The Ranger's Apprentice #1: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

This book is the first in The Ranger's Apprentice series. I gave it a rating of 5 out of 5. I enjoy underdogs and Will's small size helps him fit the bill. He has always wished to attend Battleschool to become a knight, but his request for apprenticeship was rejected. However, a man named Halt offers to mentor Will and train him to become a ranger. The rangers are a mysterious and select group of men, so Will isn't sure if he wants to accept the offer.

Will decides to go with Halt and learns that his small size and curiosity are perfect attributes for the rangers. He discovers that the rangers main job is to secretly collect information for the king and to provide strategy in times of war. Halt trains Will to become "invisible" and teaches him the remarkable fighting skills of the rangers. This is important as the kingdom is under the threat of invasion.

Will is a fast-learner and far exceeded my expectations for a novice ranger. I enjoyed the uncertainty of this book, and the challenges Will faced as he trained to become a ranger. The author combined suspense, action, and humor to make this a hard book to put down.