The Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan
Last January, we decided to buy a house with my mother-in-law which meant packing two houses and selling one. (We sold ours later.) It was...stressful. I felt like I needed an escape book, one that would entertain but be easy on the brain. I asked my older daughter for a recommendation, and she suggested the Ranger's Apprentice series, which has been a favorite of hers for years. Wonderful! Not just one book, but eleven! (There is a twelfth, but it's a prequel, and I didn't read that one.)It seems unnecessary to link to every book in the series. You can find the first three in the Ranger's Apprentice Collection. My daughter originally checked them out of the library, but now she owns them all.
These books were just what I needed - easy to read (probably middle grade reading level), heart-warming adventures. The books follow Will and his friends as they embark on careers in a Middle Ages alter-universe. Will becomes a Ranger, which means he protects the kingdom by learning the arts of secrecy like hiding in plain sight and gleaning information from observation and innocent conversations, but also negotiations. He gathers friends about him who become his family. He travels to distant lands (where there are cultures that seem surprisingly like those from our world). Everywhere he goes, he strives to be true to himself and his country. And, of course, everything always works out in the end.
It's not great literature, but I loved every book.
John Flanagan has written some spin-off books as well, which are definitely on my list. I just needed to take some time off to unpack. I also decided reading a recommendation from First Daughter went so well, I'd ask my other kids for recommendations as well.
I have received nothing in exchange for this post. My daughter loaned me the books. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.
