Helpful Score: 3
While Alanna is viewed as being a hero for disgusing herself as a man and becoming a knight, Kel may prove to have a more difficult task. As the first openly female knight-in-training in centuries, Kel has to face tough sexism on top of the trials and tribulations of being a Page. This book, taking place over a span of three years, show's Kel maturation into young adulthood. Here, Kel will face many physical, mental, and emotional obstacles. Luckily, she has friends, of the human and animal variety, to keep her strong. But with people out there who are intent on seeing her fail, does she have any hope of becoming more than just a Page?
Helpful Score: 1
(from amazon)
As the only female page in history to last beyond the first year of formal training to become a knight, 11-year-old Keladry of Mindelan has an uphill battle to fight. In addition to proving herself worthy of being a page, Kel spends her time defending first-year pages from bullies, staying on top of homework, conquering her paralyzing fear of heights, and keeping up with Lord Wyldon's grueling physical training schedule. Kel's detractors do everything in their power to thwart her progress, from tormenting her friends to sabotaging the Midwinter Festivities to kidnapping her maid and dog on the day of final examinations. The tide of resistance begins to turn slightly during the summer between Kel's second and third years, when she leads a team of pages in defensive maneuvers against renegade bandits--coincidentally on the same day that she gets her first period!
Tamora Pierce revisits the imaginary Kingdom of Tortall in this sequel to First Test: Protector of the Small. Fans of Pierce's exotic fantasy sequences will be hard-pressed to put either book down. Kel is a valuable role model: she's proud of being a girl, and she never wavers in her conviction that she can do anything a boy can--and usually do it better. Some rather bloody battles as well as discussions about Kel's developing body make this book appropriate for more mature readers. (Ages 10 to 14) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.
Randi's review
I really can't fall in love with Kel as I did with Alanna. I don't know why. Hopefully these get a bit better.
As the only female page in history to last beyond the first year of formal training to become a knight, 11-year-old Keladry of Mindelan has an uphill battle to fight. In addition to proving herself worthy of being a page, Kel spends her time defending first-year pages from bullies, staying on top of homework, conquering her paralyzing fear of heights, and keeping up with Lord Wyldon's grueling physical training schedule. Kel's detractors do everything in their power to thwart her progress, from tormenting her friends to sabotaging the Midwinter Festivities to kidnapping her maid and dog on the day of final examinations. The tide of resistance begins to turn slightly during the summer between Kel's second and third years, when she leads a team of pages in defensive maneuvers against renegade bandits--coincidentally on the same day that she gets her first period!
Tamora Pierce revisits the imaginary Kingdom of Tortall in this sequel to First Test: Protector of the Small. Fans of Pierce's exotic fantasy sequences will be hard-pressed to put either book down. Kel is a valuable role model: she's proud of being a girl, and she never wavers in her conviction that she can do anything a boy can--and usually do it better. Some rather bloody battles as well as discussions about Kel's developing body make this book appropriate for more mature readers. (Ages 10 to 14) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.
Randi's review
I really can't fall in love with Kel as I did with Alanna. I don't know why. Hopefully these get a bit better.
Helpful Score: 1
Kel continues her training as she becomes a young woman in this story. I really like that the author's characters are educated when it comes to human nature and sex instead of it being considered a "sin" and something that shouldn't be talked about. It's refreshing to see such open-mindedness in a book meant for young adults.
The character Wyldon has also managed to grow on me as he's giving Kel the credit she deserves for the hard work she has done.
An overall wonderful book with many fine qualities.
The character Wyldon has also managed to grow on me as he's giving Kel the credit she deserves for the hard work she has done.
An overall wonderful book with many fine qualities.
