First Test (The Protector of the Small)

Pierce, Tamora

ISBN 10: 0679989145 ISBN 13: 9780679989141

Publisher: Random House Childrens Books, 1999

Synopsis

When Alanna became the King's Champion, it was decided that girls would henceforth be allowed to train for the knighthood. But ten years have passed, and no girls have come forward. Now, however, someone is about to change all that. Her name is Kel. In this first book in a new series from popular children's fantasy writer Tamora Pierce, we are introduced to a strong, adventurous new heroine who will win the hearts and minds of fantasy fans.

About this title

From the Author

A new girl warrior, with all kinds of differences
About seven years ago I began to realize what a hold the image of a girl warrior, particularly the girl in armor, had on my readers and on me. It occurred to me that I hadn't really explored the idea of female knights to the fullest when I wrote Alanna's story, and that I wanted to give it another try.

I'm an odd creature, though. I didn't want to do Alanna again; I wanted to do something different. Keladry of Mindelan is her own person, different from the other girl warriors I've created. She is big and kind, a diplomat's youngest daughter who hates bullies above all things. Kel is also like most people in her world, forced to live with magic and mages while having no magic of her own. Surrounded by magic--from her friend Neal's healing Gift to the wild magic which has made her animal friends better able to understand and help her--Kel comes to terms with it. Most importantly, everyone knows Kel is a girl. A great many people who think she has no place among the pages, the squires or the knights. They'll do their best to get rid of her. Will they win? Will they break her down? Or will Kel find the things she needs to achieve her dream? My money's on her. She is VERY determined, and she believes in her dreams.

About the Author

In the sixth grade, Tamora Pierce was encouraged by her father to start writing and she immediately got hooked. Once she discovered fantasy and science fiction, she tried to write the same kind of stories she read, only with teenaged girl heroines who were usually missing from the 1960s stories.

Before her junior year at the University of Pennsylvania where she studied psychology, Pierce rediscovered writing when she wrote her first original short story since tenth grade. She sold her first story a year later and then enrolled in a fiction writing course during her senior year. When her teacher suggested that she tackle a novel, her childhood ideas came back to her and she began her first sword and sorcery novel.

Pierce then worked as a housemother in an Idaho group home for teenaged girls, who loved

Edition details

• Publisher: Random House Childrens Books
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0679989145
• ISBN 13: 9780679989141
• Binding: Library Binding
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 208