A Prince Without a Kingdom (Vango Series #2)

by Timothee de Fombelle, Sarah Ardizzone (Translator)

Overview

“Rich in mysteries, enlivened by surprises, and suffused with suspense. It is so beautifully wrought, it reminds us why we love to read, and there can be no higher praise.” — Booklist (starred review)

Vango has been in danger for as long as he can remember. The second half of Timothée de Fombelle’s epic adventure follows its dashing hero through the years between World Wars and across Europe as he flees dark forces and unfounded accusations. Narrow escapes, near misses, and a dash of romantic intrigue will rivet adventurous teens to their seats as Vango continues to unravel the mysteries of his past. In the shadow of a rapidly changing world, can Vango find those who have hunted him for so long and uncover his true identity?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763691035
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	10/04/2016
Series:	Vango Series , #2
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	464
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.30(d)
Lexile:	HL740L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

 

Editorial Reviews

de Fombelle spreads out hints and clues like pieces of an intricate clockwork, and although the audience might catch satisfying glimpses of what fits where, the pleasure lies in watching the author deftly assemble minutiae into a glorious whole. There’s justice, loves at last requited, and, even amid the treachery of World War II, the promise of peaceful life on an Aeolian island for characters who have proved themselves worthy. After two volumes of heart-stopping intrigue, readers will enjoy seeing Vango safely home.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

The action is brilliantly operatic as it moves from country to country and from continent to continent. The story runs from 1936 through 1942, which means that it is touched by WWII and the German occupation of France, where meaningful portions of the story are set. But whatever the setting, the story is rich in mysteries, enlivened by surprises, and suffused with suspense. It is so beautifully wrought it reminds us why we love to read, and there can be no higher praise.
—Booklist (starred review)

This sequel is characterized by the same beautiful writing and intricate plotting that made the first so gripping. Mournful at times but also illuminated with moments of humanity and grace: a worthy sequel.
—Kirkus Reviews

A first purchase in collections where there are fans of Vango and students who enjoy reading adventurous and ambitious novels like Gregory Maguire’s Egg and Spoon (Candlewick, 2014) and Yann Martel’s Life of Pi (HMH, 2002).
—School Library Journal

A cinematic, quickly paced, and clever page-turner, with an adventurous, romantic aura.
—The Horn Book

Fans of this book’s predecessor, Vango: Between Sky and Earth (2014), will find that it shines even more brilliantly paired with this concluding volume. The same elements that made the first title so appealing are here: espionage, a dash of romance, intrigue, complicated characters, exotic locations, misplaced loyalty, revenge, heroics, and travel from one continent to another.
—Literacy Daily

...the prose is well written and engrossing. Teens and adults alike will be invested in discovering Vango’s true identity and unraveling the web of plot.
—VOYA

Those readers who are eager to discover the fate of Vango will be anxious to read this novel.
—School Library Connection

From the Publisher

2015-04-15
Vango's search for the truth of his identity continues, leading him on dangerous escapades across World War II-era Europe and New York City. Vango experienced devastating losses in Vango (2014): the abduction of his surrogate mother and the horrific discovery of how his birth parents were killed by a man from the small Italian town where he was raised. But he also formed lasting bonds with men and women of great integrity whose lives became dedicated to restoring human morality as the crushing brutality of the war began. In this continuation, Vango alternates between using those connections to further his own quest for truth and justice for his parents and forfeiting his search in favor of aiding his friends' continued attempts at making the world safer. Wartime atrocities provide a dark backdrop for this story, and Vango's own personal sacrifices and examinations of his desire for vengeance make this novel more pensive than the first installment. Few characters are left unscathed, and while traditional adventure readers may find this disappointing, it will also resonate as honest. And though several intriguing figures from the first novel seem a bit overlooked, this sequel is characterized by the same beautiful writing and intricate plotting that made the first so gripping. Mournful at times but also illuminated with moments of humanity and grace: a worthy sequel. (Historical fiction. 12 & up)

Kirkus Reviews