A NOTE FROM JULIA: Hello all! Thank you so much for stopping by for another post. Today, a friend of mine, Julie, will be reviewing a book for you all! It will contain some spoilers.
Big thank you to Julie for guest posting! Be sure to check out her blog (link can also be found below) for similar content!
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Title: The Prince Problem
Author: Vivian Vande Velde
Series: This is the companion to a book called “The Princess Imposter”, published by Vande Velde in 2017. However, both books are separate enough that they can be read as standalones.
Targeted Age Range: 8-12 (though perfect for YA readers too!)
Synopsis: Telmund is a prince who loves fables. But when a hasty witch mistakes him for bully in need of paranormal punishment, he’s cursed to transform into a new animal every time he falls asleep. With his shape constantly changing, Telmund discovers that actually living in a fairy tale has its drawbacks.
Amelia is a practical princess with a wide range of skills, none of which are helpful for escaping the ball her parents have thrown to select her future husband. But then the unthinkable happens: Amelia is kidnapped by the dangerous Prince Sheridan, setting off a plot that will throw the realm into chaos.
As their stories become intertwined, the dreamer prince and no-nonsense princess must work together to rescue each other. Otherwise there will be no happy endings for either of their kingdoms.
From Vivian Vande Velde–master of the magical romp–comes an enchanted tale of princes, fairies, and the transformative power of stories.
Language
Possibly some mentions of cursing (though I can’t remember any right now). A character refers to fairies as “notorious busybodies.”
Violence
Wars are mentioned, as there is a threat of one in the book. Amelia is captured and kidnapped, being roughly treated by the people sent to do the job. Telmund almost drowns twice, and once Amelia pushes him out of a moving cart. While in animal form, Telmund tries to escape capture. He is captured once as an unidentified intruder. Part of the “Three Little Pigs” fairytale is mentioned as a violent, unhappy story. More rough treatment and blacking out may be mentioned.
Romance/Sexual Stuff
There is a romantic subplot between the two main characters. Marriage because of business agreements are mentioned. (Prince Sheridan wants to marry Amelia in order to start a war, a sentiment Amelia does not share.) Non-detailed kissing and a kiss on the throat is mentioned.
Spiritual Elements
One of the more humorous paragraphs mention God’s possible opinion toward His creation of roosters. Prince Sheridan is mentioned as weaseling his way out of a betrothal with a troll, by lying that he went into a priesthood.
Magic
A witch curses Telmund into a shape shifting human. Unknowingly, Amelia interacts with a fairy and gets a wish granted. The witch teleports herself away to escape consequences.
References
No outside references that I can remember, excepting the ones to fairy tales. Once a reference is made to the “happily ever after” ending of the book’s prequel, The Princess Imposter.
Other Issues
Telmund feels annoyed at his younger brother, who he feels has “taken his place.” Amelia is disgusted by several neighboring princes’ appreciation of rude humor. The thugs who kidnap Amelia smear strawberries on her face and disguise her in order to smuggle her out of the kingdom. Telmund feels jealous of Amelia but refuses to tell her. It’s mentioned that while preparing for a party, Amelia compliments the other princesses even if she’s covering up her own opinion, and saying the same thing to each of them.
Where To Buy: The Prince Problem is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, and Alibris.
My Age Range: Unlike a lot of fairytale remakes, I think this is appropriate enough for ages 11 and up to read.
Read Aloud: Based on the issues above, I think that this would be a fun read aloud for the family, if you’re willing to give it a try.
My Opinion
I found Vande Velde’s The Princess Impostor by chance one day while shopping at a Goodwill. I thought it looked interesting, so I reserved a copy. I enjoyed it, and was so excited when I found that this one was available, too. Now, having read this one twice, I think this is my favorite out of the two!
This book reads sort of like a traditional fairytale, but with a few twists that I loved diving into. All of the main characters are developed well and it’s interesting to see how Vande Velde details the “opposites attract” plot with Telmund and Amelia. Her narration is also very smart and humorous. Yes, there is romance in this, but it’s very clean and sweet rather than being loaded with hormones and issues. I was pleased to find that there wasn’t a lot here to critique or get worried about when recommending this book.
If anyone’s looking for a cozy read, a book to share with family members who love happy-ever-afters and princess tales, or just something without cliffhangers and a ton of drama, The Prince Problem ticks all those boxes. I personally had fun reading it, and would love to introduce you to this magical, wonderful story. You won’t regret spending time in this tale.
Discussion Questions:
- In The Prince Problem, Telmund spends all his time reading fiction, while Amelia prefers the comfort of nonfiction. Which side would you choose, if you could only pick between reading fiction and nonfiction? What might be the pros and cons of being on either side?
- Telmund is cursed at the beginning of the story. What could he have done differently? What could the witch have done differently?
- The fairy Amelia meets asks her, “Does wishing ever cause the coming true?” (paraphrased) How would you answer this question?
- Telmund seeks to be a hero in this story. Why do you think he doesn’t view himself as a hero in the beginning? By the end of the book, has Telmund become more of a hero, or has his view of heroism shifted? Why?
- Amelia learns to appreciate fiction through her adventures with Telmund. What caused her from doing this earlier in life? Do you think that she learned to do this based on Telmund’s example, or through the magical nature of their adventures? Do you think she’d ever change like this without Telmund’s help?
- What’s your opinion of Telmund and Amelia’s relationship? Do you think they will eventually marry, or are even a good couple? Why or why not?
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About Julie
Julie is a teen writer with a passion for both reading and recommending books. She was adopted into a Christian family, and adoption has always been close to her heart. She writes mostly fantasy and contemporary fiction, but is thinking about getting into sci-fi and Christian fiction. Her novel, Dragon Academy, won a semifinalist position in the 2019 One Year Adventure Novel Student Novel Contest. When she’s not writing or reading, Julie is watching TV shows with her family, listening to Riley Clemmons, Britt Nicole, or Hannah Kerr, or reserving books from the library. She writes under the pen name JadeSky on her blog, Stepping Stones Book Reviews.
Julia Witmer, Author 