Common Sense Media Review
By Sally Engelfried
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Page-turning adventure of false identity and intrigue.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 59 kid reviews
Kids say this book is a thrilling fantasy adventure filled with action, compelling characters, and unexpected plot twists, making it appealing for readers who enjoy stories with medieval elements and a touch of humor. However, it contains some violence and potentially distressing themes that may not be suitable for younger or more sensitive readers, so readers suggest it for ages 10 and up.
- fantasy adventure
- engaging characters
- unexpected twists
- mild violence
- suitable for older kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Sage is used to starving and stealing to survive, but the real danger begins when he and two other boys are bought so that one of them can be molded into the Prince of Carthya, who was lost at sea and presumed dead. In a two-week training course, the boys learn what it takes to be a prince, and irreverent Sage isn't having any of it. At night he explores secret chambers; during the day he sleeps through his lessons. Still, there's something about Sage's brave recklessness that keeps him in the running, despite his lack of skills. As the deadline to choose a false prince nears, the suspense grows, and the plot twists enough to keep readers captivated until the very last page.
Is It Any Good?
The action in this page-turner doesn't let up from the moment Sage is caught running from pursuers on the first page after stealing a roast to feed his fellow orphans. His sarcastic humor and determination to stay true to himself, even at a risk to his own safety, make him a likable character whom readers will root for.
That said, there are some minor irritations for experienced fantasy readers. For example, Sage is a narrator who keeps things to himself -- he tells us he explores the castle at night, but he doesn't tell us what he finds until the big reveal at the end. And some language rather jarringly takes us out of the medieval setting (the repeated use of the 20th-century word "paranoid," for example). But these are minor quibbles in a complex and interesting story with well-developed characters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how, in the opening scene, Sage is stealing a roast so he and the other hungry orphans can eat a good meal for once. Is it ever right to steal?
Sage doesn't want the other two boys to die, but if he's to survive, they'll have to. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to choose between yourself and your friends?
Sage chooses to be imprisoned in the dungeon rather than give up his rock. Is there any object that has such great personal value to you? Why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic Press
- Publication date : April 1, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 342
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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