Product Description

Kel’s hardships continue as she fights the prejudices that come with being a girl while maintaining the rigorous training of a page. Kel’s skills aren’t the only thing that are developing. Her feelings for her best friend Neal are also changing...in a very uncomfortable way. Luckily Kel has some new allies, including an ugly but lovable dog and an abused young woman to whom she teaches self-defense.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37656 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-22
• Released on: 2001-05-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 288 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780679889182
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
As the only female page in history to last beyond the first year of formal training to become a knight, 11-year-old Keladry of Mindelan has an uphill battle to fight. In addition to proving herself worthy of being a page, Kel spends her time defending first-year pages from bullies, staying on top of homework, conquering her paralyzing fear of heights, and keeping up with Lord Wyldon's grueling physical training schedule. Kel's detractors do everything in their power to thwart her progress, from tormenting her friends to sabotaging the Midwinter Festivities to kidnapping her maid and dog on the day of final examinations. The tide of resistance begins to turn slightly during the summer between Kel's second and third years, when she leads a team of pages in defensive maneuvers against renegade bandits--coincidentally on the same day that she gets her first period!

Tamora Pierce revisits the imaginary Kingdom of Tortall in this sequel to First Test: Protector of the Small. Fans of Pierce's exotic fantasy sequences will be hard-pressed to put either book down. Kel is a valuable role model: she's proud of being a girl, and she never wavers in her conviction that she can do anything a boy can--and usually do it better. Some rather bloody battles as well as discussions about Kel's developing body make this book appropriate for more mature readers. (Ages 10 to 14) --Emilie Coulter

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-In this second tour through the fantasy kingdom of Tortall, Keladry begins her second year as the first "official" girl page. She has a new friend, a shy and uncertain maid who has been bullied and possibly molested, whom she helps overcome her fears by teaching her self-defense. Kel and her friends meet new challenges as they continue their training to become knights, face down a pack of raiders, and rescue one of their own from kidnappers. Appearances by familiar characters from the previous book will please fans, but new readers will have no trouble following the story. The plot is engaging and Kel's character growth continues as she deals with puberty, works to overcome her fear of heights, and gains the respect of her peers and teachers. Many books portray girls excelling in traditionally male roles through manipulation and finesse, but Pierce makes Kel sweat for her success through perseverance, hard work, and skill. Readers will appreciate this true example of grrrl power!-Heather Dieffenbach, Lexington Public Library, KY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Keladry, who survived her probationary year of knight training despite considerable opposition in First Test (1999), moves on to the next three years as a page. She fights only when protecting someone being bullied, befriends a stray dog, and takes on a maid who needs the job to avoid being harassed by the nobility. Mature beyond her years, Kel remains refreshingly untemperamental, working hard to retain her calm demeanor and quick wits even when her group is attacked by bandits. The book gets off to a bit of a slow start, but the pace builds as Kel is tested on all fronts, with vividly described fight scenes and a rescue attempt that almost costs Kel her hard-won status. To the adventure, Pierce adds just a touch of romance and some practical concerns as Kel develops breasts and starts her "monthlies." Pierce's legion of fans will love this, they will and anxiously await the next in the Protector of the Small series to see who chooses Keladry as squire. Susan Dove Lempke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

A very enjoyable fantasy
Since I gave "First Test" 5 stars, I really need 6 for this one. It's even better! The second book in the Protector of the Small series, "Page" covers Keladry's last three years as a page in knighthood-training school. We meet several new characters: Lalasa, Kel's maid, whom Kel hires in order to protect her from ill treatment by others; Owen, the young page whose favorite word is "jolly"; and a new animal friend (in addition to Kel's cranky yet loyal horse, Peachblossom, and her helpful flock of sparrows), the faithful dog Jump. Kel continues to stand up to bullies and works to conquer her fear of heights. Her mysterious benefactor bestows more gifts on her. Keladry of Mindelan is an admirable and likable heroine, and in this book she shows her courage, resourcefulness and leadership ability. If you haven't read the two previous Tortallan series, The Song of the Lioness Quartet and The Immortals, don't delay! These are all well-written, exciting, fun fantasies that can be enjoyed by both young readers and grown-ups.

WONDERFUL
Although this book was a LITTLE all over the place, year wise, it was WONDERFUL! it tells of Kel's remaining years as a Page -- and what she has to STILL deal with. It was wonderful. I must admit I was always a kinda Neal+Kel person (like i wanted them to be together sometime in the future)... i'm not as much anymore. Cleon is really sweet to her (as you'll see when you read this book!) And JOREN'S surprising turn of events? I wasn't expecting that! Well, it's a REALLY good book and i'd suggest it to anyone!

Better Than First Test!
Page is better than First Test. Daine is featured a little more prominently for all you Immortals fans and the pace here is more comfortable than in First Test. Kel is becoming a really interesting character, and I can't wait for the next book!