In the Hand of the Goddess

In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce, 1984 Atheneum

     Alanna has become squire to Prince Jonathan, one of few who know her secret. After several years working to become a knight and learning her lessons at the heir's side Alanna must face the risks of growing up surrounded by young men.
     When the Great Mother Goddess visits disguised Alanna during a mission she encourages the girl to stand up for her dream. With support for her dream to be a warrior, the Goddess reminds Alanna there is more to life than just adventure and suggests the young woman open herself to love.
     In the same meeting, Alanna creates a new friend in Faithful, a black cat with strange purple eyes. His eyes alarm or surprise everyone who sees Alanna with her new cat companion, but it is his magic which caused the Goddess to place Faithful with her chosen warrior. Faithful becomes Alanna's most trustworthy companion and protector.
     With the Ordeal looming and the memory of her friends' response to their experience in the solid room Alanna is uneasy. While she has learned to become a knight, she still struggles with the feminine arts. In disguise she goes to her friends in the City and asks the Rogue's mother to teach her to dress and move as a woman. Alanna even allows her friend Prince Jonathan to introduce her to the more adult pursuits to be found between woman and man. All the time worrying what their friends will say when she reveals her secret.
     Over the years Alanna still worries about the Duke of Conte and his intentions toward the royal family. Duke Roger remains suspicious, but any time Alanna tries to resolve her questions about the Prince's cousin something helps her lose interest and move on. Things don't add up, and it is on the wave of her successful knighthood that Alanna finds the strength and time to take action.
     Alanna's journey transitions from learning to be a boy, learning to fit into her role, developing the skill she will require to succeed to learning to be a woman, learning to risk more than physical danger, to pursue what she believes is right. Pierce hints at more than romance between Alana and Jonathan, though it isn't illustrated for the reader. In this second stage of her life Alanna's story is more suited to teen readers with deadly betrayal, complex romantic relationships, and a minor crisis of identity.

Alanna

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce, 1983 Atheneum

     Alanna is not meant to be a great lady: she enjoys wielding a knife and the thrill of adventure. When her twin brother Thom rejects the idea of a knight for sorcery Alanna sees a chance for them to each get what they desire. At eleven the twins are sent to a convent for magic and etiquette  and to the palace for a knight's training. Two forged letters and a haircut later Thom and Alanna become Thom and Alan.
     The young lady is giddy at the prospect of enjoying her training, but worries constantly at the threat of discovery. Alan makes friends with the boys, including the Crown Prince Jonathan. These friends help when a bully decides Alan's weakness and small stature are the reason enough to pick on and heap abuse upon the new recruit. Alan's friend George Cooper, in Corus, also teaches Alanna some tricks for fighting dirty.
     The day comes when Alanna can no longer ignore her woman's body and the fear of discovery becomes even more fraught. George Cooper again comes to her rescue, this time introducing Alanna to his mother. Alanna continues to keep her secret despite the increasing difficulty.
     After several years as a page, a knight's skills are not limited to swardwork and etiquette. A magical sweating fever rips through Corus and many of the capital's important figures are sickened. When Alanna has the chance to use her magic, but doesn't and one of her friends dies, she is wracked with guilt. She uses the opportunity to save her friend and the future king when jonathan takes ill.
     With the illness Jonathan's favorite cousin and the most powerful mage returns to Corus. Alanna and the duke butt heads, and she is unreasonably distrustful of Roger's motives. When the duke begins training those knights-in-training with magic Alanna becomes even more suspicious. A challenge to the Crown Prince draws all the suspicions Alanna fells to a point when Jonathan's life hangs in the balance.
     Each moment looms with discovery of Alanna's secret. Along with each moment her skills grow to match her spirit. To become the first Lady Knight Alanna develops her personal armor along with her martial skill and hides her female-ness to become one of the boys.
     Similar to Garth Nix's Abhorsen series and Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief, Alanna is high fantasy for all ages. With some suggestive content, Alanna is a young girl growing into a woman among men.

Terrier

Terrier by Tamora Pierce, 2006 Random House

     Beka Cooper and her family moved from the Cesspool into the home of the Provost: commander of the Provost Guard, known as dogs, who keep the King's Peace in the capital, Corus. Beka shows, at a young age, her tendency toward Guardwork. When she is old enough the Lord Provost allows Bekka to join the Dogs.
     After a year of training Beka Cooper becomes a Puppy - trainee dog. To her surprise, Puppy Cooper is placed with two of the best Dogs in the city. Tunstall and Goodwin are veteran Dogs who not only care for their jobs, but also care for the justice and people in the Lower City.
     Soon two extensive cases come to their attention: the murder of nine diggers who mine in the basements of the Lower City for precious fire opals, and the kidnapping and murder of Roland Letz grandson. Letz is one of the city's most powerful "scales" known as Crookshank. He goes mad with his grandson's death and creates tension in the Underworld's Court of the Rogue allowing a foreigner, Rosto the Piper and his companions Aniki and Kora, a foothold in the unstable Underground.
     Beka admires the two women, but Rosto and his attentions make her uneasy. When push comes to shove, Beka is grateful for her new friends and the insight they bring. With more diggers turning up dead and with Beka's closest friend's husband, Crookshank's son, kidnapped next, the Lower City Dogs have their work cut out for them.
     The Puppy becomes a favorite among the lower City--not only for her past in the city, but for the tenacity which earns her the name Terrier. Beka Cooper learns to harness her talents and fights her fears to seek justice for citizens of Tortall, just as many of Pierce's heroines do.
     She is feisty and stubborn, but has her fears too. Readers who enjoy fantasy and historical fiction will find a relatable character. Terrier is more appropriate for mid-teen readers with some suggestive content.

First Test

First Test by Tamora Pierce, 1999 Random House

     After Alanna the Lioness hid her sex for eight years to become Tortall's first female knight King Jonathan proclaimed girls welcome to train as knights along with their brothers. In the ten years since no noble family has had a daughter willing or desirous of going through such trials, so when Keladry of Mindelan and her parents petition the crown it is a battle to allow her tutelage under the Training Master. Alanna champions the girl, but is forbidden meeting her or showing such support.
     Kel idolizes Alanna and has only dreamed of following her footsteps. When she is notified of the Master at Arms' condition Kel is furious, but her time as a diplomat's daughter has trained her well. Lord Wyldon gives Kel one year--if she proves herself up to snuff she may stay, but the entire academy seems to be looking for any excuse to throw her out.
     With the threat hovering constantly, and the very obvious absence of her hero, Kel must prove to herself and her classmates that she can make it in the men's world as a girl.
     Kel is a powerful young woman, as many of pierce's protagonists, her resourcefulness and tenacity earn her respect and friends in the all-male world. Readers of all ages will enjoy her spirit.