The Ruins of Gorlan (The Ranger's Apprentice, Book 1)

Read 2/12/08 Ages 9+ (medieval violence) As one of five orphaned wards of the castle, fifteen-year-old Will anxiously awaits his appointment to an apprenticeship. Although he longs to join the Battleschool and become a knight's apprentice like his friend Horace, he is told he is too small. Instead, he is invited to become an apprentice to a Ranger. Little is known about the Rangers, but much is rumored. Can they really become invisible? Will discovers that the Rangers are not magical after all - just well trained. As an apprentice to the Ranger Halt, Will learns archery, horsemanship, and stealth skills. Then, when a pair of evil beasts at the bidding of the kingdom's enemy come to the land, he becomes involved in an attempt to stop them. The book is well-paced alt-historical adventure. The land of the story closely resembles medieval Europe, but has subtle differences, including some fantastical beasts, and isn't clearly affiliated with any known history. An Australian import, two more books in the Ranger's Apprentice series have been released in the U.S., with a fourth to come this spring and more to follow after that. Readers should also try "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi for similar era adventures and "Enders Game" by Orson Scott Card for a futuristic Battleschool. (A Rebecca Caudill 2008 nominee)