Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
Princess Amy is a seventh daughter, and everyone knows seventh daughters are the most beautiful and elegant of the lot. But when one of the fairies invited to her christening gives her the virtue of being ordinary, her life changes quite completely.
This was sweet and lovely tale, with fun illustrations and a heart-warming romance. It's not particularly subversive beyond the heroine being an ordinary young woman, but sometimes it's precisely that sweet enchanted quality that hits the spot.
This was sweet and lovely tale, with fun illustrations and a heart-warming romance. It's not particularly subversive beyond the heroine being an ordinary young woman, but sometimes it's precisely that sweet enchanted quality that hits the spot.
A charming, quirky little quasi-fairy tale about a princess who was given the gift of ordinariness at her birth. I love the plot...everything that happens, and especially the ending, is just right. It made me sigh happily at the end. The characters aren't terribly complex, but Princess Amy is a likeable protagonist if ever I met one, and the courtiers and family members surrounding her are woefully funny in their ridiculousness. To quote Erin, "You know how the movie Enchanted poked fun at fairy tales while at the same time being a love letter to them?" The Ordinary Princess does sort of the same thing, though it's by no means a satire, so I'd recommend it especially to those who are well-read in fairy tales and fairy tale retellings. And at only 120 pages, all this odd, sweet little tale asks of you is an hour and a half or so.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Light, fun read about a princess who doesn't fit the mold. Blessed with "ordinariness" by a cantankerous fairy godmother at her christening, Princess Amethyst Alexandra Augusta Araminta Adelaide Aurelia Anne - who goes by Amy - is plain next to her six glamorous older sisters. But other fairies had given her other gifts including health, wit, courage, charm, and cheerfulness. In a pointed bit of social commentary, Ms. Kaye adds "But because she was not beautiful, no one ever seemed to notice these other qualities, which is so often the way of the world."
These qualities come in very handy when, about to be boxed into a marriage she doesn't want, Amy runs away and lives happily in the woods until she discovers that her clothes are wearing out and she needs new ones. She is counseled by the same cantankerous fairy godmother who blessed her to be ordinary, to travel to the nearest city and work to earn money for new clothes. "'Oh, work,' said the Ordinary Princess thoughtfully. 'I'm not sure I should like that.' 'Neither do most ordinary people--but they have to,' said the old fairy." After finding work as a kitchen maid at the palace in the city of Amber earning two pfennigs a week, Amy declares "there is nothing that gives you a feeling of such proud satisfaction as drawing a weekly wage that you have earned all by yourself. Even if it is only two pfennigs!"
Maybe this sounds silly, but I really appreciated that even after running away, Amy sent her parents letters - albeit with no postmarks - to let them know she was safe and happy. As a mother myself, I always worry about the parents in stories where kids run away and I'm glad that Amy did, too. Very thoughtful of her.
I won't give away the ending, but it's fairly predictable for a princess, even if Amy took a roundabout way of getting there.
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
These qualities come in very handy when, about to be boxed into a marriage she doesn't want, Amy runs away and lives happily in the woods until she discovers that her clothes are wearing out and she needs new ones. She is counseled by the same cantankerous fairy godmother who blessed her to be ordinary, to travel to the nearest city and work to earn money for new clothes. "'Oh, work,' said the Ordinary Princess thoughtfully. 'I'm not sure I should like that.' 'Neither do most ordinary people--but they have to,' said the old fairy." After finding work as a kitchen maid at the palace in the city of Amber earning two pfennigs a week, Amy declares "there is nothing that gives you a feeling of such proud satisfaction as drawing a weekly wage that you have earned all by yourself. Even if it is only two pfennigs!"
Maybe this sounds silly, but I really appreciated that even after running away, Amy sent her parents letters - albeit with no postmarks - to let them know she was safe and happy. As a mother myself, I always worry about the parents in stories where kids run away and I'm glad that Amy did, too. Very thoughtful of her.
I won't give away the ending, but it's fairly predictable for a princess, even if Amy took a roundabout way of getting there.
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
This was my favorite book for so long! I need to find a copy and re-read it.
What a delightful fairytale! I was charmed from start to finish and will definitely read it again and share it with my kiddos. It's a quick read that is 100% worth it!
One of my all time favorite young adult books. The ordinary princess runs away and leads a very happy life pretending not to be a princess at all. She's judged and rewarded for her wit and hard work rather than her appearance, and finds love and adventure in the unlikeliest of places. A classic. I had a wonderfully illustrated version that, unfortunately, I think has been lost. May this never go out of print.
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced