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Young adult book reviews for ages 12 and up - middle school and high school students




*Terrier (Beka Cooper)* by Tamora Pierce- young adult book review
 
Also by Tamora Pierce:

Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness)

First Test: Book I of the Protector of the Small Quartet

Page: Book II of the Protector of the Small Quartet

Squire: Book III of the Protector of the Small Quartet

Lady Knight: Book IV of the Protector of the Small Quartet

Trickster's Choice: Daughter of the Lioness, Book 1

Trickster's Queen: Daughter of the Lioness, Book 2
Terrier (Beka Cooper)
by Tamora Pierce
Ages 12+ 592 pages Random House October 2006 Hardcover    

Terrier has a snappy little bite. When readers return to Tamora Pierce’s legendary land of Tortall, Beka Cooper, a timid yet tenacious young woman, greets them with a skillful swing of her law-enforcing baton. These pages are her journal entries describing her training with the Provost Guard, commonly known as the Provost Dogs. As Beka trots along beside senior Dogs in a Puppy status, she sniffs out the bad guys with bold accuracy while maintaining an endearing humility.

Terrier is a prequel, offering a slice of Tortall’s history before the time of Alanna. The setting holds the same special combination of the mysterious and the magical as the author’s previous books. Tamora Pierce has a gift for effortlessly blending enchantments into the characters’ everyday lives, thereby creating a world at once familiar and fantastic. Unique vocabulary words are defined in the glossary, inviting readers to share these expressions with a more intimate understanding.

Beka Cooper is an intriguing mixture of femininity and fearlessness. Her childhood in the Lower City enables her to comprehend the motivations, fears and ambitions of the citizens, enhancing her ability to enforce the law and maintain peace. Beka’s magic allows her to hear the whispers of the dead from pigeons and dust spinners, which alerts her to a series of violent kidnappings and murders. Her ears strain to hear the clues as her heart breaks with sadness and her hands clench in anger. Written entirely in Beka’s own words, these journal entries capture the complex emotions that compel her to fight for justice. As her instincts and investigation lead her closer to the elusive murderer “Shadow Snake,” she must confidently trust her own abilities and the loyalties of those around her.

Terrier rightfully earns the praise “Good Dog!”

Young adult book reviews for ages 12 and up - middle school and high school students

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