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1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
Tamora Pierce returns to the land of Tortall with a heroine who refuses to quit in this first book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Protector of the Small series.
Ten years after knighthood training was opened to both males and females, no girl has been brave enough to try. But knighthood is Keladry's one true desire, and so she steps forward to put herself to the test.
Up against the traditional hazing of pages and a grueling schedule, Kel faces one roadblock that seems insurmountable: Lord Wyldon, the training master of pages and squires. He is absolutely against girls becoming knights. So while he is forced to train her, Wyldon puts her on a probationary trial period that no male page has ever had to endure. Further set apart from her fellow trainees, Kel's path to knighthood is now that much harder. But she is determined to try, and she's making friends in the most unlikely places. One thing is for sure, Kel is not a girl to underestimate.
From the Hardcover edition.
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  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Tamora Pierce's new series, set in her medieval kingdom of Tortall, features 10-year-old Keladry as heroine. As the first girl to take advantage of a decree allowing females to train for knighthood, Kel must prove herself in a male-dominated world. Bernadette Dunne's pleasant, well-paced voice allows listeners to absorb Pierce's richly detailed settings while coming to know the story's many characters. Dunne also brings a wry sense of humor to the challenges Kel faces and endows the feisty heroine with a believable, likable personality. Kel is brave, hard-working, and fair-minded--a great character for young female listeners to admire. Dunne draws out all the magic in Pierce's intricately imagined, fantastical Tortall while simultaneously grounding it as a believable, sometimes grittily real, place. J.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
    • School Library Journal

      October 1, 2007
      Gr 5-8-Set in the imaginary kingdom of Tortall, 10-year-old Keladry has applied for training to become a knight of the court of King Jonathan. Looking to Alanna the Lioness (from Pierce's The Lioness Quartet) for inspiration, Kel must fight her way through her first year of knight training as a page. She's faced not only with the hostility of the master trainer, Lord Wyldon, but also the fellow pages who oppose a girl being allowed into the program. Trained as a child by stolid Yamani warriors, Kel is capable of hiding her feelings from her peers as she courageously develops her skills. Her empathy for the other lowly first year pages earn her their friendship and trust. Youngsters will be drawn to Tamora Pierce's first book in the series (Random, 1999) which features a strong female character who stands up to bullies, a magical connection with the sparrows in the courtyard, a cranky horse named Peachblossom, and a fantasy element with dangerous creatures. Bernadette Dunne's narration perfectly captures the wide assortment of characters. Her depiction of Kel helps listeners feel her pain and frustration as well as the joy she finds in her relationship with the other first year pages, the sparrows, and her horse.Beverly S. Almond, Moore Square Museums Magnet Middle School, Raleigh, NC

      Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:5.3
  • Interest Level:4-8(MG)
  • Text Difficulty:4-8

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