weather and colliering ryb at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree; Soren's mentor (also known as LYZE OF KIEL).

Strix Struma, Spotted Owl

Spotted Owl

The Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis, is a species of true owl. It is a resident species of forests in western North America, where it nests in tree holes, old bird of prey nests, or rock crevices. Nests can be between 13 and 66 yards high and usually contain two eggs...

, Strix occidentalis, the dignified navigation ryb at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree; killed in the battle against the Pure Ones.

Dewlap, Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia, former Ga'Hoolology ryb at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree; traitor during the siege of the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.

Sylvana, Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia, a young ryb at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.

Otulissa, Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis, a Guardian of prestigious lineage at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.

Martin, Northern Saw-whet Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owl

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a small owl native to North America.-Description:The scientific description of one of the sub-species of this owl is attributed to the Rev. John Henry Keen who was a missionary in Canada in 1896. Adults are long with a wingspan. They can weigh from with an average...

, Aegolius

Aegolius

Aegolius is a small genus of owls. Three of the species are restricted to the New World, but th Boreal Owl has a circumpolar range through North America, Eurasia, the Alps and the Rockies.The species are:...

 acadicus, in Ezylryb's chaw with Soren.

Ruby, Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

The Short-eared Owl is a species of typical owl . In Scotland this species of owl is often referred to as a cataface, grass owl or short-horned hootlet. Owls belonging to genus Asio are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or may...

, Asio

Asio

Asio is a genus of typical owls, or true owls, in family Strigidae. The genus Asio contains the eared owls, which are characterised by feather tufts on the head which have the appearance of ears...

 flammeus, in Ezylryb's chaw with Soren.

Eglantine, Barn Owl, Tyto alba, Soren's younger sister.

Madame Plonk, Snowy Owl, Bubo scandiacus, the elegant singer of the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.

Bubo, Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owl, , also known as the Tiger Owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas.-Description:...

, Bubo virginianus, the blacksmith of the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.

Mrs. Plithiver, Blind Snake, formerly the nest-maid for Soren's family; now a member of the harp guild at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.

Octavia, Kielian Snake

Snake

Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...

, nest-maid for Madame Plonk and Ezylryb (also known as BRIGID).

Kludd, Barn Owl, Tyto alba, Soren and Eglantine's older brother; leader of the Pure Ones (also known as METAL BEAK and HIGH TYTO).

Nyra, Barn Owl, Tyto alba, Kludd's mate.

Wortmore, Barn Owl, Tyto alba, a Pure Guard lieutenant.

Uglamore, Barn Owl, Tyto alba, a Pure Guard lieutenant.

Stryker, Barn Owl, Tyto alba, a Pure One lieutenant major under Nyra.

Skench, Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, the Ablah General of St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls.

Soren's parents

Noctus,Barn Owl Tyto alba,Soren's father

Marilla ,Barn Owl Tyto albaSoren's mother