Reviews

Page by Tamora Pierce

Only show reviews with written explanations

phantaseus's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

lucrezi's review

Go to review page

4.0

Kel is now an official page, and now she and her fellow pages start experiencing puberty. Where First Test had Kel experience plain discrimination and bullying based on sex, Page tackles sexual harassment. One of Joren’s lackeys maliciously alludes to Kel's sexual availability - it's a smart way to introduce sex as a weapon of the bullies. It segues into the power dynamic of noble and servant making harassment and rape exponentially more complicated, and how reporting it can actually make things worse for the survivor. It's smart stuff, and while it doesn't tiptoe around the issue, it isn't gratuitous (because let's not forget this is a series aimed at children and teens).

Like many children who undergo puberty, Kel gets a crush. It's on Neal, her close friend who'd been her sponsor when she first arrived as a probationer. It's normal to have crushes on people significantly older than you, but when it's the significantly older person having a crush on the significantly younger child, it gets weird. Neal, who is 5 years older than Kel, blushes once at the sight of her. When she is 13, he is 18.

It's not like they don't ignore the age gap. Neal was asked if he regretted leaving university to become a knight late, therefore not interacting with people his age (“It’s true, at the university I never would have spent time with anyone so much younger than me”) and he answered that he doesn't because of his close friendship with Kel. It’s weird. Please don’t let this come true, or else something is seriously up with Tamora Pierce's romances. George's feelings for Alanna always creeped me out (he knew her as an 11-year old while he was around 17...) and

Spoiler

Daine from The Immortals marries Numair Salmalin, who Neal himself says is too old for her.

Is this a trend? I don't mind age gaps between adults, but during adolescence, it’s weird.

Another thing I had an "issue" with is the pacing. It's more like Alanna now, since it needs to fit the rest of the years of Kel’s pagehood into ~300 pages. I know we can’t get the slower pace of the first book, but maybe a hundred more pages or at least some more anecdotes from their time would be nice rather than being given a sentence or two saying Event X and Event Y happened. I understand though the importance of trimming the fat whenever possible. Along with Neal's inappropriate blush, the lightning quick pacing is enough to dock a star despite everything else being satisfactory.

Sir Wyldon's continuous development is, of course, wonderful. He actively pushed Kel to better herself, and in response to dangers that happened to the pages, he adjusted the curriculum. He acknowledged her efforts. That is a man who cares for his charges and is willing to admit when he is wrong. He's a welcome departure from Alanna's adult nemesis Duke Roger.

Kel's development is nothing to sneeze at either. I like that we see more evidence that despite showing a calm surface, Kel does struggle with gut reactions and emotions. Her initial annoyance with her maid, Lalasa, for being meek and initially unwilling to learn self-defense maneuvers is realistic; it can be difficult to be 100% patient with people like that, sometimes you can’t help but be like “why can’t you be more strong” even though you know rationally that the situation is more complicated and things are easier said than done. Still, these two girls come out of it strong and together. I love women empowering women!!!

Lastly,

Spoiler

it's so fitting that the climax of the book is not a battle like First Test, but her rescuing someone while battling her crippling fear of heights. It's well-established that Kel is hardworking and diligent, and therefore as good as and actually even better than the boys in combat situations that require both 1:1 and group fights, so this provided an exciting and satisfying conclusion to the acrophobia plot and the whole novel.

I'm dreading Squire to be honest, since I know Kel gets her first taste of romance, but I gotta solder on.

brobee's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful

4.0

zober's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.25

5 star reading experience, 3 star book. Finished this after ~6 months of reading aloud with friends. Not too much happens here until the last two chapters, it's resolved super quickly, and somehow this book covers 3 years.