Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fast-paced adventure of princess who breaks the mold.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
There's a lot happening behind the scenes in MORE THAN A PRINCESS, with many subplots about the past relationship between human and magical factions and about the complexity of families and the possibility of war. What's front and center, though, is a strong, goodhearted princess who takes on everything that comes her way. When her kingdom's in danger, she volunteers as a hostage to save her family and risks everything to help broker peace between two human kingdoms and unite fairy worlds. But is she being used as a pawn to help a king invade another kingdom?
Is It Any Good?
Engaging, mysterious, and packed with adventure, this is no ordinary fairy tale. In More Than a Princess, Aislin uses her magical powers carefully, and knows that they're just one aspect of who she is. She always acts with good intentions and doesn't hesitate to help when her powers can save the life of a person who's been mean to her. She treats friends and adversaries with respect, but this princess is no wallflower. She unrelentingly fights for what she knows is right, unafraid of the consequences. There's a good amount about body image throughout the book -- Aislin's pedrasi heritage makes her shorter and rounder than other royals -- and Aislin always turns people's focus to what's inside, on the qualities that really matter.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how courage is portrayed in More Than a Princess. What does Aislin risk by volunteering to go with the humans to their kingdom? What does she gain?
Why do you think the ladies-in-waiting are so cruel, not just to Aislin but to everyone? How do you react when you see people like this?
What other stories of adventurous princesses have you read?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Bloomsbury Children's Books
- Publication date : November 6, 2018
- Number of pages : 288
- Available on : Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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