Parents' Guide to

The Princess in Black

By Regan McMahon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Fun tale of monster-fighting princess who leads double life.

Book Shannon Hale, Dean Hale For Beginning Readers 2014
The Princess in Black Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 5 parent reviews

a.w.
a.w. Adult
June 11, 2019
age 5+

Great

I had no objection to this story. It is a sweet story of a princess who dresses as a superhero to help keep the monsters who live below her town in their place. I am pretty careful about what my kids read and I had no objections. The monsters and brief fighting scene were mild and not scary or dark.

This title has:

Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
christineaustin100
christineaustin100 Parent of 14-year-old
August 22, 2022
age 7+
I love this book! One of my favorite childhood books. Princess Magnolia is a great role mode for little girls. She teaches that you should be yourself, whether that means wearing pink dresses or wearing black while doing Kung fu. It is a very good and original princess book that has a great role model. I recommend for any little girls (or boys) who enjoy princess stories and action stories. This book combines the two!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Princess Magnolia has a huge secret she doesn't want anyone to uncover, especially not nosy Duchess Wigtower, who's come to her castle for tea. The secret is that when the monster alarm sounds, Magnolia slips into her closet, doffs her frilly pink princess dress, throws off her glass slippers, and changes into a black outfit of pants, boots, cape, and mask to become ... the Princess in Black, who keeps monsters in line. Her sparkly pet unicorn, Frimplepants, also transforms -- into Blacky, her faithful pony -- and together they ride off to stop a big blue monster from eating goats in the countryside. Can she get back to the castle before Duchess Wigtower figures out her secret?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (3):

THE PRINCESS IN BLACK is an engaging adventure story with a can't-keep-her-down superhero at its heart. Authors Shannon Hale (Princess Academy) and Dean Hale keeps things fun and light and create a charming strong female character who's part Zorro, part Superman, part ninja. LeUyen Pham's illustrations are cute, funny, and action-packed.

The whole package is great for read-aloud or beginning readers. And the introduction of boy goatherd Duff, who dreams of fighting alongside the Black Princess as the masked Goat Avenger, leaves the door open for more adventures to appeal to both boys and girls.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about supererheroes' secret identities. Is it OK to keep secrets and fool others for a good cause?

  • How is The Princess in Black different from other princess stories you've read or seen?

  • Which illustration is your favorite, and why?

Book Details

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