Pierce, Tamora. Lady knight.

PIERCE, Tamora. Lady knight. (Protector of the Small, Book 4.) Random House, 431p. map. c2002.0-375-81471-X. $5.99. JS*

To quote from the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, November 2002: In this last book of the series, set in the medieval fantasy land of Tortall, 18-year-old Kel has finally achieved her dream of becoming a knight. She is only the second woman to attain this status, and when she is kept from battle and placed in charge of a refugee camp she is angry at first. But then the camp is brutally attacked by magical machines, and action is called for. Meanwhile, Kel has had a vision of a man who has created these awful machines--powered by children's souls--and she knows it is her destiny to stop him. Kel can communicate with animals, which often comes in handy, but her bravery, brains, and skill as a commander are even more important than her magical skills.

This is a wonderful series, filled with action and adventure while tracking the growth of Kel as she struggles through her knighthood training. In this final novel, readers will see parallels with the events of 9111, as Pierce points out in her notes and acknowledgments at the end. (There is also a list of the cast of characters and a glossary.) It's satisfying to see Kel growing into her new role as knight and succeeding in her destiny as Protector of the Small, saving the children and animals she loves and finally defeating a nasty enemy Paula Rohrlick , KLIATT