Alanna: The First Adventure

Rating:
Summary: From a Parent's Perspective...
Review: I read this book and the three sequels to see if they were appropriate for my 8-year-old daughter. I quite enjoyed the series, but I won't be handing them to my daughter for a few years yet.

In the first book, Alanna is 10 years old and a wonderful strong female protagonist. However, she grows up quickly, and in the first book has to deal with the onset of menstruation (of which she is completely ignorant and unprepared for). If you've had that talk with your kids, the first book is fine, but then they'll want to read the other books as well. In subsequent books she continues to mature, dealing with teenage hormones and angst, and eventually has sexual relationships with several male characters. The sex occurs offstage and is tastefully done, and her partners are people she loves and is very serious about, but there is little to no debate about the appropriateness of unwed teenage sexual activity. She does have a magic charm to prevent pregnancy, and this is a world of magical healing so I guess "safe sex" is a lot easier, but the whole thing is romanticized a lot more than I'd like for a young teen.

On the other hand, there are some good messages about relationships-- Alanna turns down the first man she loves, and the queen's crown at the same time, because she's just not suited for queenship and isn't ready to produce heirs. I like the messages that (1)love is wonderful but love alone is not enough for long-term compatibility, (2) you need to find yourself before you can committ yourself to someone else, and (3) parenthood is a serious thing not to be taken on quickly or lightly.

So, in summary, a wonderful series with an empowering female role-model, but an attitude about sex that may be a bit more casual than parents would like. Reserve for older teens or have some good discussion about it to put your own "spin" on the events in the book.

Rating:
Summary: Strong Women Rock
Review: This was an awsome book...I love books which have strong female leads. To hear about men all the time just irritates me so I was very pleased to see a woman rock the future!

Alanna was a great book, full of adventure and magic and mystery...I really loved it and I think it is a great book for girls these days because girl need role models who are strong and independant like Alanna...not skanky and trashy like Brittany Spears.
BW~

Rating:
Summary: Alanna: the First Adventure
Review: Tamora Pierce is the best author in the universe. Here begins her first book about Alanna, a brave young woman willing to do anything to become a knight.

Ten year old Alanna of Trebond wants to be a knight-but there is one problem. Girls do not get to try for knighthood in Tortall. However, strong-headed Alanna is willing to do anything-including switch places with her twin brother, who wants to be a sorcerer. When Alanna's father, Alan, prepares to send Alanna off to be a lady and her brother, Thom, off to be a knight, they do just that. When Alanna arrives at the palace disguised as a boy, she struggles to prove herself against larger and stronger boys. Luckily, she makes friends with Prince Jonathon and his followers, Gary, Raoul, Alex, and Francis, and the King of Thieves, George. Then Duke Roger, Jonathon's smiling cousin, arrives at the palace to teach magic to those with the Gift. On sight, Alanna does not like this overly-charming man-in fact, she hates him, but she has no idea why. All throughout the book, Alanna has been given visions of a black, shimmering city. When the squires and Alanna take a trip to Persopolis, in the Tortallan desert, Alanna comes face to face with this black city. There is an immortal evil in it, greater and more powerful than time itself. Will Alanna come out of this encounter alive?

The beyond brilliant crafting of this novel, the plot and suspense of it, and the downright honesty of Alanna's character all make this book one of the best you will ever find. I've read this book thirty or more times, and I never get tired of it. Simply spell-binding.

Rating:
Summary: Alanna: The AMAZING Adventure
Review: Outstanding book! I read this book several times its excellent! It is written by Tamora Pierce. It is about a girl name Alanna of Trebond. She wants to be a knight but in those days only boys gets to be them and the girls has to go the convent to learn magic. However Alanna comes up with a brillant idea, she switches places with her twin brother Thom. She pretends to be a boy and shorten her name to Alan. Alanna or 'Alan' makes lots of friends which also includes the prince, Jonathan. But she also makes enemies such as Ralon and Jon's uncle, Duke Roger. No one seems to think that Duke Roger is a malevolent man except her...Will Alanna be able to keep her identity secret and also watch her back at the same time? To find out read it!
I promise you that if you read this, you will want to read the whole series! I think the author is trying to tell us all in the book that we can be whatever we want, all we need to do is work hard for it, just as Alanna did.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: The book,much like all the rest of Tamora Pierce's Tortall books (I can't speak for Circle of Magic or the Circle Opens,I've yet to read them) are fantastic. They're realistic for their time period,for those of you who think 12 year olds never had relations in those times-go read a history book. Please.

So long as Ralon is in the plotline,the characters do tend to be a bit shallow (aside Alanna,George,and Coram). However,this is early in the storyline,it IS the first book,and character development primarily takes place in the later chapters of this book and In the hand of the Goddess.

Personally,I think the way she describes things borders on that ever present edge of too far and lacking. She sits perfectly in the middle,leaving some minor detailing up to your imagination,while the more important things are described with wonderful depth.

My only regret from the books is that we never truly get to see much of King Roald or Queen Lianne. From what I gathered of them during the single scene they say much to Alanna,I think they'd have been fantastic characters (especially Lianne.). But oh well. ^_^ The book stands wonderfully as it is. I only wish they never ended.

My age: 17,18 in less than a week.
My grade: graduate from high school at 16 (took exams early-I was bored.)
Overall review of book: Fantastic for everyone after they know how children are born. I read these first when I was 12,and I doubt I will ever put them in storage as I have other books.

Rating:
Summary: First in a series of the best fantasies I've ever read
Review: These books are some of my favorites ever. A strong female heroine, adventure, magic and a touch of romance. Alanna is a great idol and someone to look up to for children.
A girl living in medival times wants to become a knight so she switches places with her brother and goes to become a page. Hiding her gender, Alanna finds friends at the palace including George, the king of thieves, and Jon, a prince. Struggling through the duties of pages, Alanna finds herself on a trip with her squire friends were she and Jon fight evil magic with their "gifts".
I recommend reading all these books as well as the rest of Tamora's books and I'll be one of the first to pick up her new book, Trickster's Queen, on September 21.

Rating:
Summary: this is a book to treasure
Review: This is the best fantasy book I have ever read, I read it for the very first time about six years ago and I still love it! Alanna is my favourite book although the whole quartet is superb. Tamora Pierce brings her world of Tortall to life, when you read the books you are truly there, when the book ends you are left wondering what you are doing in your world rather than Alanna's. The characters are alive, you cry through their sorrows and laugh with their joys. This is a book to treasure, if you haven't read it already take the time, your experience will last a lifetime.