As a child learning how to read, I found fantasy overwhelming because there was so much to keep track of. I poo pooed it for years until I stumbled upon the books of Tamora Piece. Each book in her long list of titles is replete with strong female characters and believable magical adventures. I still love Song of the lioness series where readers are introduced to Alanna, an eleven-year-old who aspires to be a knight even though she is a girl. In January, Pierce won the American Library Association’s 2013 Margaret A Edwards Award for her contribution to quality writing for children. If you have a reader who is just starting to sample fantasy, introduce them to Tamora Pierce. They will thank you one day.
