A contrarian fairy tale in which swashbuckling adventures alternate with deep philosophical discussions.
In this sequel to The Princess Rules (2020), Princess Florizella acquires a baby brother and continues to advocate for division of labor and gender equality among royalty in her fairy-tale land.
Having successfully negotiated a more or less equal partnership with Prince Bennett, the feminist princess is shaken to the core when a baby boy is mistakenly delivered to the palace and immediately becomes heir to the kingdom. Christened Prince Courier owing to his unorthodox arrival by stork, the child rapidly develops into a highly competent individual who is extremely aware of his privileges. As Bennett, Florizella’s bestie, informs her, thanks to the Prince Permit, princes get to do whatever they want (and get all the toys) whereas princesses have to abide by the Princess Rules. Florizella persuades Bennett to stand with her against all of this and help her teach her little brother to behave more fairly. Several wild adventures follow, involving encounters with kidnappers, a giant sea serpent, bossy Good Manner Eagles, colorful pirates, and a woolly mammoth. Expressive, amusing artwork enhances the text, adding to the fun. The feminist and populist messages woven throughout the narrative challenge the stereotypical values of traditional fairy tales and provide a serious undercurrent for the wacky, anachronistic humor of the story. Bennett is brown-skinned with curly black hair; other main characters read as White.
A contrarian fairy tale in which swashbuckling adventures alternate with deep philosophical discussions. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: March 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-00-843873-9
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Harper360
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2021
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
However the compelling fitness of theme and event and the apt but unexpected imagery (the opening sentences compare the...
At a time when death has become an acceptable, even voguish subject in children's fiction, Natalie Babbitt comes through with a stylistic gem about living forever.
Protected Winnie, the ten-year-old heroine, is not immortal, but when she comes upon young Jesse Tuck drinking from a secret spring in her parents' woods, she finds herself involved with a family who, having innocently drunk the same water some 87 years earlier, haven't aged a moment since. Though the mood is delicate, there is no lack of action, with the Tucks (previously suspected of witchcraft) now pursued for kidnapping Winnie; Mae Tuck, the middle aged mother, striking and killing a stranger who is onto their secret and would sell the water; and Winnie taking Mae's place in prison so that the Tucks can get away before she is hanged from the neck until....? Though Babbitt makes the family a sad one, most of their reasons for discontent are circumstantial and there isn't a great deal of wisdom to be gleaned from their fate or Winnie's decision not to share it.
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1975
ISBN: 0312369816
Page Count: 164
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1975
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