The Woman who Rides Like a man

Locations
Call Number: Teen Book / Fiction / Fantasy / Pierce, Tamora, Teen Fiction
On Shelf At: Pittsfield Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Pittsfield Teen Books 4-week checkout	Teen Book / Fiction / Fantasy / Pierce, Tamora	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown Teen, 1st Floor 4-week checkout	Teen Fiction	4-week checkout	Due 05-15-2024

On her first tour as a knight errant, Alanna assumes a position of influence with a fierce desert tribe, makes some changes in the role of women in the society, and continues her own emotional development.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

A good, but problematic, book. submitted by selkielass on June 16, 2014, 12:53pm I was 12 when I discovered the Song of the Lioness quartet, and they made a massive impression on me. At that point in my life it was amazing to find a series of books with such tough, relatable heroine. Alana was everything I wanted to be: strong-willed, compassionate, driven, and dead set on living on her own terms.

It's been a decade since I first read these books, and they still stand up pretty well. Alana still strikes me as an excellent role model for teenage girls, and she's as endearing to college-aged me as she was to preteen-me.

That being said, I have one massive problem with "The Woman who Rides Like a Man". There's an uncomfortable degree of cultural insensitivity in Alana's dealings with the Bashir (a desert tribe who adopt her). The tribe is othered to the point of Orientalism, their customs little more than a caricature of Middle Eastern culture. I was also discomfited with the fact that Alana was portrayed as a white savior, swooping in and bringing massive "moral" changes to the Bashir's traditions. It struck me as a blatant display of cultural imperialism.

The Woman who Rides Like a Man has it's issues, but those problems can be the starting point for some great discussions. Because it raises questions about gender roles, moral relativity, and cultural issues, it could be a great selection for a teen reading group

old cover better submitted by mtrax on August 7, 2014, 6:32am The original cover art was significantly better. These three all look far too old and sexualized.

Third submitted by kathscot on August 30, 2017, 3:04pm This third book covers Alanna's first year as a knight. Less of a stand-alone, but a good story in the series.

Okay submitted by zmclaugh on July 30, 2018, 1:30pm I really like the Bhazir, but this book is full of tropes and cliches. I've said it before and I'll say it again: this is definitely Pierce's first published series.

Great book submitted by melissahimich on June 27, 2019, 9:35pm I started the Immortals series first and I’m really liking the background of Allana. Her character is so strong!

Problematic Book submitted by MollyWiding on July 31, 2020, 3:53pm This book really leans hard into stereotypes, and has a bit of a "white savior" narrative too. Definitely the worst book in the series for that reason.

I agree problematic submitted by denisekim on August 10, 2023, 12:09am I agree with what others have stated — growing up I really enjoyed this continuation of Alanna‘s story, and overall find her journey to be epic. But there is a lot of stereotyping and othering which is very uncomfortable.