PRINCESS PRINCESS EVER AFTER

Someday your princess will come—and she’ll be rocking a mohawk-mullet, wearing a jaunty tunic complete with epaulets and cravat, and riding a disdainful pink unicorn.

Trapped in a tower, “big-boned” Princess Sadie, a white girl with long blonde hair, is tired of fending off unsolicited rescue attempts by princes. But when dapper, dark-skinned Princess Amira and her unicorn arrive, Sadie overcomes the inner fears and self-doubts that had imprisoned her psyche as thoroughly as the tower had her body. The two embark on adventures that include coming to the aid of an embarrassed prince, sweet-talking a sadly misunderstood ogre, and confronting Sadie’s wicked older sister. The princesses’ affection for each other deepens with every challenge—and every round of snappy banter—and when wedding bells ring, they’re for a couple who truly know and have freely chosen one another. O’Neill delivers an alternative fairy tale that challenges conventions with every twist of the plot but doesn’t veer into heavy-handed preachiness that pulls readers out of the story. The bright illustrations, clear layout, and easy-to-read type make this an inviting read.

Combine a cuddly purple dragon, much sharing of cookies, abundant humor, and two distinct and appealing heroines, and you have a royal winner.