Fantasy, if you have not noticed from my previous posts, is by far my favorite genre of book. And my teenage years were filled with the writings of one Tamora Pierce.
While J.K. Rowling may have hit the bookstores with pomp and flair, Pierce came in with quiet but firm steps. She was the foundation for quite a few pre-teens and teens, especially of the female variety. Pierce has at least nine (9) book series, averaging three (3) to four (4) books each and often written for the young adult audience. The books are written following characters as they grow from children to adults in engaging and fantastic ways. Each character is fully fleshed out, engaging, and worth knowing. The stories often covering things such as learning how to take responsibility, navigating normal body changes, and, of course, what can happen when you fall in love in age-appropriate ways.