The Thirteenth Princess

Reviewed by Kira M for Teens Read Too

After her mother, the queen, dies in childbirth, Zita is cast away by her father and forced to live in her own home as a servant. Her few encounters with her father are usually brief and heated. Her only bright light of hope is her twelve older sisters and her weekly night escapades into their bedroom. When the princesses start falling ill and their shoes keep getting well-worn, Zita takes it upon herself to figure out what is happening. With no knowledge of magic because of the king's ban on it, she turns to an elderly witch who lives on the outskirts of the grounds, hidden from human view. In an attempt to break the possible curse, Zita tries to send out letters to the neighboring kingdoms. She promises them the hand of her eldest sister if they can break the enchantment. Her father, however, catches her before she can send them and she is forced to try other measures. Shortly after, she feels she is being watched by someone, and that the danger that may cause her sister's deaths is growing stronger. Can Zita shake the watchful eyes and save her sisters? Will she ever be able to truly call the castle her home? A great book filled with action and adventure. Although the secondary characters are a little underdeveloped, the main characters are well-done. The plot is intense and keeps the story moving along quickly. Those who like fairy tales, mysteries, fantasy, and books with lots of danger will enjoy reading THE THIRTEENTH PRINCESS.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A wonderful tale, a literary accomplishment.

The Thirteenth Princess is a superb reworking of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale, told from the spunky point-of-view of Zita, those princesses' youngest sister, whom they hardly know at the outset of the narrative. As finely written as it is intelligently conceived, this novel pleased me enormously; indeed, I read it at bedtime with my sixth-grade daughter, who listened with enthusiasm. Often I cringe at the sassy, ironic, even jaded sorts of first-person narrators telling the stories of contemporary middle-school fiction. By contrast, Zita has a fresh, hopeful perspective, neither naive nor worldly; and the story Diane Zahler lets Zita shape and filter points up her strengths of character: sensitivity and curiosity, bravery and ingenuity, vigor and determination. As the story unfolds, Zita gains more than a family: she learns what good she can accomplish when love is her guide. And her marvelous accomplices in saving her sisters' lives -- her plucky friend Breckin and the wise witch Babette -- are fully realized characters in their own right who are integral to the plot and to Zita's journey toward family and self-realization. My daughter and I look forward with anticipation to Zahler's next work of fiction.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A step up!

This book was my favorite telling of the twelve dancing princesses ever! I have read many retellings but none like this. This book was interesting,funny,and unexpected. Each chapter kept me on the edge of me seat, wanting to find out more. The story is told by the youngest of the twelve pricesses - she is the thirteenth princess. I have never read retelling that has been told from this point of view. I have always read retellings told by one of the princesses who were cursed to dance, or the prince who saved them. This story was told from an observer of the curse. The reasons for the curse also made this story more interesting then most. It made perfect sense. Unlike most retellings it was not overly weird, or filled with the normal dark magic, and evil princes. You will be surprised by the outcome. It is a step up from other books! I suggest this for girls ages 12 and up. There were a few suggestive things said in this book, so parents may want to make sure that the reader is old enough to read this book. No langauge was used.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A great fairytale adaptation!

This is the story of Zita, the thirteenth princess to a king who has no sons. Her being the thirteenth girl, he banished her to the kitchens at birth. Her twelve sisters are the sisters known in the fairy tale twelve dancing princesses. Zita, since she works as a servant, escapes the curse that causes her sisters to dance themselves to exhaustion every night. Once she finds out that she too is a princess, her and her newfound friends must help rescue the rest of the sisters from the terrbible curse before they dance themselves to death! This book is engaging and great for any girls 9 and up who want a good princess story. Well written and woven with great descriptions of castles, dresses and witches, I highly recommend this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This the best book ever

Aaaaaaaswwwwwwwsssssssoooooommmmmmeeeeee!!!!!

Awesome

This book was the best book i read in a wile:)

HI IM ONLY THREE YARS OLD

My mama red this book to me and it waz relly good. You suld red the tru princeess book to. Bye.

Gtfhyr

Pizza

THE BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!

This book is so amazing icouldnt put it down!!!!!!

Anonymous

This was the BEST book i have ever read in my hole intier life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loooooooooove it

It is an amazing story. It has lots of adventure and is hard to put down once you have started! I think it is one of the best books i have ever read. Everyone needs to read this because it is great!!!!!!!!!

The best book ever

Everybody needs to read this book. No book can get better than this one

Nookbookworm

Wow! This is the seventh time I've read this.

Very good

See above

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Ever wondered who the 13th princess is?

Well to find out join zita and her sisters in a exciting journey. Can you beleive just a girl and a princess cure the sisters? If not read this book!

Oh my good

This book seems so good with the commants i am going to add this to my wishlist

Awesome

This is a very good book. I could't put it until i read it all!

The thirteenth princess

After zitas mother dies, she is forced to live in her own home as a servant to a king who wanted only boys and zita is the thirteenth princess. After all her twelve sisters fall ill due to a mysterious reason, zita has to find out why.

Amazing

I LOVE this book!!!!!! I've read it about a million times!!!!

Fun to read

Pretty engaging story - my 7 year old glued to it until she read the complete book.