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Trickster's Choice Tamora Pierce Hardcover | Random House Books for Young Readers | 0-375-81466-3 | September 2003 | $17.95 | Ages 10-13

Sixteen-year-old Aly knows what she wants to do with her life, but her parents won't let her. They believe being a spy is too dangerous for their only daughter and want her to get married instead. To give her parents some time alone to think over the idea, she decides to sail to Port Legann to visit some friends. On the third day of her trip, she is surrounded by pirate ships and realizes she will be taken as a slave. Luckily, she is bought by Duke Mequen and his wife, Duchess Winnamine, who believe in treating their slaves well. Aly soon realizes that her situation is all part of an elaborate scheme the Trickster God, Kyrprioth, has set up to irritate his own brother and sister. He makes a wager with Aly that, if she can keep the Duke's two daughters safe throughout the summer, he will immediately return her to her parents. Liking a good challenge, Aly agrees. Trouble soon begins, however, as the Duke and Duchess fall out of favor with the King. They are told they must relocate their entire household to a secluded island far away. Believing that the great God Mithros has sent Aly to protect them, the Duke agrees to take Aly along. It is not long before Aly realizes just how difficult her task is going to be. The King sends assassins to murder the royal family and it is up to Aly to stop them. Will the spy tactics she learned from her father be enough to help her save not only the royal family, but herself as well?

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Prepared by Brenda Day, Library Media Specialist, Crowley Middle School, Crowley, TX

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