The Second Guard

Gr 7 Up—Talimendra has turned 15, which means it's time for her to leave her family to train for the queen's guard or, failing to qualify after the training, to work as an indentured servant until turning 21. This is a requirement for all second-born children in Tequende, a peaceful land surrounded by those who would seek to conquer it. Tali's mother, now deceased, served on the guard, and Tali wishes to do the same. She makes new friends at Alcazar, the training location: first with Zarif, of the Moon Guild, and then his roommate Chey, of the Earth Guild. Tequende society is divided into three guilds, each a reflection of one of the deities that the people worship, each encompassing certain trades and occupations; to make friends across the guilds is rare. Tali is of the Sun Guild, and her father was a trader. The protagonist is used to the noisy, colorful people of her guild and finds the intellectuals of the Moon Guild and the farmers and miners of the Earth Guild somewhat difficult to understand. Having friends from these groups helps her to see the similarities among them, not just their differences, and she becomes aware of the bigotry in her society as well as her own biases. Vaughn captures the discomfort of the teens' hard training along with the bonds that form among those who are suffering together. There is also intrigue—the three friends realize that there is a mutinous plot involving some of the highest ranking officials in the land. Each chapter begins with a section of text from The Rise of Tequende: A History, which lends an air of authenticity to the setting and also helps readers absorb the history and culture of Tequende.