Parents' Guide to

A New Beginning: Ranger's Apprentice: The Royal Ranger, Book 1

By Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Promising spin-off series start with the first girl Ranger!

A New Beginning: Ranger's Apprentice: The Royal Ranger, Book 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

age 12+

An Active Heroine

This is a ground-breaking book of the Ranger series because of Maddy, the first female ranger. Quickly she graduates past her princess upbringing to be a competent team member and great shot. There is a fair bit of violence. Some readers might not enjoy the book until 12, others at 13 because rangers do dangerous work and people are killed. The author does not overdo the descriptions of how (most often the villains) die. Exciting plot and it is satisfying to read a book with a strong female character who is respected for her work.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (5):

This Ranger's Apprentice spin-off will thrill fans with a spirited girl Ranger-in-training and a nail-biting finish. The first half of A New Beginning is mostly about Maddie training and adjusting to life as a Ranger. She sheds her princessy attitude and sense of entitlement and begins to focus wholeheartedly on all the skills Rangers need. Author John Flanagan always provides lots of detail on weapons and training in his books. He also spends ample time with Maddie and her new horse, and this part of the story trots along at a slow and steady pace.

And then Will and Maddie get their first assignment. Now the story builds, with the investigation of a dead Ranger that leads to missing children in small villages and a ring of thieves. When the investigation turns into a rescue mission, the arrows really start to fly and it's a nail-biter until the end.

Book Details

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