Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander

Easily my favorite of the entire series, Taran Wanderer is where we really get with the epic making. Taran left Caer Dallben an overwise egotist in The Book of Three. Now we get to see adulthood hit him square in the life journey. 

Still obsessed with honor and glory only befitting nobility, Taran sets out to find his heritage. Per standard Taran logic, his parents must surely be impressive because he himself has been so impressive. Plus, the alternative is completely unacceptable. If he is unable to find his regal parents, then he will not possibly be able to propose to Eilonwy. (Which much to my probably unpopular opinion has almost no air time and contributes to this being my favorite novel.) 

Dallben sets him the quest of seeking the Mirror of Llunet much as a great scoutmaster will set a prideful troop snipe hunting. Because despite suffering some major losses, Taran has managed to remain immensely childish. He has lost knowledge of the world, watched enemies make the ultimate sacrifice, bartered with fate, and yet, lessons just surprisingly roll off his back like rain off a duck. His brain seems to be too thick to really get the message.

That's why I love book four the best. He becomes the lost sheep wandering the Free Commots. By the end of the book, we are presented with Taran Wanderer, a man. Meeting "humble" folk finally shook the cotton daydreams out of his head.

But mostly I love this book the most because it is a book about craftsman. We get to visit with a true engineer, blacksmith, weaver, and potter and learn some extremely valuable lessons along with Taran (who hopefully is paying attention this time). In the crush of modern technology, I'm still an Appalachian girl at heart getting dirt under her fingernails and growing weeds. I truly connect with the point of Arawn stealing the craftsman secrets to cripple a nation. It's real, folks.