I just wanted to put a plug in for the Ranger's Apprentice series of books by John Flanagan. We chanced into the first book, The Ruins of Gorlan, when we were searching for some books on CD for a road trip last fall. Everyone in our family enjoyed the book very much. We didn't realize that it was part of a series until months later when we came across The Burning Bridge, the second book in the series. Brian, Erin, and I all read it very quickly.
The books are set in some indefinite Medieval time and center around a teenage boy named Will. On Choosing Day, Will is hoping to be sent to Battleschool to become a knight, but instead he is made the apprentice of an intimidating Ranger named Halt. Although this is a fantasy book (not usually my favorite genre), the emphasis is on the characters rather than mystical creatures and magic. The life of a ranger (predecessor to the modern "spy") is fascinating, and the books emphasize positive values like friendship, loyalty, and integrity.
Flanagan is an Australian writer. Although three of his Ranger's Apprentice books have been released in the United States, I understand that he has already published six in Australia. On Amazon.com the books are labeled for 9-12 year olds and 4th to 8th graders. These books will hold definite appeal for boys, but the female supporting characters add interest for girls as well.
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