Wisdom's Kiss

Gr 6–10—The classic story of Puss in Boots is re-imagined in Catherine Gilbert Murdock's delightfully whimsical tale (Houghton Mifflin, 2011) of romance, magic, and adventure. The Kingdom of Montagne is in peril. The Duchess of Farina has devised a diabolical plot to dispose of Queen Temperance and claim the throne. Matters are further complicated when Princess Wisdom (known as Dizzy), betrothed to the Duke of Farina, falls for Tips, a traveling circus performer who just happens to be the childhood beau of Trudy, her lady-in-waiting. To foil the Duchess's evil scheme and save the kingdom, these unlikely allies must put aside personal differences and work together. But it will take a bit of magic, and the help of a very special cat, before they can discover their own happily ever afters. The story's eight viewpoints are woven together from diary pages, correspondence, encyclopedia entries, and a theatrical script. Although this unique format works splendidly for the print version, it doesn't translate as well into audio, making for a somewhat choppy listening experience. However, the narration is superb. Anne Flosnik aptly conveys the Queen Mother's regal demeanor and, in the next breath, brings to life Dizzy's youthful and adventurous spirit. Michael Page expertly voices the male characters. The tale's strong female characters make it an ideal choice for girls. Still, libraries might find that the print version is sufficient.—Alissa LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI