You don’t want things magnificent and filled with-with grandeur,” he said, trying to make her understand. “Romance? Isn’t that love stuff?” She asked finally.

She was beginning to think that Neal required a keeper. “You aren’t a bit romantic, are you?” he asked, amused. “I’d like to find whoever taught the Stump that extra work builds character and push him down the stairs,” Neal told Kel at lunch. The cool part is the culture that she grew up with gave her skills that helped her succeed in her training. Cultural Differences: Kel has lived longer outside of Tortall than inside and has to relearn how to interact with others and perceive their social clues.Kel works hard to show that physically she can do anything the boys can do, while she is trying to change their idea of the role of women. Gender Equality: The idea that a girl can do whatever a guy can do and vice versa is the main theme of this book.

Kel keeps going even when the odds are stacked against her and everyone wants her to fail. Grit: First Test shows that you have to keep on trying even if something is hard.At first she gets beat up often, then she has a group of friends which help her stop the bullying by just standing up for another person. Bullying: Kel tackles the unfairness of hazing which has gone too far and turned into outright bullying.Here are just a few of the themes present in First Test by Tamora Pierce. Violence: PG For fights with fantastical creatures Plus, there are a lot of differences: different lessons, different fighting techniques, different challenges. While I don’t think it is as great as Alanna, it shows how a normal lady knight is made without magic. First LookĪt first I thought that First test was going to be a repeat of Alanna: The First Adventure, so I actually put off reading them for a while. It just helps me make a bit for doing what I love. This in no way changes the price for you. If you click on a link and decide to buy something I will get pennies for referring you. Kel soon learns that being a girl and a knight isn’t going to be easy.ĭisclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. This first year is full of hazing and a rigorous schedule to make her fail. But unlike the boys, Kel has to prove herself able to keep up to Lord Wyldon the training master during the trial period or her dreams of a shield are forever lost. In the medieval and magical world of Tortall, Keladry of Mindelan tries to become the first girl to train to become a knight after a royal decree allowing it.