Friendship Through Fantasy: Amity in the Novels of Tamora Pierce

Friendship is a strangely absent topic in the criticism of children’s and young adult (YA) literature. While ancient philosophers have tried to define this unique relationship, a more contemporary analysis that can account for changes in culture and ideology is needed, especially in books for young people, for whom protagonists often serve as role models. Three of Tamora Pierce’s YA fantasy quartets, Song of the Lioness, The Immortals, and The Circle of Magic, examine kinds of friendship that do not easily fit into the classical definitions: friendships between animals and humans, mentors and mentees, groups, and lovers. Her ability to broaden the definition of friendship makes Pierce’s work a significant contribution to the young adult fantasy canon, providing diverse exemplars for young readers. Exploring these four underappreciated types of friendships and utilizing classical and modern philosophers to understand the intersections between friendship, virtue, and the self, this thesis will show how Pierce’s investigation of this relationship provides a basis for scholars to do further work.