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The second book in Tamora Pierce's Protector of the Small quartet follows Keladry through three hard years of page training, facing down a persistent bully while quietly standing up for everyone around her. Kel is the kind of protagonist who earns respect through steady work and moral backbone rather than flashy heroism, and that makes her genuinely compelling. Pierce handles bullying and moral dilemmas with real nuance. Parents should know the book includes an implied off-page sexual assault of a secondary character — it is handled carefully, but sensitive younger readers may find it upsetting. Pacing is a touch slower than the opener. For readers 10 and up who love principled fantasy heroes, this quartet remains one of Pierce's finest.