Perhaps I'm a bit biased because we share the same name, but Alanna is one of my favourite characters in fantasy literature. This book started my obsession with Tamora Pierce and the Tortall world, and I am forever thankful.

A great book with a strong female role model in the world of men. Just the right amount of magic brings the medieval world to light. One of my favourite books of all time!

A great book for preteens, but parents be warned that there is a strong love story line in the later books, however Pierce is not graphic about it, it is merely implied. ( )

Alanna switches places with her twin brother, disguising herself as a boy to train as a knight. Can she keep it from the others at the palace, and what happens when she doesn't always want to be a boy? Does she have what it takes to become a knight?

This is my favorite of Tamora Pierce's books. As with Mercedes Lackey, her first character seems to be her most genuine, though as with Lackey, you can tell that Pierce learned much about how plot went together throughout this series.

This is a great book for middle school and younger high school readers. Girls get into it easier, as the heroine is a girl, but there is enough action that boys tricked into picking it up do manage to stay interested. Warning: there is *gasp* sex in the series.

As a side note, anyone having the chance to meet Tamora Pierce should do so. She's a pretty awesome woman. ( )

I am in love with this book. I got this book as a present from my grandmother somewhere aroudn age seven or eight and then discarded it because "ch, who wants a book for a gift?"
I picked it up again around age 10, started reading it, and fell in love with the world. Pierce is a great author of young adult fiction with strong female characters. The world that Alanna and her friends and family inhabit is vivid and detailed and everything you could possibly ask for from a YA fantasy book.
Alanna as the hero is clever, hardworking and tenacious and embodies everything a young girl should read.

Mothers and Fathers, buy your daughters this book! Now! ( )

I was delighted to see that this series had been reissued and once again sits on many retail shelves. This book is perfect for teenage girls. Alanna the heroine is on one hand, vivacious, headstrong and empathetic, a wonderful role model, and on the other hand she has to deal with the insecurities of a changing body and feelings whilst disguised as a boy. It is a wonderful adventure series that to this day hasn't grown old with all the mix or magic, boarding school and friendship that we have all grown to love no matter what generation. This book will not miss the target if bought as a gift, it is fast pace, witty and you are bound to fall in love with its characters. A delightful read and one I hope that will linger for generations to come.

I first came across Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness Book 1) when I was fourteen. I saw it again at the library the last time I was there and, since I’d forgotten a lot of the book, decided to pick it up.

How could I have forgotten the brilliance of Tamora Pierce? I read this series years ago, and still enjoyed it immensely today. Granted, the book is a little elementary for my age (19), but I still loved it. It provided a very quick, satisfying read.

As a young girl, Alanna is destined to be sent off to study magic and learn to be a noblewoman. But this stubborn, vivacious girl has other ideas: she wants to be a knight! Her twin brother, Thom, wants to be a sorcerer, so Alanna cuts her hair and the two switch places. Alanna trains as a page at the palace, making new friends (including Prince Jonathan, the heir to the throne), and increasing her control of the Gift, the magical powers she was born with. As Alanna continues her studies and adventures, she begins to realize that her Gift is much more powerful than she originally thought it to be. The Gift, along with her newly acquired skills and friends, helps her along her way to prove herself as a worthy warrior, despite the (mostly unknown) fact that she is a girl.

I was surprised by how much I still enjoyed this book, even though its age range is for middle to high school readers. Author Tamora Pierce has a magical (yes I know that’s a cliche) way with words, and is able to create a beautiful fantasy world full of intriguing ideas that still appeals to me today. For those of you who enjoy fantasy and are looking for a quick (I read it in two hours) but enjoyable read, I would recommend checking this book out. I’m off to go reserve the sequels and check out other books by Tamora Pierce. I know that she does write books for older audiences as well, so I’ll see what I find! ( )