Ranger's Apprentice

It's nearly impossible to write about the mysterious Rangers while watching "Thumbelina" on a giant projector screen, but I'll do my best.

Will is the quiet one in "Harry's Homeboys"--he's easy to overlook, but as you'll see in his book series "The Ranger's Apprentice", he's anything but ordinary.

Will is an orphan--a ward of the local lord until he is old enough to become an apprentice, hopefully, in battle school.  But when the day comes to be chosen for training, his fellow wards go to various vocations and his rival is chosen for battle school, but he is deemed too small to become a knight.  Instead, he is surprised when the mysterious Ranger, Halt, offers to train him.

Will learns how to blend in to the shadows, ride the small but incredibly tireless ranger horses, and wield the ranger knives with deadly precision.  I love these books because Will's size doesn't stop him from becoming a hero.  (Whoa. Now. Hold the phone. Thumbelina is starting to influence this post.  Let me just clarify: Will is small, but he's not THAT small.  Think like 64 inches, not 64 centimeters.) Rangers seldom get credit for their actions, but they are the ones who keep the kingdom safe.  In essence, they stop wars before they can start.  Unfortunately for them, but fortunately for us (otherwise there wouldn't be much of a story),  they don't always get there in time.  The fate of the kingdom rests with Will, Halt, and their friends (are you seeing a general theme in these books? We all need help to reach our full potential).

My brother Ryan has gotten really into this series lately, and read all ten books over the summer.  I've only read the first three, but Ry's putting the whole series on his Christmas List, so I'd bet that they stay exciting.

This is fun series, especially if you are into the traditional battle scene.  These other books have magical/supernatural fight scenes, but if you like swords and horses (without a lot of gore) Will's world is for you.

Here are the titles:
1. The Ruins of Gorlan
2. The Burning Bridge
3. The Icebound Land
4. The Battle for Skandia
5. The Sorcerer of the North
6. The Siege of Mcindaw
7. Erak's Ransom
8. The Kings of Clonmel
9. Halt's Peril
10. The Emperor of Nihon-Ja

P.S. If you don't like battles, go watch "Thumbelina"