The Iron Ring

By Lloyd Alexander

When Tamar, the young king of Sundari, loses a dice game, he loses everything-his kingdom, its riches, and even the right to call his life his own. His bondage is symbolized by the iron ring that appears mysteriously on his finger. To Tamar, born to the warrior caste, honor is everything. So he sets out on a journey to make good on his debt- and even to give up his life if necessary. And he enters into a world where animals talk, spirits abound, and magic is everywhere...

This book is based on the culture of India in all its richness. It was one of my favorites as a kid. I even found a ring and wore it for probably two years because I decided it was my own iron ring and I was off to have adventures like Tamar. This book has everything anyone could want in it: warriors, magic, animals, love, laughs, and many teaching moments. I adore this book and have read it many times over the years. It shows that while honor is everything, caste is really nothing. Tamar's story is akin to a coming of age, but more like a coming to wisdom. At the beginning he is very naive and also extremely proud, but as he comes to the end of his journey and loses everything, he gains everything in the process. It's a beautiful story.