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First Test
  
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First Test (Library Binding)

by Tamora Pierce (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (221 customer reviews)
List Price: CDN$ 19.15
Price: CDN$ 14.15 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 39. Details
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Frequently Bought Together

First Test + Page: Book 2 of the Protector of the Small Quartet + Squire: Book 3 of the Protector of the Small Quartet
Total List Price: CDN$ 42.09
Price For All Three: CDN$ 35.70

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  • Page: Book 2 of the Protector of the Small Quartet by Tamora Pierce

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  • Squire: Book 3 of the Protector of the Small Quartet by Tamora Pierce

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Product Details

Product Description

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-Ten years after the proclamation that girls are eligible for a page's training at the court of King Jonathan of Tortall, 10-year-old Keladry applies and is accepted, but on probation, a condition never forced on male applicants. Resolutely accepting the challenge, the hostility of the royal training master, and harassment by fellow pages, Kel makes her way through this difficult year. Trained from early childhood by stoic Yamani warriors, she is capable of hiding her feelings, fearless in a fight, and willing to work hard to develop the necessary physical capacity. Her sympathy and support for the underdog and her sense of chivalry earn her the admiration of a group of fellow pages. She also befriends the sparrows that live outside her window and wins over a difficult horse. Kel performs well in her first real battle and is grudgingly allowed to stay for another year of training. The medieval/magical world of Tortall has been the setting for eight of the author's titles; in First Test, the first of a new series, this fantasy world is clear and well developed, allowing the book to stand on its own. Characters who may be familiar to readers of the previous titles are reintroduced successfully or remain on the sidelines. The scrappy Kel is an appealing and believable girl whose struggles to integrate a formerly all-male world are both familiar and freshly told. This is smooth storytelling and a satisfying read.
Kathleen Isaacs, Edmund Burke School, Washington, DC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


From Booklist

Pierce begins a new sequence of books set in her imaginary kingdom of Tortall with a new heroine, 10-year-old Keladry, who must fight her way through her first year of knight training as a page. Despite Alanna's success years before (recounted in The Lioness Quartet), both the knight trainer, Lord Wyldon, and Kel's fellow pages oppose a girl being introduced into the program, so Kel uses her wits and courage to overcome the many obstacles set for her in her probationary year. Pierce takes small liberties with her medieval setting (Kel has a privy and eats with cutlery) but does a fine job making Kel's perceptions of the concrete details come to life. Part school story, complete with bullies; part fantasy with powerful evil creatures such as the disgusting Spidren; and part animal story as Kel makes friends with a flock of sparrows and bonds with her balky gelding Peachblossom, this is a splendidly rousing feast. Susan Dove Lempke --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews

221 Reviews
5 star:
 (125)
4 star:
 (53)
3 star:
 (14)
2 star:
 (11)
1 star:
 (18)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (221 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, Jul 18 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: First Test: Book 1 of the Protector of the Small Quartet (Mass Market Paperback)
When I got this book out of the library, I didn't want to finish it until I could go on to the next book. When Keladry of Mindelan (Kel) goes to Corus to become a Lady Knight, she finds it harder than she expected. Battling against Lord Wyldon, the training master, Kel builds up a reputation for protecting the helpless. Thus, the name for the quartet,"Protector of the Small."
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5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, Jun 3 2004
This review is from: First Test: Book 1 of the Protector of the Small Quartet (Mass Market Paperback)
I loved this book! She didn't get through it so easily as in most books, she had to fight every step of the way. She had her fear of hieghts to contend with, that's what makes her such a strong character! This is a great book that definetly will inspire and make you read the next in the series!
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3.0 out of 5 stars Nice Idea, May 31 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: First Test: Book 1 of the Protector of the Small Quartet (Mass Market Paperback)
(...)There is so much background information about the land of Tortall in the Alanna books that is left out of this book. I guess Ms. Pierce didn't want to repeat herself but someone reading this book first may feel the background is too sketchy.

If you love fantasy and magic (like I do) you may be disappointed in "First Test". This book has almost no magic in it and reads almost like a historical of midevil times. Actually what I thought of when I read this book was what happened at The Citadel (military college) several years ago. When they first opened the school to women there was intense resistance. The poor girl (I have forgotten her name) who was the first female "accepted" was put through absolute hell and was not able to stick it out more than a week. But she paved the way and the next girl was successful. Now a woman going to the Citadel is not even a blip on the media's radar screen.
So it is interesting in "First Test" to see how Keladry makes it through her first year of training to be a knight. The book has relevance to our times too. Even though it is similar to what Alanna goes through, there are some key differences. In fact, the diffences actually bugged me a bit. Why didn't Kel ever seem to go into town? Did Alanna have an older page sponsor? Anyway, I didn't think that was that big a deal. What bothered me much more was how bland this book and Keladry are. Not much seems to happen here so if you're looking for adventure, forget it. And Keladry is about the most boring, stoic heroine you can imagine. Actually, her personality is perfect for the first female knight-in-training but that doesn't make for a very interesting person (or book). Still, I love the way Keladry is changing minds not by talking but by doing.With her amazing courage and fortitude she is a wonderful role model for young women. Actually, a much better role model than Alanna.

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 		 Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Another great book by Tammy!
When I got this book, I thought that it would be pretty much the same as the Lioness series, but I was proved wrong. Read more
Published on May 3 2004 by Paige

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!
This is one of my favorite books-possibly because of the main female character, the knights, or just because of the excitment. Read more
Published on May 2 2004 by Bookworm12

3.0 out of 5 stars First Test Could Be Better
First Test is the first of the Protector of the Small Quartet which personally I think is OK. First Test I checked out at the library and tried to get into it. Read more
Published on April 4 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars What An Awesome Book
Every book I have ever read by Tamora Pierce has been well written and interesting. When I read this book I was far from disapointed, in fact I think that it is one of my all time... Read more
Published on Jan 22 2004 by Melissa

5.0 out of 5 stars I have no clue what some of you people are talking about...
After reading Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic and the Circle Opens books, I knew I had to read every single book she hade wirtten. Read more
Published on Jan 8 2004 by xshatterglass

1.0 out of 5 stars My "first test" finds a shallow, uninspired tale
For years I've been waiting for a heroic fantasy novel with a female protagonist. So after listening to a brief interview of Tamora Pierce on National Public Radio, during which... Read more
Published on Dec 29 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars First Test (Protector of the Small)
Lady Keladry is not happy being a lady. There is only one Lady Knight, Alanna, and it's not usual for woman to be knights. But Kel wants to be a knight. Read more
Published on Dec 29 2003 by Myra Schjelderup

4.0 out of 5 stars AwEsOmE
I thought this book was awesome. It had great characters and had an interesting plot. Some parts get a little boring but in the end, it's great. Read more
Published on Nov 27 2003 by malgal455

5.0 out of 5 stars Claires thoughts
in this book of Tamara peirces uniqe writing. Kel (the star)begins her trainig as a knight. As the only female at the school learnig to be a knight, she faces teasings problems... Read more
Published on Nov 2 2003 by care-bear

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best books i have ever read!
I am an avid reader, and this book is great for all ages, and I hope others will pick up this book and many others from this author and see how special it is. Read more
Published on Oct 2 2003 by rowyna

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