Incredibly Penelope

by Lauren Myracle

Overview

A witty and moving take on A Little Princess from an acclaimed author about the friends and family who can be found in surprising places

Penelope has been all over the globe, from the tippity top to the bottomitty bottom, traveling alongside her godmother, the super celebrity Queenie Bee. And she’s done things most kids never dream of, like feeding giraffes, exploring real glaciers, and hopping from one five-star hotel to the next. But there’s one thing she has never done, and she desperately wants to give it a try: go to school! So Penelope persuades her mother and godmother to let her attend Idlewild Academy for Girls. There, Penelope’s charm, openness, and generosity quickly win over many of her new classmates. Although some, including sullen Dilly, think she’s a snob. But when Penelope’s mother and godmother go missing, her wealth goes along with them, and people start treating her differently—even cruelly. Is Penelope still special? Is she still the same person? And whatever will she do now? Celebrated author Lauren Myracle delivers a delicious update on a classic riches-to-rags story, both bubbly and poignant, in which friends and family are found in surprising places.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536218428
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	08/12/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Lauren Myracle is a highly acclaimed author of young adult and middle-grade novels that capture the concerns of ordinary kids. Her best-selling books have sold more than three million copies. She lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, with her large family.

Editorial Reviews

The omniscient third-person narration uses child-friendly language. . . .An accessible exploration of belonging and acceptance with a well-developed setting.
—Kirkus Reviews

This take on Burnett’s beloved novel will . . . charm readers enamored with reimagined classics and stories of the rich and famous.
—Booklist

Bubbly, bouncy omniscient narration relays this lively reimagining by Myracle (Night Owl) of A Little Princess. An intersectionally diverse cast, an earnestly rendered redemption arc, and snarky prose inject the source material’s familiar plot beats with contemporary sensibilities.
—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2025-05-03
The latest from bestseller Myracle is a story of family, second chances, and being the self you want to be.

Nine-year-old Penelope Goodheart has traveled the world with her single mother, Rose, and her godmother, Queenie Bee, a reality TV star. When her eyes are opened to the unfairness in how the “yummy goodness of the world” is distributed, Penelope decides she wants to start a school for children of all backgrounds, regardless of their ability to pay. But first, she’ll need to fulfill her dream of attending a real school—and Idlewild Academy for Girls, near her mother’s hometown of Savannah, Georgia, fits the bill. There, green-eyed Penelope, who has dark, curly hair, finds potential friends and frenemies among her racially diverse classmates. When Queenie and Rose go missing near Bora Bora, leaving Penelope “an orphan of the state,” holding on to her true self becomes the key to her survival. After her mother’s long-held secret is revealed, readers see the consequences of some decisions adults have made. The omniscient third-person narration uses child-friendly language, and the sprinkling of clues will have savvy readers feeling one step ahead of the characters in solving the mystery of Penelope’s family. Strong descriptions of natural beauty enhance the sense of place.

An accessible exploration of belonging and acceptance with a well-developed setting.(Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews