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trin's review against another edition
3.0
Darcy recommended this to me months ago and I finally managed to track it down. It's a fun, witty fairy tale revamp in which a young princess, at her fairy christening, is given the gift of ordinariness. Kaye's prose style (which to me seemed wonderfully dry and English) was very enjoyable to read; I didn't, however, enjoy this quite as much as I thought I was going to. I'm actually totally willing to blame myself for this: I think I started overthinking it—"Wouldn't it be much more transgressive," I thought, "for the king to fall in love with and marry a real kitchen maid rather than a princess disguised as one? And Amy really isn't that bright." Shut up, brain. Sometimes I am just cranky.
jyb's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
tashaseegmiller's review against another edition
4.0
This was one of my favorite books growing up - I probably read it several dozen times. I had completely forgotten about it until now - will find a copy for my girls to enjoy.
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
What a refreshingly contemporary feel to this princess-needs-a-husband story.
In true fairytale style, the seventh princess is blessed with gifts by a host of fairies, but as her father fears, it goes wrong and one slightly bitter fairy 'blesses' her with ordinariness.
So no golden curls, stunning beauty and sublime grace for Princess Amethyst Alexandra Augusta Araminta Adelaide Aurelia Anne. Her dark hair and freckles make Amy (no ordinary princess can be called anything else) stop every suitor from pursuing her. She decides to run away and make her own life, away from boring princes and a confined life.
A life in the forest is bliss, but eventually Amy realises she will need some money, and must find work.
The story is great, Amy is a wonderful role model - she's not going to accept her royal position and an easy life, she's a hard worker when needed, she's funny and smart and quite adorable. In her work as a kitchen maid, she meets a man-of-all-work and they start to enjoy each other's company.
What a great story to show young girls that a princess's privileged life is not necessarily something to aspire to, that an equal relationship is a healthy and long-lasting one, that working for a living can bring its own rewards, that beauty is something intrinsic to a person, not just about skin, teeth and hair.
The writing is chatty and easy to follow, one you could read aloud to a five-year-old or for an older child to easily read for themselves.
It's one I've only heard of recently and wish I'd read at the age of 8 or 9, it's definitely one I would want children today still discovering, there is nothing old-fashioned about the writing. The illustrations (new Puffin version) are a little quaint looking, but still suited the story nicely, giving it a fairy-tale feel.
Under-valued classic.
In true fairytale style, the seventh princess is blessed with gifts by a host of fairies, but as her father fears, it goes wrong and one slightly bitter fairy 'blesses' her with ordinariness.
So no golden curls, stunning beauty and sublime grace for Princess Amethyst Alexandra Augusta Araminta Adelaide Aurelia Anne. Her dark hair and freckles make Amy (no ordinary princess can be called anything else) stop every suitor from pursuing her. She decides to run away and make her own life, away from boring princes and a confined life.
A life in the forest is bliss, but eventually Amy realises she will need some money, and must find work.
The story is great, Amy is a wonderful role model - she's not going to accept her royal position and an easy life, she's a hard worker when needed, she's funny and smart and quite adorable. In her work as a kitchen maid, she meets a man-of-all-work and they start to enjoy each other's company.
What a great story to show young girls that a princess's privileged life is not necessarily something to aspire to, that an equal relationship is a healthy and long-lasting one, that working for a living can bring its own rewards, that beauty is something intrinsic to a person, not just about skin, teeth and hair.
The writing is chatty and easy to follow, one you could read aloud to a five-year-old or for an older child to easily read for themselves.
It's one I've only heard of recently and wish I'd read at the age of 8 or 9, it's definitely one I would want children today still discovering, there is nothing old-fashioned about the writing. The illustrations (new Puffin version) are a little quaint looking, but still suited the story nicely, giving it a fairy-tale feel.
Under-valued classic.
kebreads's review against another edition
5.0
I first discovered this book as a teenager, and it instantly became one of my favorite books. The other day, the song from the book kept running through my head, so I decided to re-read it. I couldn't find my copy, so I went to the library and checked out the copy I first read and fell in love with. I love this older version and it's beautiful cover. (So, I went online and looked for that version to buy. I ordered one and hope it is what I want. If not, I'll give it to one of my sisters since they all love the book too.)
There is so much I love about this book from the illustrations to the characters to the setting to the humor to the writing. And it is a fairly quick read, which makes it easy to fit into even a busy schedule.
Content: Clean
There is so much I love about this book from the illustrations to the characters to the setting to the humor to the writing. And it is a fairly quick read, which makes it easy to fit into even a busy schedule.
Content: Clean
joy323's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
votesforwomen's review against another edition
4.0
Sweet little book. I really loved it when I was younger- I don't remember much about Amy and the other characters now, but I still would recommend this book to kids between the ages of 7 and 12 or so. Older people will probably like it too :)
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
5.0
One of the few things I really missed the last 17 months was browsing the second hand department at de Slegte in Antwerp. They usually have loads of fantasy and YA and they always surprise me with stories I didn't know or forgot I knew. When I saw this book there last week I knew I had to have it, because it sounded like my new favorite book. Much to my surprise it was already on my wishlist. Forgotten, it seems. Glad I could rectify that today!
This book is everything a fairytale should be. We have a heroine everyone can identify with. That's the nice thing about making your princesses ordinary for once. We have animal companions, although these animal companions don't talk back. We have dragons for hire, corrupt governments and men thinking they know what's best for everyone around them. Apart from the one man who is fed up with all those perfect fake princesses asking for his hand.
Although the story isn't too long, it tells this wonderful tale of two people who just like normal lives and normal things, even though they're royalty. A lot of people in this book, just like in some fairytales we all know too well, are a little too perfect, but our heroine and hero are real. They have real feelings and wants and needs. They are not fitting into the mold the fairytales had made for them. And they recognize the kindred soul in the other.
To make this story even more perfect, it uses one of my favorite nursery rhymes. As a non-English speaker I met the song in the Cinderella live action movie, but it has been love at first sight. And although the story was magical, heart warming and happy in itself already, the song added that little bit of extra. This story might have been written before I was born, but I'm still one of those girls needing to hear that being ordinary is not something to be ashamed of. And this book told me exactly that.
This book is everything a fairytale should be. We have a heroine everyone can identify with. That's the nice thing about making your princesses ordinary for once. We have animal companions, although these animal companions don't talk back. We have dragons for hire, corrupt governments and men thinking they know what's best for everyone around them. Apart from the one man who is fed up with all those perfect fake princesses asking for his hand.
Although the story isn't too long, it tells this wonderful tale of two people who just like normal lives and normal things, even though they're royalty. A lot of people in this book, just like in some fairytales we all know too well, are a little too perfect, but our heroine and hero are real. They have real feelings and wants and needs. They are not fitting into the mold the fairytales had made for them. And they recognize the kindred soul in the other.
To make this story even more perfect, it uses one of my favorite nursery rhymes. As a non-English speaker I met the song in the Cinderella live action movie, but it has been love at first sight. And although the story was magical, heart warming and happy in itself already, the song added that little bit of extra. This story might have been written before I was born, but I'm still one of those girls needing to hear that being ordinary is not something to be ashamed of. And this book told me exactly that.
shareen17's review against another edition
3.0
A cute little story, written for a very young audience, of a princess who is blessed by a fairy at her christening to be ordinary.