Gr 7 Up-In this collection, Pierce limns the challenges and triumphs in the lives of several characters, many of them new to her readers. They meet a young woman who teaches herself to fight by observing the ostriches and zebras around her and a man transformed from an apple tree. Kitten, the young dragon ward of Daine and Numair, stars in one story while Nawat, the crow warrior and lover from the author's "Trickster" books, takes center stage in another. Pierce often chooses to feature a strong girl or young woman who must contend with the strictures of the society around her, whether it be a culture guided by a paternalistic religion or a competitive urban prep school. Quite a few of these stories occur in Tortall, where many of her novels take place, while other settings range from unspecified fantastic lands to present-day New York City. The final piece is semiautobiographical, which should delight Pierce's following. The author's legions of fans should enjoy this chance to return to Tortall as well as the opportunity to go to other realms. Those unfamiliar with her works will find these tales to be a splendid introduction. Any fantasy reader is sure to find something to delight among these engaging characters and lands of magic.-Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.