Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep (Princess Tales)

by Gail Carson Levine

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

Gail Carson Levine brings humor to another well-loved fairytale by making Sonora a princess blessed at birth with extraordinary intelligence. From that moment on she does not coo but begins reading treatises on how to improve the everyday workings of the castle. When she begins to crawl and then walk, she sets daily distance goals and travels in straight lines and perfect circles. Sonora, however, is not as boring as all her reading and talking encourages everyone to think. She is witty and often comes to conclusions that are more imaginative than they are scientific. For example, she knows yeast makes bread rise, but when she wants to know why, she decides it is because bread is supposed to feed people and risen bread will feed more people than flat bread will.

The other characters are equally as wonderful. Her first would-be suitor is dreadfully dull and enjoys stating the obvious and enjoys listing the gifts he was given by the fairies at birth. He is Handsome. He is Tall. He is a Man of Action. (He used to be a Baby of Action.) Prince Christopher is much more delightful and enjoys asking questions, so readers know from the start that he and Sonora ought to be perfect for each other. But…after a hundred years, Princess Sonora is a bit dusty. Does Christopher really want to kiss her?

Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep combines elements of the classic tale and creative elements that are all Levine’s own. Fairytale lovers with a sense of humor and appreciation for the random will very much like this entire series.