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See all the wonderful things Melinda Brady has made

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I think The Song of the Lioness series and the Protector of the Small series are appropriate for ages 9 and up. The protagonist, Alanna, is  10 in the first book of the series. As the time line progress through the series, Allana grows up. The themes of achieving goals, overcoming challenges, independence and being true to oneself, all while growing up, run through the series, coming of age themes that pre-teen and young teen readers will relate to.
While I haven't read all of Tamora Pierce's works, I think her other novels (not annotated in this text set) are best for readers who are a little bit older, ages 12 and up. The protagonists are older and the content is more teen than preteen.
I think the Song of the Lioness are important books for pre-teen girls. Alanna is a strong girl and a good role model. I know of kids who have read and reread their copies until they were dog eared and falling apart. One girl convinced her mom to get her fencing lessons so she could be mor elike Alanna.

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Pierce, T. (1983). Song of the Lioness: Vol. 1. Alanna the first adventure. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

This is the first novel in a high fantsy series that is part of the Tortall Universe of novels.
The story revolves around the hot-headed restless Alanna of Trebond. She would be called a feminist in our world. At the age of ten, she refuses to go to the temple and learn to be a lady. Instead, she cuts her hair,  dresses as a boy, and, secretly switches places with her twin brother Thom, who is much more suited to being a scholar and magic user than a knight.

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Pierce, T. (1983).Song of the Lioness: Vol. 2.  In the hand of the Goddess. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Alanna's journey  from page to squire to full-fledged knight, continues. Hiding her gender and passing as a boy is a constant challenge as she trains in the ways of a knight. The Goddess steps in to help.

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Pierce, T. (1986). Song of the Lioness: Vol. 3.The woman who rides like a man. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Alanna of Trebond is now a knight. She seeks adventure in desert and gets captured. Her captors are fierce and she faces a duel to the death. Alana is triumphant and more challenges lie ahead. She becomes the tribe's first female shaman, but the people fear her. Alanna must fight to change the ancient tribal customs of the desert tribes—for their sake and for the sake of all Tortall.

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Pierce, T. (1988). Song of the Lioness: Vol. 4. Lioness rampant. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

This is the final book in the Song of the Lioness Quartet. Alanna has achieved knighthood and is having second thoughts. but there's no time for that. She has to save the Dominion Jewel, a powerful gem that must remain in the hands of those who do good.

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The Circle of Magic Series – Nomination for the 2000 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature

The Mythopoeic Society is a non-profit organization devoted to the study of mythopoeic literature.

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Pierce, T. (2000). Protector of the Small:  Vol. 1, First test.

The Protector of the Small series, like Song of the Lioness, takes place in Tortall Universe. It is 52 years later.
10-year-old Keladry is in  her first year of knight training as a page. She's the second girl ever to train as a knight, Alanna being the first. Despite Alanna's success years before both the knight trainer, Lord Wyldon, and Kel's fellow pages are opposed to a girl being introduced into the program.  Kel doesn't have magic, like Alanna does. She must use wit, determination and courage in her training.

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I don't know about you, but I frequently mispronounce names in novels. And when the names are in another universe, I am really lost. Pierce has created a Tortall pronunciation guide.
Tortall Pronunciation Guide

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2005 Edward E. Smith Memorial Award for Imaginative Fiction aka the Skylark.

An annual award that recognizes someone for lifetime contributions to science fiction. It is presented by the New England Science Fiction Association at its annual convention, Boskone, to someone chosen by a vote of NESFA members. The trophy is a large lens mounted on a simple plinth.

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I think the odds of Tamora Pierce's books being read for pleasure are 85% to 15% being a required read for an assignment.  They are YA high fantasy., which are two strikes against them. YA literature is often not chosen for required reading, as demostrated in table 1 in Appplebee's article (1992).  High fantasy is also not often seen on required reading lists either,  except perhaps for Tolkein's The Hobbit.

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An interview with Tamora Pierce about her latest novel, Tempests and Slaughter

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An interview with Tamora Pierce about her latest novel, Tempests and Slaughter

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Pierce, T. (2018) The Numair Chronicles: Vol. 1. Tempests and slaughter. New York: Random House Books for Young Readers.
The ink's still wet on this one, having just been released on February 6, 2018. It's " one for the boys", according to PIerce, with a male protagonist.

https://www.npr.org/2018/02/03/582785250/tamora-pierce-writes-one-for-the-boys-but-just-one-in-tempests-and-slaughter

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Christopher Paolini Interviews Tamora Pierce

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Christopher Paolini Interviews Tamora Pierce

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An interview with Tammy Pierce about her writing process.

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Christopher Paolini Interviews Tamora Pierce

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The two authors discuss Tamora's career, current projects, and offer advice to writers that are just starting out. For more information, please visit: http://www.paolini.net/stuff/guest-articles-interviews/christopher-interviews-tamora-pierce/ http://www.tamora-pierce.net/

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Award #1                                       The Margaret A. Edwards Award

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Award #1                                       The Margaret A. Edwards Award

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This image shows Tamora Pierce addressing librarians at the Edwards Award luncheon. The Margaret A. Edwards award is given annually by the Young Adult Library Services Association of the American Library Association to an author who's work makes a  “significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature.”  Pierce won the award in 2013 for her her “Song of the Lioness” and “The Protector of the Small” series.
At the start of her speech she played a trick on her audience. She began the speech meek and boring, causing her audience to stir and fidget with confusion. After a bit, she dropped that persona and gave her speech as the feisty feminist they were expecting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gqc-PK-ktI&feature=youtu.be