Ranger's Apprentice

Set in a medieval kingdom, the story follows an orphan with dreams of becoming a knight for the local Baron.  Theres only one problem though:  He's too small.  However, it's this very trait that qualifies him for another life in service to his country.  The Rangers.  Believed by many to practice black magic and possess inhuman powers, they are the elite of the King's army.  But the orphan, Will, soon discovers that this is not the case.  Instead of practicing dark arts, he soon finds himself practicing archery, a skill only used for hunting.  Will soon learns that what most people think of as magic is simply unorthodox skills put to good use.

Such as archery.  Mostly used for hunting, many people believe the arrow to be useless against armor.  Except when a Ranger puts an arrow through the one-inch-square eyehole on a helmet.  The Rangers are also the first to fully exploit camouflage, wearing mottled green and grey cloaks which often look stupid, but enhance their trained ability to blend in with the terrain and shadows, making it seem as though they can walk straight through walls and rise from the ground at a whim.  They also carry two knives of uncommon shape, making them rather unwieldy for the common person, but a skilled Ranger can defeat the greatest swordsman with these knives.  They're also perfect for throwing.

I'd rate this series with an 9/10, the only problem being that it's kept in the children's section of my local bookstore.