FICTION

The Princess and the Page

by Christina FARLEY
240p. ebook available. Scholastic. Feb. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780545924092.
COPY ISBN
Gr 4–6—A lackluster novel of magic, history, and the power of a well-written tale. Keira is frustrated with her family and their strange rules. Her mother does not allow pens or stories in their house. With the help of a friend, Keira secretly enters a writing contest. It turns out that she holds the power to write stories that come to life. When winning the competition takes her to an amazing castle in France, Keira goes on an adventure of a lifetime with her grandmother's magical pen. Readers may not be all that enchanted, as each character is a tired archetype seen in many middle grade fantasies. The plot is uninteresting and reinforces stereotypical portrayals of French culture. The pacing is muddled by a myriad of escapades and minutia about the rules of the magical world Keira inhabits.
VERDICT A disappointingly unoriginal offering. Middle grade readers who like action, adventure, and stories coming to life should instead seek out Cornelia Funke's "Inkheart" series, Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted, Christopher Healy's The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, Brandon Mull's "Fablehaven" books, or Suzanne Collins's Gregor the Overlander.
Reviewed by Jessica Bratt, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI , Feb 01, 2017

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