AUTHOR: M.M. Kaye
STARTED: September 7, 2009
FINISHED: September 7, 2009
PAGES: 112
GENRE: Juvenile
FIRST SENTENCE: Long and long ago, when Oberon was king of the fairies, there reigned over the fair country of Phantasmorania a monarch who had six beautiful daughters.
SUMMARY: [From barnesandnoble.com] Along with Wit, Charm, Health, and Courage, Princess Amy of Phantasmorania receives a special fairy christening gift: Ordinariness. Unlike her six beautiful sisters, she has brown hair and freckles, and would rather have adventures than play the harp, embroider tapestries or become a Queen. When her royal parents try to marry her off, Amy runs away and, because she's so ordinary, easily becomes the fourteenth assistant kitchen maid at a neighboring palace. And there, much to everyone's surprise, she meets a prince just as ordinary (and special) as she is!
THOUGHTS: My roomie pestered me to read this book. And by "pestered" I mean "asked with puppy dog eyes while saying it was awesome." And it was. In fact, it was so awesome I read it in one sitting. Kaye is a genius for coming up with a story where a princess is ordinary. Plain and human. That's it. Said Princess, however, also has a brain and feelings. It's because she is so perfectly ordinary, that this book becomes one of my favorite reads of the year.
Kaye includes all the classics of a fairy tale princess story, but gives them all a new twist. An ornery fairy godmother, a feisty prince, and a princess whose willing to work. Throw in some cute animals and secondary characters and you have a gem of a book. Kaye also rights with a even hand - nothing is too flowery, but there is just enough description to make the story vivid. The illustrations (also by Kaye) are lively and utterly adorable.
This story is a must read for any young girl. The story is close enough to a Disney princess fairy tale to be in the comfort zone, but with a much better store. Every ordinary girl can be something special.
RATING: 9/10 [Excellent!]
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