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First Test (Protector of the Small) Review

Following in the steps of Alana 'the Lioness' is Keladry (Kel) of Mindelan, a 10-year-old is dead-set on becoming a knight like her hero. Unlike Alana though, Kel doesn't have magic to help her. Instead she has greater bulk and height, as well as training from an island where the marshal arts are taught -- think Tai Chi, Judo, Kendo.

The setting is the court of King Jonathan of Tortall. The landscape has changed from that of the Lioness Quartet because of the Immortal Wars wherein magical creatures have been let loose on the world.

The other thing that is different is that much of the forward progress that Alana made has vanished. The new knight trainer, Lord Wyldon, strongly believes women and girls have no place as knights. He's so stubborn that he insists he will quit unless the King a) makes Kel's first year probationary, and b) makes Alana swear that she will not communicate with the girl during that time. And as you can well imagine, such an attitude rubs off on the boys, who are just as mean to Kel as they were to Alana in her own time as a page.


Talking Points:::
It's a pleasure to watch Kel prove herself. She does have her strengths and stoic training which helps her, but so do the boys have their strengths and weaknesses. And, as always, Tamora Pierce's writing is more than competent and entertaining.

It hasn't been but a few weeks since I read the first book in the Alana series. And while the court and the processes of the page's training were similar, I didn't find the books so similar that I wasn't riveted by First Test. Kel and Alana are different people, as are the boys they find themselves amongst.

I don't know honestly what boys think of this series, but Tamora Pierce gives girls strong role models that don't give up, and who are intelligent and compassionate. I highly recommend Pierce to adventure loving girls which this caveat: This FIRST book is not as good as the following books.

Finally, this series is in the 'Juvenile' section of our library, but I found the personal dilemmas that pop up in the subsequent books to be very much like the ones found in Pierce's YA-books. Which is to say that the author includes conversations about puberty, boys and desire.

Pam T~
mom and reviewer at Booksforkids-reviews

First Test (Protector of the Small) Overview

The first in the epic Protector of the Small series from award-winning US author, Tamora Pierce. Kel is the first girl to enlist as a page at the palace of Tortall - the first who has dared. She dreams of training to be a warrior knight, like the glorious Alanna, but there's a long way to go...

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Related Products

• Page: Book 2 of the Protector of the Small Quartet
• Squire: Book 3 of the Protector of the Small Quartet
• Lady Knight: Book 4 of the Protector of the Small Quartet
• In the Hand of the Goddess (The Song of the Lioness)
• Trickster's Choice (Daughter of the Lioness, Book 1)

Customer Reviews

Can't Wait! - kenneth s. gunter -
This will be a great book.I allready know!I love these books!It shows that girls dont have to be weak as some people say.I take karate and my sister and I are the best in the advanced class and I am only 11!!That is living proof that girls are just as strong and sensable as boys!



great series great book - LibKat - Cape Cod, MA
Tamora Pierce is one of my all time favorite authors who could only improve upon her writing skills by turning out her books a bit faster. This book like most of her books has wonderful characterization and story line. The world she creates is intriguing and everyone in it seems real and fascinating.






More, More, More - Angela Gustafson - Midpines, California
What can I say, I'm happy with the condition of my purchase and would use this vendor again and again. Thanks.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 20, 2010 16:24:05