I really liked the way the conflicts in this book were resolved. I liked that the bullies from Battleschool got in trouble for being horrible to Horace for so long. I was not a huge fan of the whole fight/beating scene, but I guess they got what they had coming to them. Also, I appreciate the way that Will becomes a hero after all the hardships he's endured. Most importantly, though, he and Horace make up after their fight.
My only question is... who is Will's dad? Unless I miss something, he was a friend of Halt's, and that is why Halt takes Will in in the first place.
Probably my biggest complaint is the pointless kiss scene at the end. It was unnecessary. As Mandy said earlier, it seemed cliche' and overdone. There are already plenty of YA books with romance in them, why add to that?
Whether authors mean it or not, all literature teaches something. It's fine to slip into cynicism and deride happy-go-lucky stories for being cliche and saccharine, but the current generation is addicted to the darkness of the anti-hero. Just look at Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Superman: Man of Steel, I, Frankenstein, and a hundred other films and stories...everything is so bleak and depressing, telling stories of bad men who are slightly better than the darkness around them. Some of them are actually worse. It's nice to see a story that teaches young people what life is SUPPOSED to be like. Men in authority are supposed to be just and responsible, the evil are supposed to be punished, and there should be provision, protection, and freedom. In this utopia, there is still conflict and danger, but it is how it is resolved that makes Ranger's Apprentice such a dang fun series. People care to combat evil with celerity and precision. More than simply hold their own and devolve, they've pushed back against the night and made a bright place for themselves. A "should be" story can teach a lot more than an "is" story.
overall I really liked the book I thought it was interesting that the character was relatable even though the setting was fictional.I like the relationship between will and Halt. I like that Halt was hard on Will but that he also let Will know when he was satisfied or depressed and that he also had a lot of faith in him. I also liked that Horace and will set aside their differences and became friends. It took a lot for them to become friends like Will punching Horace in the face to prove he could take him even though he was much smaller. I liked that Horace kept his promise to be of assistance if Will ever needed him. I liked that Will was the one to save the day and I didn't think it was cliche that the underdog was triumphant in the end. I admired Will's decision to stay a Ranger because he realized that he was meant to be a Ranger. I thought it was great that his dad was just a commoner but was the one to save Halt's life! The only thing that confused me was the random kiss. I do not understand why he through romance into the story. Overall I loved the book. Kaitlyn
There is only one thing that upset me about the ending of this fantastic fantasy book. Will had slain the beast, saved his master as well as the baron and battlemaster. He had been recognized and celebrated by the entire castle. Made close relationships with his old friends, especially Horace. He even got the girl, which I kinda saw their chemistry since the beginning, and even got the chance at his lifelong dream, which i knew he would turn down. And finally he even learned about his father. But what kills me. What absolutely and totally kills me is why didn't Will ask what his last name was?! It's his own last name! He was probably taunted for his entire life because he had no idea. He had no idea who he came from. He didn't even know his own last name! So why didn't he ask?!
I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked how Will's father was a commoner who dared to be something more. Without Will's father, Halt wouldn't have been able to save the fiefdoms. I like that Flanagan waited to answer the question of Will's father until the end because it allowed Will to find his place and feel that sense of belonging by himself. You could tell it really tore Will up about picking being a Ranger over battle school but he made the decision because he knew that was what HE wanted, not what his father would want. I think this is an important thing for young adults to learn, to be their own person and find worth in that. I really loved this story and I plan on reading the other books in the series.
I loved the ending to this book. I really was looking forward to finding out who Will's dad was but I guess I will have to read further into the series to find that out. I mainly liked the adventure that developed in the last half of the book and how Will was able to become more of an adult as he was sent out on a quest of his own. Many people his age would have probably been intimidated enough to not be able to complete the task that was ahead of him but he proved very capable. I also like the friendship that was formed between Horace and Will after Will saved Horace's life. It was a genuine display of how people can put aside their differences and help one another in the face of true danger. One of the best parts though had to be the ending when Will decided to refuse the Baron's offer and continue to study the way of the ranger. I feel like this was a testament to how devoted and loyal he was to his practice and to Halt. Also when Horace got his revenge on the three cadets that was just icing on the cake!
