The Princess Imposter

by Vivian Vande Velde

Overview

A relentlessly delightful princess and her choleric fairy imposter switch places for three turbulent days in this magical yarn from Edgar Award winning author Vivian Vande Velde.

Princess Gabriella is accustomed to a certain kind of castle life. So when she wakes up one morning in a crowded hut, surrounded by squabbling fairy siblings, it takes all her princess training to maintain her poise and good manners.Meanwhile, across the kingdom, Fairy Phleg revels in Gabriella's luxurious lifestyle. As long as she can fool the castle into believing she's the real princess-with a little help from her magical disguise-then she's set to enjoy three glorious days of sweets and comfort. The mischievous fairies have placed a bet, and Gabriella is caught in the middle of it. Can she survive her time in the chaotic fairy household without failing the ultimate princess test and losing her temper? Phleg turns the castle upside down as she poses as Gabriella, but when an important guest arrives, will her antics unwittingly send the kingdom into war? An upbeat and hilarious fantasy from the masterful storyteller, Vivian Vande Velde.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338121506
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	10/10/2017
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
Lexile:	820L (what's this?)
File size:	7 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Vivian Vande Velde is the Edgar Award-winning author of Never Trust a Dead Man, Heir Apparent, Dragon's Bait, and dozens of other fantasy and mystery novels for young readers. She lives in Rochester, New York.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Princess Imposter:“In addition to a dash of magic, [Vande] Velde's story is full of humor. Each character is distinct and well developed.” — School Library Journal“Certain to give readers the warm fuzzies.” — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

08/01/2017
Gr 3–6—Princess Gabriella of Fairhaven's life is turned upside down when one morning she wakes up surrounded by ill-mannered fairy children instead of in her bed at the palace. One of the fairy children, Parf (a name meant to combine pee and barf), explains that the fairy children were bored, so Gabriella is now a changeling for Parf's sister Phleg (short for Renphlegena) for the next three days. Gabriella struggles with some of Phleg's chores such as laundry and cooking, while Phleg inadvertently creates conflict with the parents of Prince Frederic of Ostermark, Gabriella's betrothed. Eventually, the two find their place in the other's world: Gabriella uses her diplomacy to help Parf's father Benlos resolve a conflict with another fairy, and Phleg uses the skills she learned helping animals to tend to Frederic when he injures his leg. The story alternates between Gabriella and Phleg's points of view as both protagonists find their happily ever after with a twist. In addition to a dash of magic, Velde's story is full of humor, whether it's oriented in bodily functions or Parf's tendency to misunderstand situations. Frederic and Benlos share an interest in storytelling, although this isn't explored in depth. The cast of characters is large, but each character is distinct and well developed. While the plot maintains a steady pace, Gabriella's problems seem trivial compared to those that Phleg's family has, making the resolution of her troubles feel slightly less significant. VERDICT Purchase where fairy books are in high demand.—Liz Anderson, DC Public Library

School Library Journal

2017-07-02
Gabriella and Renphlegena (Phleg for short) are two very different girls from vastly different worlds.Gabriella is an only child, Phleg is one of 12; Gabriella is quiet and well-mannered, Phleg is loud and uncouth; Gabriella has excellent diplomacy skills and Phleg can communicate with animals; Gabriella has long dark hair, Phleg's hair is short and iridescent silver; Gabriella is a human princess and Phleg is a fairy commoner. Their two worlds collide when Phleg makes a bet with her siblings that she can last three days as a changeling in the human world. As the story opens she's already used her magic to trade places with the unsuspecting Princess Gabriella of Fairhaven. For the first time, Phleg doesn't have to do chores or supervise her 11 noisy siblings, while Gabriella must do Phleg's work. As high jinks ensue on both sides, each girl learns something valuable about herself. Among the fairies, Gabriella is not required to be a weak princess; she's expected to speak up for herself. Meanwhile, Phleg allows her tough exterior to soften. Phleg provides readers with a fresh perspective on the absurdities of human propriety, while Gabriella is the frame through which readers become acquainted with fairy life and customs. The humorous third-person narration alternates between Phleg and Gabriella. Neither the human nor the fairy world appears to be racially diverse, and Phleg is depicted with a peach complexion on the cover. Certain to give readers the warm fuzzies. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews