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Young readers book reviews for ages 8 to 12 years old




*Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness)* by Tamora Pierce- young readers fantasy book review
 
Also by Tamora Pierce:

Terrier (Beka Cooper)

First Test: Book I of the Protector of the Small Quartet

Page: Book II of the Protector of the Small Quartet

Squire: Book III of the Protector of the Small Quartet

Lady Knight: Book IV of the Protector of the Small Quartet

Trickster's Choice: Daughter of the Lioness, Book 1

Trickster's Queen: Daughter of the Lioness, Book 2
Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness)
by Tamora Pierce
Ages 9-12 274 pages Simon Pulse January 2005 Paperback    

Alanna: The First Adventure is a strong first book in Tamora Pierce’s “Song of the Lioness Quartet,” a series that draws you in to read the next. Although it was first published nearly 25 years ago, girls today are still enjoying it.

Identical twins Thom and Alanna share more than physical appearances. They both feel out of place in the roles chosen for them by an uninvolved parent. In less than a page of reading, a daring plot is hatched by Alanna: she will pose as a boy - Thom’s twin brother. In so many ways, brother and sister have completely opposite interests and desires for life. She wants badly to train as a knight, while Thom hates everything about it. He wants to be a great sorcerer instead.

So Alanna cuts off her long, red hair and becomes Alan, the boy sent to the palace to train first as a page, then a squire, and eventually as a knight. Thom goes his own way, parting from the only person he loves, both of them set firm on their chosen paths.

Alanna is set off by the nurse who has raised her with one last frantic warning: “Heal, child,” the woman advises. “Heal all you can, or you’ll pay for it. The gods mean for their gifts to be used.” The foreshadowing is, in this case, very obvious, but taken in the context of a book meant for kids it works.

From then on, Coram is Alanna’s companion, a man from their childhood home sent along reluctantly to be Thom’s manservant during his years at the palace. While he does have some misgivings once he is let in on the “Alan” plan, he is secretly more than a little glad to be ushering the twin who is naturally talented and interested in knighthood.

The story follows “Alan” during the first months and years at the palace, through bullying problems, a hectic and draining schedule, her own maturing body’s betrayal, and exhaustion. She comes face to face with her own morality and finds herself in the frightening position of needing to make her own tough decisions about life. Alanna’s growing friendship with the odd but friendly and protective Sir Myles further solidifies her path.

A possible enemy has emerged during her years of training as well - enough of a possibility to concern her long-distance twin. Her deep and surprising hatred of this sorcerer is a warning, perhaps. So in her free time (what very little she has), she pushes herself in training both magically and in combat to be ready for whatever confrontation may lie ahead.

While somewhat predictable, The First Adventure in this series by Tamora Pierce is a strong introduction to the world of the fantasy genre. And not once does our young heroine utter the words expected of all fantasy lead characters: “Why me?” A welcome surprise.

Young readers book reviews for ages 8 to 12 years old

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  Carolynn Evans/2007 for curled up with a good kid's book  






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