The first book to a incredible saga of books in the mythical Kingdom of Tortall starts with a girl wanting to become a knight.
Alanna of Trebond is determined to be a knight but her father, who doesn’t care about her goals, wants to send her to a convent to learn how to be a noble lady. Without her father’s knowing, she and her twin brother, Thom, switch places. Thom, who wants to learn magic was going to be sent to become a knight, so he gladly goes to the convent, which is where he could learn magic. That is only the beginning of Alanna’s adventures.
The First Adventure is the first book of the Song of the Lioness series written by Tamora Pierce. This is the first book that started the series of adventures in the mythical Kingdom of Tortall.
This story is about Alanna’s journey of pretending to be a boy named Alan so she can become a knight. This first book is all about her Page years. She encounters plenty of other pages during training from Raoul of Goldenlake, Gareth of Naxen the Younger, Francis of Nond, Alexander of Tirragen, and Crown Prince Jonathan of Conte– some who become her enemies, and others who become her best friends. She meets and befriends the young King of Thieves, George Cooper, who becomes a important ally. Alanna has to cope with a magical power that she doesn’t want, while her suspicions of the prince’s magic filled cousin, Duke Roger, become increasingly larger.
The first of an amazing series,The First Adventure has a strong female protagonist who deals with life and troubles like anybody else. Filled with action and adventure as Alanna methodically- sometimes dangerously- goes through her first training years disguised as a boy. This I would recommend for older readers as well as the rest of the series. This book and series does deal with maturing of girls, due to the aging of the main characters. The book also contains some rather strange and maybe creepy creatures. There is also a touch on the subject of love and the difficulties between family. This is what I think, but read it for yourself!
I’ve reviewed two other books written by Tamora Pierce: Battle Magic and First Test.
– Sarah J., 8th grade
Mission Viejo Library Teen Voice 
Great review. I love female protagonists and kings of thieves, so I might want to try it out.
A tale of adventure and magic for the girl who wishes she could be a part of it all. Alanna is a character full of courage and flaws, but her desire to be better helps her to conquer the things that stand in the way of her dreams. She learns to find friends that will stand by her side and live by the code of chivalry. Nice review!