I really enjoyed reading the rest of this book. I liked how Will was always given the opportunity to prove himself. He was always the weak one getting picked on but now he had saved Horace from the giant wild boar and he also had gone to war and become a hero. I thought it was a really cool moment when Will and Horace basically made a truce with each other in front of all the knights and the rangers. I think that Halt was so hard on Will because he knew what potential he had, and if he went easy on him he might not have reached his full potential. The author did a really good job of pulling the reader into the story and making them feel like they were apart of all of it. Towards the beginning Will and Horace were seen as childish because they always fought, but as they were in their apprenticeships they learned the can't fight with people that are on their side. So I think that both of them had grown up and become men.
I really enjoyed the last half of the book - my favorite scene was when Horace got to beat up the bullies actually. Will improved as a character, and there's one particular part where his courage is really shown. It's when Halt is talking about the Kalkara and Will asks: "Can't we stop them?" This shows great determination and bravery on his part. I also like how the book ends with Halt smiling, for in the most of the book he is such a grim person. It is touching to see how much he cares about his apprentices This is the first ending to a book we've read that I'm very content with and that brings me happiness.
I loved this book! It was such a "feel good" novel. The good guys win and Will (the underdog) gets his moment of glory to prove everybody wrong.
ReplyDeleteIt was amazing his relationship with Halt. Though Halt was very hard on Will most of the book, you see that he really does believe in him. I loved when they found they might be going to war and Halt told Gilan that him and Will were the only ones he trusted. That made me so happy!
Also, I loved that he refuses battle school because he finally learns that he's meant to be a Ranger and grows a sense of pride for it.
The relationship between Will and Horace was great too. They fight and take personal things out on each other, but at the end of the day I think they're truly best friends. I was so happy that Will punched him in the face and proved to him that just because he was smaller doesn't mean he was going to get pushed around. Good for you Will!
The only complaint I have is when Will and Alyss kiss. I feel like the "love story" at the end is so cliché and unnecessary. Why can't he be the amazing changing character that learns about himself and not have a girl to kiss at the end? That was pointless to the entire story, I feel.
I really liked the way the conflicts in this book were resolved. I liked that the bullies from Battleschool got in trouble for being horrible to Horace for so long. I was not a huge fan of the whole fight/beating scene, but I guess they got what they had coming to them. Also, I appreciate the way that Will becomes a hero after all the hardships he's endured. Most importantly, though, he and Horace make up after their fight.
ReplyDeleteMy only question is... who is Will's dad? Unless I miss something, he was a friend of Halt's, and that is why Halt takes Will in in the first place.
Probably my biggest complaint is the pointless kiss scene at the end. It was unnecessary. As Mandy said earlier, it seemed cliche' and overdone. There are already plenty of YA books with romance in them, why add to that?
~Sheridan Weinbrenner
Whether authors mean it or not, all literature teaches something. It's fine to slip into cynicism and deride happy-go-lucky stories for being cliche and saccharine, but the current generation is addicted to the darkness of the anti-hero. Just look at Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Superman: Man of Steel, I, Frankenstein, and a hundred other films and stories...everything is so bleak and depressing, telling stories of bad men who are slightly better than the darkness around them. Some of them are actually worse. It's nice to see a story that teaches young people what life is SUPPOSED to be like. Men in authority are supposed to be just and responsible, the evil are supposed to be punished, and there should be provision, protection, and freedom. In this utopia, there is still conflict and danger, but it is how it is resolved that makes Ranger's Apprentice such a dang fun series. People care to combat evil with celerity and precision. More than simply hold their own and devolve, they've pushed back against the night and made a bright place for themselves. A "should be" story can teach a lot more than an "is" story.
