Review Detail

The Protector of the Small series is set in the magical world of Tortall, a well-developed world seen in the Song of the Lioness and Immortals series (also by Tamora Pierce). In Song of the Lioness, Alanna proved that a girl could succeed as a knight. As a result, a decree was issued that girls could petition to train as a knight.

That was ten years ago and now Keladry, or Kel, is the first girl to do so. Unlike the male candidates, she is forced to go on probation her first year. She also experiences abuse and distrust from both her fellow trainees and the Page Master himself.

Kel shows herself to be an upstanding and kind heroine that befriends stray dogs and even swallows. Her kindness and quiet strength stand up to the challenges she is faced with and they grudgingly allow her to continue on to her next year of training at the end of the book.

This is a great book for girls, as they can see a strong female character face adversity and succeed in a male-dominated world. It's also great for boys because it is filled with adventure, battles and magic. I highly recommend it for readers age 8 and up.