The Ranger's Apprentice

Jenna's Book Club

Although it's been a while since I read it, it recently came to my mind to review "The Ranger's Apprentice" series by John Flanagan. While this is a series aimed toward young teens, below my reading level, I still enjoyed it greatly, and highly recommend it to anyone, even others past the age level for the series.
This book series takes place in an alternate universe medieval world. Will is a small, timid boy living as a ward in a castle. Abandoned as a baby, nothing is known about his history-only that his father "died a hero." Around their fifteenth birthday, all the wards are chosen to become "apprentices" to one of any craftsmen employed at the castle. All the wards are certain about what they want and know they're going to get it-all except for Will. He wants to follow in his father's footsteps and become a great warrior. He begs for "Battleschool"-but due to his small size, he's flat out rejected. Almost breaking down in front of everyone, while all of his friends he's grown up with in the castle are quickly accepted into their trade of choice, he almost accepts his fate to live out his days as a farmhand-because none of the craftsmen apparently have any interest in him. None but the mysterious, intimidating Ranger named Halt, who many live in fear of...could Will have a chance after all?
Throughout the series, we see Will grow. He transforms from a self conscious child into a strong man. I think that what the author is trying to get through in these books is that there is a place for EVERYONE. Even if it's not what you think you want at first, there's a place for you. And sometimes it ends up being greater than you can imagine. And the focus shouldn't be on what one CAN'T do-but rather what one CAN do. Will may not have the size and physical strength to excel in Battleschool-but his excellent climbing and stealth ability is exactly what the Rangers are looking for! At the end of the first book, as a matter of fact, he even realizes that Battleschool really wouldn't have worked out for him in the first place. But I won't give too much away.
As a matter of fact, I'm even working a story that is somewhat very loosely based on this series. It takes place in modern day Boston, it involves the fire and emergency services, and the character is female-but it's very loosely inspired by this series.