ONCE UPON A PRINCESS

Having hurriedly fled with her mother and sister to America, Princess Fredericka tries to rally popular support for her royal family in order to combat a revolt in her home country, Colsteinburg.

Once ensconced in the States, her social media campaign begins. Twelve-year-old “FeistyFritzi” bases her viral videos on soft-drink ads: “Short. Sweet. Upbeat.” This is the magic formula for the story too, which skims the surface of otherwise-heavy topics such as a coup d’etat, kidnapping, and death threats. Surrounded by a one-dimensional, mostly default-white cast, only red-haired Fredericka pops. Her concern for her father, the king, is sincere. Dramatic tension rises when Fredericka inadvertently reveals the family’s location with her videos (boo geotagging). In a dark turn, rebels hold Fredericka hostage until her father arrives in America and agrees to abdicate. Pap has every intention of doing so, but in a convenient turn, thanks to another of Fredericka’s videos, the U.S. State Department rescues them (yay geotagging). Despite her country’s rejection of the monarchy, all’s well that ends well.

Despite the clichés, children who have faced changes in their circumstances will welcome the message.