Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... McMinnville Public Library | Renner, E. | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Salem Main Library | J Renner, E. | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Ever since the Queen mysteriously disappeared and the King went mad five years ago,
eleven-year-old Princess Charlie has lived a wild and mostly unsupervised life in the
country of Quale--until now. With the discovery of an unfinished letter in the Queen's
handwriting, Charlie embarks on a quest to find her mother and save the kingdom
from a revolution. With Tobias, the gardener's boy, by her side, every step closer to the
Queen pulls Charlie deeper into an entangling web of lies and secrets--as twisted as
the dark castle--where nothing is as it seems.
Author Notes
Ellen Renner was born in the United States, in the Ozark Mountains in Missouri, and she now lives in a very old house in England with her husband, son, and cats. Visit her online at www.ellenrenner.com ."
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Charlie's life seems far from that of a princess as she struggles with starvation and the wrath of a cruel housekeeper. Mrs. O'Dair has run the household ever since the child's mother left the castle six years earlier. The king appears to be mentally ill, building his enormous card castles and paying little attention to his daughter or the state of his kingdom, the city of Quale. But when Charlie finds a clue inside a book that could reveal the reasons for her mother's disappearance, the 11-year-old's world is forever changed. Resourcefulness is the key to her existence, and she's learned every passage of the huge castle in attempts to steal food or stay out of the reach of the night watchman and the housekeeper, both of whom seem to have their own agenda for the kingdom. The gardener's boy, Tobias Petch, is her only peer and becomes her ally when she follows the clue and uncovers a treasonous plot against her father. Together they share an adventure that forces Charlie to take her place as part of the resistance movement to regain control of the kingdom. With Toby, she ventures outside the castle walls to the underbelly of the city where she finds out the truth about her family and the prime minister who claims to be her friend. Part adventure, part steampunk fantasy, the story line is quick to draw readers into the world of Victorian Quale. Charlie's transformation from scullery princess to rightful heir is an adventure not to be missed. Well written, well plotted, well done.-Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, OH (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Eleven-year-old princess Charlie undertakes a mission to save her kingdom and find her mother, who mysteriously disappeared five years ago. A manipulative prime minister, mounting tensions in her country, and princess lessons impede spirited Charlie's success; however, a gardener boy, her mother's butler, and a band of rebels provide needed aid. This promising debut delivers plenty of excitement, intrigue, and engaging characters. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
(Fantasy. 9-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Eleven-year-old Princess Charlie's mother kissed her good-bye five years ago; now she decides it's time to solve the mysteries surrounding her castle home, including her mother's whereabouts and her father's madness. Set in the 1850s, the royal land of Quale has some steampunk attributes, such as a pneumatic train, but it's largely premodern. Along with Tobias, the gardener's helper, Charlie attempts to ferret out who is on which side of a city-state war: are Quale's prime minister, the butler's wife, and a down-and-out pub on the town side of the castle wall as evil as they seem? Charlie has a grand series of adventures sometimes leading Tobie along and sometimes under Tobie's tutelage and together they uncover excellent clues about Charlie's mother's disappearance, escape across ice-encrusted rooftops, and find themselves locked in cellars and attics by various warring parties. Renner's plot is both complex and compelling. She offers readers robust, brave characters in Charlie and Tobie; secondary characters worth booing and cheering; and vivid scenes and dialogue throughout.--Goldsmith, Francisca Copyright 2010 Booklist