First Test by Tamora Pierce - OPTIONAL

First Test (Protector of the Small #1) by Tamora Pierce, 142 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Random House, 2024. $25. 9780307931566

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some fighting, bullying)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

While Lady Alanna trained in secret as a page and became a female knight, Kel is determined to openly train as a girl with the boys. While some of the pages are indifferent, a couple of them are antagonistic to Kel, while they are also busy bullying the other pages, too. Kel is determined to stay the course and prove that this girl, at least, can hold her own.

I hope that the graphic novel version will encourage some students to seek out the originals and read the novels. I don’t feel this graphic novel does the original justice - so much is missing, that it makes me sad. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS