DECEMBER 2022 - AudioFile
Fourth grader Mihi Whan Park worries that a Korean American girl like her can’t be “the princess type” in this series opener narrated by Triya Leong. When Mihi meets fellow princess lovers Savannah, a timorous white girl, and Reese, a brainy Black girl, her hopes rise—and then soar when the three stumble into a really, truly magical land complete with characters from European fairy tales. This surprisingly sinister fairyland brings both brisk adventure and an empathetic critique of the princess industrial complex to young listeners. Leong’s characterizations meet with mixed success. Savannah’s exaggeratedly breathy whisper contrasts distractingly with Mihi’s perkiness and Reese’s steadiness. A character described as shrill is instead squeaky. Vocal unevenness aside, this audiobook offers solid food for thought for princess-obsessed listeners. V.S. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
09/26/2022
Keller (Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone) leans into the power of fairy tales, friendship, and self-acceptance via this quickly paced fantasy. In Massachusetts, Korean American princess fan Mihi Whan Park feels “like a princess, like someone important, someone who mattered, someone who belonged,” but a close friend’s hurtful comment disparaging princess play as “babyish and kind of annoying” leaves her wondering if she will ever be good enough for a fairy tale life. An unexpected portal in the school librarian’s refrigerator allows Mihi and two new friends—Reese, who is Black, and cued-white Savannah—into a magical world peopled with characters from popular European nursery rhymes and fairy tales. At first, the girls are ready for adventure and thrilled about the potential of becoming royalty, but various setbacks soon show the world’s grimmer realities, including restrictive rules for princesshood. And when she and her friends don’t agree on how to react, Mihi must decide whether to prioritize her dreams of princesshood or her hopes for friendship. Familiar elements combine with vivid storytelling and cartoon renderings by Rodríguez (Bella’s Recipe for Success) to underline themes of adventure and self-discovery. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Faye Bender, Book Group. (Nov.)
From the Publisher
"Newbery-winning Keller includes some familiar characters from well-known stories while adding some new dimension with a contemporary spin. The girls are told they cannot make changes to the stories as written, but when they start seeing the dark side of things, they decide they'll do anything to get back home. Themes of friendship, honesty, and integrity really shine here, and the girls' journey to safety makes for an exciting page-turner." –Booklist
"Keller leans into the power of fairy tales, friendship, and self-acceptance via this quickly paced fantasy. Familiar elements combine with vivid storytelling and cartoon renderings by Rodríguez (Bella’s Recipe for Success) to underline themes of adventure and self-discovery." - Publishers Weekly
DECEMBER 2022 - AudioFile
Fourth grader Mihi Whan Park worries that a Korean American girl like her can’t be “the princess type” in this series opener narrated by Triya Leong. When Mihi meets fellow princess lovers Savannah, a timorous white girl, and Reese, a brainy Black girl, her hopes rise—and then soar when the three stumble into a really, truly magical land complete with characters from European fairy tales. This surprisingly sinister fairyland brings both brisk adventure and an empathetic critique of the princess industrial complex to young listeners. Leong’s characterizations meet with mixed success. Savannah’s exaggeratedly breathy whisper contrasts distractingly with Mihi’s perkiness and Reese’s steadiness. A character described as shrill is instead squeaky. Vocal unevenness aside, this audiobook offers solid food for thought for princess-obsessed listeners. V.S. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2022-08-17
A young girl seeks her own happily-ever-after.
Korean American Mihi Whan Park is at a crossroads. Her best friend, Genevieve, is pulling away, and worse, she called Mihi’s love of all things princess childish. All her life Mihi has feared that she is not princess material, and she has been looking for a happy ending in which things feel right. Mihi runs into classmates Reese, who is Black, and Savannah, who presents White, in the school library, and the three girls decide to sneak candies from the librarian’s fridge. They discover that the fridge is a portal: It transports them to the magical Rainbow Forest. There they meet three chatty mice who are shocked that beings from what they call the Grey World have made it into their land. The mice direct the girls to Sleeping Beauty’s castle, where they can seek their own fairy-tale ending. After being greeted by Bertha, Sleeping Beauty’s lady-in-waiting, they are presented with a list of odd rules and requirements for becoming princesses. Eventually a more sinister truth reveals itself, compelling the girls to frantically search for a way home. Characters from popular European fairy tales and folktales make appearances, often somewhat randomly and without a clear purpose, and some worldbuilding rules regarding the Rainbow Forest and its magic are left unanswered; the next volume may clarify some of these elements. Final art not seen.
A fast-paced series opener that introduces a new kind of princess story. (Fantasy. 8-12)
