Scan barcode
artemisienne's review
i really miss middle grade books. the low stakes, the earnest characters, the peace that comes with the fact that you KNOW it's going to be a happy ending. i wish there were more YA and adult books like this
effectordinary's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
ladililn's review
5.0
I picked this up again with the intent to get rid of it—I'm on a shelf-pruning mission, with particular focus on whittling down my collection of books left over from childhood to just classics and favorites—and started skimming with the expectation that it wouldn't be very good. With the hope it wouldn't be good, even, because I have a hard enough time getting rid of stuff as it is, especially books, so I just needed confirmation that yup, this is garbage, let's move on. I recently read a book aimed at the same age range (reading it for the first time as an adult, unlike with this one), and found it to be pretty awful.
This, though, was not awful. I guess I should have learned my lesson from rereading A Wrinkle in Time as an adult: however much I may think I've grown and changed and evolved, my taste seems to remain pretty constant! Books I didn't like as a kid I still don't like, and ones I did I still enjoy. Of course there are still hallmarks of books written for this age range, like Here Is Some Exposition and Make All Subtext Actual Text. But overall, this book is so much better than it has any right to be. All the Princess School stuff is fun and clever and doesn't take itself seriously. And the focus on female friendship? Rapunzel learning to get over her initial Not Like Other Girls attitude and making three princess BFFs? The way traditionally feminine things like embroidery and elaborate hairstyling aren't looked down upon or dismissed, but valued as impressive skills, while also celebrating girls who like to ride and climb and fight? Cinderella having a wonderful time dancing with all the boys at the ball, then deciding she'd like to enjoy the rest of the night with her friends, and politely but firmly turning down more offers to dance, and the guys respecting her choice? Sign me the fuck up.
The only thing that really disappointed me, especially for a book that makes so many other wonderfully feminist choices, was the portrayal of Cinderella's "ugly" stepsisters. They could have just been wicked, or had ugly attitudes, but instead we got descriptions of beady eyes and jokes about how they barely fit into their dresses. Gross, unnecessary, shallow, etc.
To end on a fittingly frivolous note: I'm pretty sure kid!me shipped Val and Rose, and while I'm not not into that...Rapunzel is def gay, right? And probably into Rose? I could definitely ship that. Although if I'm not careful I'll just end up shipping all four girls together, because who can say no to Sapphic polyamory, especially when it's this adorable?
Also, Rose is literally proto-Mirabella. No wonder I love and adore them both so much.
This, though, was not awful. I guess I should have learned my lesson from rereading A Wrinkle in Time as an adult: however much I may think I've grown and changed and evolved, my taste seems to remain pretty constant! Books I didn't like as a kid I still don't like, and ones I did I still enjoy. Of course there are still hallmarks of books written for this age range, like Here Is Some Exposition and Make All Subtext Actual Text. But overall, this book is so much better than it has any right to be. All the Princess School stuff is fun and clever and doesn't take itself seriously. And the focus on female friendship? Rapunzel learning to get over her initial Not Like Other Girls attitude and making three princess BFFs? The way traditionally feminine things like embroidery and elaborate hairstyling aren't looked down upon or dismissed, but valued as impressive skills, while also celebrating girls who like to ride and climb and fight? Cinderella having a wonderful time dancing with all the boys at the ball, then deciding she'd like to enjoy the rest of the night with her friends, and politely but firmly turning down more offers to dance, and the guys respecting her choice? Sign me the fuck up.
The only thing that really disappointed me, especially for a book that makes so many other wonderfully feminist choices, was the portrayal of Cinderella's "ugly" stepsisters. They could have just been wicked, or had ugly attitudes, but instead we got descriptions of beady eyes and jokes about how they barely fit into their dresses. Gross, unnecessary, shallow, etc.
To end on a fittingly frivolous note: I'm pretty sure kid!me shipped Val and Rose, and while I'm not not into that...Rapunzel is def gay, right? And probably into Rose? I could definitely ship that. Although if I'm not careful I'll just end up shipping all four girls together, because who can say no to Sapphic polyamory, especially when it's this adorable?
Also, Rose is literally proto-Mirabella. No wonder I love and adore them both so much.
maryw's review
inspiring
lighthearted
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
More...