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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
Yaaaaaaaas! I love this series! Where was this series when I was a little girl? I love everything about this story, from Sparky to fighting the patriarchy.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The kids gave this book "a thousand stars." I can't wait to take it to my middle schoolers. Non-white, strong, mouthy princess who stands against the capitalist patriarchy and isn't afraid to use words like "oppressor" and make fun of comic book heroines prancing around in lingerie "armor"? Win. There were parts that went over my young kids' heads, but they got more than I thought they would and are clamoring for the second book. It might not hurt that the author is a My Little Pony writer, as well.
Savor this feminist comic, in all its deliciously brazen and empowering ways. Princesses don't need to be saved by princes! Princesses don't need to be - shouldn't be - fair and lovely and mild! Dragons shouldn't be raised to strategically loyal and vicious beasts!
Sure, it's a bit hamfisted in its "LOOK, LOOK, LOOK! THERE'S SEXISM AND RACISM! LOOK AT HOW DUMB AND BAD THAT ALL IS!" approach. However, as an adult woman (and therefore a supposedly mature, capable reader who prefers subtlety and poise), I am not the target audience. Young people are. I can imagine some young, impassioned people shouting right back at the pages, "YES I KNOW! I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOREVER, TOO!" (OK I did this too, "adult" that I am). Anyway, I know it's not subtle in its messages and I'm quite OK with that, because I believe in those messages, and believe in them being spoken louder.
Read Alongside
Princess Princess Ever After (for more people of color and lesbian love)
Howl's Moving Castle and/or The Wee Free Men (for more subverting fairy tale/story tropes)
Spoiler
[Or other princesses...? Hmm, I wonder about this.]Sure, it's a bit hamfisted in its "LOOK, LOOK, LOOK! THERE'S SEXISM AND RACISM! LOOK AT HOW DUMB AND BAD THAT ALL IS!" approach. However, as an adult woman (and therefore a supposedly mature, capable reader who prefers subtlety and poise), I am not the target audience. Young people are. I can imagine some young, impassioned people shouting right back at the pages, "YES I KNOW! I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOREVER, TOO!" (OK I did this too, "adult" that I am). Anyway, I know it's not subtle in its messages and I'm quite OK with that, because I believe in those messages, and believe in them being spoken louder.
Read Alongside
Princess Princess Ever After (for more people of color and lesbian love)
Howl's Moving Castle and/or The Wee Free Men (for more subverting fairy tale/story tropes)
This is a great book. I enjoyed it and the nerdy references it contained. It is refreshing to have a book like this out there. I highly recommend it.
A princess strives to show that you don't need a prince to save yourself.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced