The First Collier

By Kathryn Lasky

Reviewed by Keegan Skinner

How would you feel if you were put in charge of a sacred egg from a king and queen of an owl kingdom? It was told the sacred egg had special powers to save owl kind from deadly crow-owls known as Hagfiends. The title of this book is The First Collier by Kathryn Lasky. It is the ninth book in the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series. The main themes in this story are courage and honor. An owl named Grank had enough courage to take in the egg when Hagfiends attacked the owl kingdom and killed king Hrath. Queen Siv was forced to flee and gave Grank the egg to protect. She said it was to bring him and the hatchling great honor, and the owlet would have a special power to save owl kind.  One major event in this story is when Queen Siv, mother of the sacred egg, looks for her son because she knows he has hatched. She eventually finds out that her son’s name is Hoole. What she does not know is that a pack of Hagfiends are tracking her and her son. Queen Siv has to find a way to protect Hoole from the Hagfiends.  This fantasy story is full of great adventures about life, death, good, and evil. You will want to read the entire 15-book series.