ReplyDeleteMason Trupe
overall I really liked the book I thought it was interesting that the character was relatable even though the setting was fictional.I like the relationship between will and Halt. I like that Halt was hard on Will but that he also let Will know when he was satisfied or depressed and that he also had a lot of faith in him. I also liked that Horace and will set aside their differences and became friends. It took a lot for them to become friends like Will punching Horace in the face to prove he could take him even though he was much smaller. I liked that Horace kept his promise to be of assistance if Will ever needed him. I liked that Will was the one to save the day and I didn't think it was cliche that the underdog was triumphant in the end. I admired Will's decision to stay a Ranger because he realized that he was meant to be a Ranger. I thought it was great that his dad was just a commoner but was the one to save Halt's life! The only thing that confused me was the random kiss. I do not understand why he through romance into the story. Overall I loved the book.
ReplyDeleteKaitlyn
There is only one thing that upset me about the ending of this fantastic fantasy book. Will had slain the beast, saved his master as well as the baron and battlemaster. He had been recognized and celebrated by the entire castle. Made close relationships with his old friends, especially Horace. He even got the girl, which I kinda saw their chemistry since the beginning, and even got the chance at his lifelong dream, which i knew he would turn down. And finally he even learned about his father. But what kills me. What absolutely and totally kills me is why didn't Will ask what his last name was?! It's his own last name! He was probably taunted for his entire life because he had no idea. He had no idea who he came from. He didn't even know his own last name! So why didn't he ask?!
ReplyDeleteJacob Poettker
I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked how Will's father was a commoner who dared to be something more. Without Will's father, Halt wouldn't have been able to save the fiefdoms. I like that Flanagan waited to answer the question of Will's father until the end because it allowed Will to find his place and feel that sense of belonging by himself. You could tell it really tore Will up about picking being a Ranger over battle school but he made the decision because he knew that was what HE wanted, not what his father would want. I think this is an important thing for young adults to learn, to be their own person and find worth in that. I really loved this story and I plan on reading the other books in the series.
ReplyDeleteI loved the ending to this book. I really was looking forward to finding out who Will's dad was but I guess I will have to read further into the series to find that out. I mainly liked the adventure that developed in the last half of the book and how Will was able to become more of an adult as he was sent out on a quest of his own. Many people his age would have probably been intimidated enough to not be able to complete the task that was ahead of him but he proved very capable. I also like the friendship that was formed between Horace and Will after Will saved Horace's life. It was a genuine display of how people can put aside their differences and help one another in the face of true danger. One of the best parts though had to be the ending when Will decided to refuse the Baron's offer and continue to study the way of the ranger. I feel like this was a testament to how devoted and loyal he was to his practice and to Halt. Also when Horace got his revenge on the three cadets that was just icing on the cake!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading the rest of this book. I liked how Will was always given the opportunity to prove himself. He was always the weak one getting picked on but now he had saved Horace from the giant wild boar and he also had gone to war and become a hero. I thought it was a really cool moment when Will and Horace basically made a truce with each other in front of all the knights and the rangers. I think that Halt was so hard on Will because he knew what potential he had, and if he went easy on him he might not have reached his full potential. The author did a really good job of pulling the reader into the story and making them feel like they were apart of all of it. Towards the beginning Will and Horace were seen as childish because they always fought, but as they were in their apprenticeships they learned the can't fight with people that are on their side. So I think that both of them had grown up and become men.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the last half of the book - my favorite scene was when Horace got to beat up the bullies actually. Will improved as a character, and there's one particular part where his courage is really shown. It's when Halt is talking about the Kalkara and Will asks: "Can't we stop them?" This shows great determination and bravery on his part.
ReplyDeleteI also like how the book ends with Halt smiling, for in the most of the book he is such a grim person. It is touching to see how much he cares about his apprentices This is the first ending to a book we've read that I'm very content with and that brings me happiness.
Marianna Mercer