Garden Princess

March 1, 2013

Gr 4-7-Everyone in the kingdom has heard about Lady Hortensia and her beautiful garden. The rumors say that every flower in it is always in bloom, but Princess Adela, a gardening expert and enthusiast, is sure that can't be true. When the princess's friend Garth receives a mysterious invitation to Hortensia's garden party, Adela arranges to accompany him. The plain-looking princess has never cared much for her looks, yet she can't help but notice that every guest is uncommonly beautiful or handsome. Wandering among flowers she knows shouldn't be in bloom, Adela learns the frightening secret of Hortensia's magic garden and finds herself in terrible danger. The story unfolds through the alternating viewpoints of Adela and Krazo, the enchanted magpie who manages to snag a few choice jewels from guests when he's not forced to do Hortensia's bidding. Short chapters keep the story moving, though the novel lacks well-developed characters and exploration of Hortensia's motives. Krazo has the most interesting character arc; while discerning readers will have guessed his identity early on, they will follow the story to see how his choices will affect the outcome. An intriguing backstory involving an ancestor of Adela's who banned belief in magic isn't pursued, but readers interested in a light romance with a touch of magic and mystery will find this a passable choice.-Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2013
Princess Adela's great-great-great grandfather thought he had declared an end to magic. In fact, the powerful Hortensia had driven all other practitioners away, leaving the field fertile for her own purposes. Now it is up to Adela to rescue the youth Hortensia has bewitched. Hortensia regularly hosts parties where she turns the most beautiful young women into eternally blooming flowers and men into besotted servants. Their bespelled families believe their children have chosen to stay and soon forget them. When plain Adela, an aspiring gardener longing to see Hortensia's gardens, crashes a party and witnesses Hortensia at work, she must take up the mantle of another of her ancestors. Informed by stories of King Ival's battles against evil and aided by a talking magpie, Adela discovers the root of Hortensia's power. The mythology of Ival's deeds is nicely interwoven with Adela's tale. Unvarnished storytelling, a solid back story and a strong cast of characters ground the tale. Children will readily identify with Adela's painful doubts about whether anyone will see the beauty and strength within her. For those willing to dig deeper, the magpie is the more interesting, complex character. If, ultimately, the message is a bit didactic, all will still cheer Adela's growth. An original fairy tale that will suit young romantics to a T. (Fantasy. 9-12)

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April 15, 2013
Grades 6-9 Princess Adele, 17, has an affinity for flowers and gardens. So when the gardener's son Garth is invited to visit Lady Hortensia's famous, ever-blooming garden, Adele tags along. But the beautiful Hortensia is actually a witch who has been ensnaring her visitors for decades, transforming the girls into flowers and the young men into servants. She has even turned a thief, Edward, into a magpie, enslaved to do her bidding. Courageous Adele must use all her wits to outsmart Hortensia and free her victims. What could have been just another fairy tale hints at a rich backstory and sweeps the reader into a bewitching adventure. The book is neatly paced, particularly in the latter half, when the chapters alternate between Edward and Adele. A solid choice for reluctant readers, this clever tale has an open ending that paves the way for a sequel. Give this one to fans of Donna Jo Napoli.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2013
Adela, a princess more interested in horticulture than court culture, and Krazo, a boy-turned-magpie, defeat Krazo's enchantress Hortensia, whose garden is full of women she's turned into flowers. Though it feels rather old-fashioned, this magical fairy tale, written in language that invites slow reading, continues beyond the witch's defeat, thoughtfully examining the effects of elapsed time on her prisoners.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)