Tamora Pierce is an award-winning and bestselling fantasy author of young adult literature. She has written stand alone books and short stories as well as multiple series. Her first young adult novel, published in 1983, was Alanna, the First Adventure.
This story opens with Alanna and her twin brother Thom unhappy about their father’s decision to send them away for school. It’s not that they don’t want to leave home and have new experiences, it’s that they wish their father would consider what they want to do.
Alanna doesn’t want to go to a convent and learn all the boring necessities of being a lady. She wants to be a knight, a warrior maiden. And Thom really doesn’t enjoy sword fighting and battle strategy, he’d rather be a great sorcerer.
The two decide to take their fates into their own hands and switch places. With the help of two dedicated servants, Alanna heads to Duke Gareth of Naxen as “Alan of Trebond” to serve as a page while Thom goes to the City of Gods to study magic. Their negligent father is none the wiser.
Alanna pays attention and learns her lessons well. She also shows she has a strong character and doesn’t let others fight her battles. Mixed in with the lessons and sword fights are court politics, sorcery, and the continual stress of hiding her true nature from her friends. I kept expecting her secret to be revealed at every new scene — how long would the boys believe that “Alan” was just a small-framed boy with a fear of swimming with the group?
Alanna is a great role model — she embodies all the good qualities of a knight — but the book ends before she completes her training. You’ll have to keep reading the series! And don’t think just because Alanna has the makings of a hero that she’s boring. There is plenty of mischief to keep the story clipping along.
While this book is recommended for ages 12 and up, I enjoyed the fast-paced action driven story as an adult. I listened to the books as well as read them because I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. The audiobook, read by actress Trini Alvarado, is only 5 disks.
Check the WRL catalog for Alanna, the First Adventure
I loved this series as a young girl!!! In fact, I plan on rereading them before I head back to university to finish a degree in Gender Studies/Journalism. This is a great series I could use in my studies!
Reblogged this on A Life In Paperback and commented:
This is a must read for young girls, especially when they are experiencing major physical changes. I remember loving the series as a young girl, and I hope to share it with my daughter(s) and students (if I become a teacher).
My favorite books when I was a girl :)
This series was one of my absolute favourites growing up! I read and reread them so many times. :D
My favorite story about this book is I had my teen book club read it several years ago. This was when the cheap paperback copies were pink. One of the boys came to group that day and said he LOVED the book, despite the pinkness of the cover.
This is one of those books that will stick with me, literally and metaphorically. I have it with me at college… The whole series and all the ones I have of the spin off series are dear to me. They are wonderful for girls who are growing up. It is one story after another of strong young girls turning into strong young women.
I read this one as a sixth grader when it first was published and I practically wore out our school library’s copy as I checked it out about once a month for the next three years! I eagerly anticipated the rest of the books in the series WHICH MY LIBRARY DIDN’T PURCHASE!! I had to go to the public library to find them . I purchased my own copes as a teenager, as well as, every book Pierce has published since. I have re-read this set at least once a year! Many of the books I loved as a kid didn’t stand the test of time and have been weeded from my collection, but this set still holds a place of honor on my shelves!
Its really good information about the first adventure.Thanks a lot for sharing the great information………..