This is the fourth post in my "Precocious Princesses" series, reviews of inspiring alternatives to traditional princess fairy tales. Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale, ill. by Nathan Hale Bloomsbury, 2008 144 pages For a princess story, the tale of Rapunzel is fairly subversive. To begin with, she's not actually a princess, or even … Continue reading Precocious Princesses: Rapunzel
When You Reach Me
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead Wendy Lamb Books, 2009 208 pages When You Reach Me is a fantasy that doesn't know it's a fantasy, a typical coming-of-age novel made atypical--even brilliant--by its sci-fi undercurrent and ever-shifting web of connections and revelations. Set in the late 1970s, the novel centers on Miranda, a sixth-grader … Continue reading When You Reach Me
Precocious Princesses: The Ordinary Princess
This is the third post in my "Precocious Princesses" series, reviews of inspiring alternatives to traditional princess fairy tales. The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye Viking, 2002 112 pages Developing this series, I looked high and low for a good tween-oriented princess tale. There was Ella Enchanted, of course, but it seemed like such … Continue reading Precocious Princesses: The Ordinary Princess
Read Like a Girl 