The Ordinary Princess
by M. M. Kaye
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Book Summary Information
Author: M. M. KayeIllustrator: M. M. Kaye
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2002-03-18
ISBN: 0142300853
Number of pages: 128
Publisher: Puffin
Book Reviews of The Ordinary Princess
Book Review: "I can only repeat that to invite fairies to a christening is asking for trouble. And getting it."
Summary: 5 Stars
THE ORDINARY PRINCESS was author M.M. Kaye's one foray into children's fairy tales, although I don't think readers of this enchanting story would've fussed if she'd stayed longer in the genre. In her foreword, M.M. Kaye remarks on how, when soaking in all those classic fairy tales, it struck her that most of the featured princesses were "blond, blue-eyed, and beautiful, with lovely figures and complexions and extravagantly long hair." THE ORDINARY PRINCESS is M.M. Kaye's nod to the, er, more genetically challenged populace. Clocking in at 112 pages, it's less of a novel, more of a novella, either way a treat.
In the kingdom of Phantasmorania, the locals are wont to celebrate their king and queen's beautiful six daughters. When the seventh princess, Amethyst, was born, there was much talk concerning her upcoming christening, the bone of contention being should the fairies of the land be invited to the festivity? But the king's cautionary words fall on deaf ears, and so the invitations are sent out. The fairies arrive with their magical blessings, with the most powerful fairy of them all, the Fairy Crustacea, stepping in last. She gazes at the Princess Amethyst and proclaims, "You shall be Ordinary!" Whoops.
As the years went on Princess Amethyst - or "Amy," as everyone comes to call her - has lived up to the Fairy Crustacea's "gift." Freckled-faced and mousy haired and with an upturned nose - the consternation of the royal household - Amy certainly embodies ordinariness and looks so unlike a princess that when the time comes, no prince wants to marry her. When her father the king puts into motion a tricky plot to get her married, Amy runs away and eventually finds herself in the neighboring kingdom.
It says something about M.M. Kaye's writing that even though The Ordinary Princess frolics in the woods, plays with woodland creatures, and even occasionally bursts into songs, there's still this streak of welcome unsentimentality. This book doesn't read as overly saccharine. It helps that Amy is such an appealing down-to-earth character. Her looks may be common but she's also smart and sunny-natured and not at all spoiled. She only visits the castle in the neighboring kingdom because her time in the woods had rendered her clothes all tattered. Amy aims to land a job, earn just enough to purchase new clothes and flee back into the woods. She quickly becomes the fourteenth assistant kitchen's maid at the castle and there runs into a young man labeling himself a man-of-all-work. They share an ice cream.
No wicked witches or ogres or monsters or epic quests. There could've been a dragon-slaying but that gets nipped in the bud. THE ORDINARY PRINCESS is a sweet and gentle fairy tale, written so that readers of whatever age can savor it. That this story is three decades old doesn't at all take away from its freshness and charm, and that lesson about being yourself doesn't ever get old. There's also a sweet love story here, and, instead of the "love at first sight" trope, the romance grows out of friendship and learning about each other over time. If this were to be adapted into an animated film I would hope that it's Hayao Miyazaki who gets his hands on it. This is right up his alley.
M.M. Kaye also illustrates the thing and, like everything else about this book, her etchings are pitch perfect. Every little girl should read this sensible fairy tale. Heck, everybody should read this fairy tale.
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