During the sixty years that Norton has been writing for young adults, a woman's place in our society has changed a great deal. Norton shows sensitivity to the girls' place in the world she has created for them, but shows sensitivity to the world young adult girls live in today by allowing her protagonists to win freedom from the oppressive society they live in. By showing that girls can become self sufficient, Norton shows her respect for the young women of today who have many more choices than the girls who lived in a medieval society.

Norton is also encouraging the young women who read her books to make the most of the choices that are open to them.

Mahart is willing to learn from Willadene when she is sent to the castle to bring herbs and scents to be used as beauty creams. She is...