Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this is a classic fairytale. There is mild fairytale violence and of course, budding romance. A storyteller tells a story in which parents and siblings die and thieves are killed; the killings are shown as unjust.
Families can talk about being grateful, and what the characters learned about the responsibilities that come with privilege. Why was the princess so unhappy? Why weren't riches enough for the royals? How did the peasants feel about the royals once they met them?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Terreece Clarke
Creech's clever weaving of two seemingly unrelated tales takes readers on a journey in which they will discover all that glitters can be itchy.
Kids will enjoy all the trappings of a traditional fairytale: beautiful clothes, royals, gorgeous castles and sweeping castle grounds, mean masters, noble peasant children, storytellers, and eccentric hermits. There is plenty of intrigue with poisons, snakes, and thieves.
Parents will like the moral dilemmas that reach a satisfying conclusion in which both peasant and royal alike find value in their own circumstances. The characters also find purpose in reaching out to others.
The book is beautifully and richly illustrated by David Diaz.
From The Book
Through the trees they saw a black horse, ridden by a black-cloaked rider. The rider's whip slapped with hard thwacks against the horse's side. A few minutes later, more horses followed, ridden by the King's Men, their golden medallions shimmering on their red cloaks. "Halt! Thief!" one rider shouted. "Halt, in the name of the King!"
"Ooh!" whispered the boy. "A thief?"
"A thief?"
"And if they catch him--"
"They will slice off his head--"
"--and chop him to bits!"
The pair snatched their buckets and hurried up the bank, crossing the path which the riders had taken. They had just entered the woods beyond when the girl said, "Look--in the leaves."
There, amid last autumn's brown leaves, was a leather pouch with the King's seal on it.
"Dare we?" whispered the boy.
Plot Summary:
King Guido, his queen, Gabriella, their children Prince Gianni, Vito, and Princess Fabrizia sit in their splendid castle wishing they were someplace else. Two orphaned children Pia and Enzio work very hard every day for a horrible master, all the while wishing they were in the royal family's shoes. The two families' paths cross when a thief sets the king's imagination to work and the peasant children find a mysterious pouch.
Related Books:
Other Books by the Author:
The Wanderer
Love That Dog
Pleasing the Ghost
Chasing Redbird
Other Fairytales:
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
Reviewed: 10/30/2007
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentYoung people have the beginnings of romantic feelings; mostly they are confused and intrigued by them. A young prince falls in love with a peasant girl. |
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ViolenceClassic fairytale violence: threats of poisoning, a young prince's mock battles and duels, a mean master whips his child laborers. The whippings are briefly described and the children appear unharmed by them. A storyteller tells a tale in which characters are killed unjustly. |
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Social BehaviorSome characters are spoiled, mean, and/or bossy, but most eventually realize the error of their ways. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoCharacters are shown drinking wine and mead, typical for the time and type of story. |
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