The Wolf Princess

September 30, 2013
Constable's fantasy debut depicts a fiercely romantic Russia, "a world made out of winter." Sophie Smith is a bored student and neglected orphan who attends the New Bloomsbury College for Young Ladies in England. Perpetually self-conscious about her impoverished roots and low social standing, Sophie is baffled when a wealthy and mysterious visitor from St. Petersburg is drawn to her, whisking Sophie (and her two friends) away on a trip to Russiaâostensibly to draw new students to enroll at New Bloomsbury. But the girls are abandoned at a hut in the Russian countryside and saved by Princess Anna Feodorovna Volkonskaya, who invites them to her winter palace where there are far more questions than answers. Why aren't they allowed to speak to the servants? What are the princess's motives for lavishing Sophie with attention? And, most importantly, are they guests or hostages? Constable's lyrical storytelling creates a hypnotic realm of ice, and from this mythical setting emerges a message about rising above one's circumstances and discovering a sense of belonging. Ages 10â14. Agent: Hilary Delamere, the Agency (U.K.).

An uneasy mix of school story, adventure and fairy-tale tropes, this British import hits all the expected notes--orphaned heroine, exotic setting, hidden treasure, unknown heritage and exciting events--but never quite manages to produce an engaging composition. Heroine Sophie Smith is only slightly more fleshed-out than her friends, Delphine (part French, very stylish) and Marianne (the smart one who, of course, is not stylish and wears glasses). Orphaned at a young age, Sophie spends the majority of her time at boarding school. With only vague memories of her father, Sophie treasures the necklace he left her and hears his voice in her dreams. When the chance to visit Russia, a country that has always fascinated her, on a school trip arises unexpectedly, Sophie jumps on it. Diverted from the school's itinerary, the three girls wind up in an isolated, dilapidated castle complete with hidden passages, loyal retainers and a real, live princess. Readers will realize much sooner than Sophie that all is not what it seems and will surely wonder at the naivete of contemporary kids who willingly go off with a complete stranger. The uneven plot drags before taking a sharp turn into melodramatic violence. Unfortunately for readers who persevere, the ending is ultimately both unbelievable and essentially unresolved. Considerably less than the sum of its parts, this mash-up won't satisfy fans of fantasy or realistic fiction. (Adventure. 9-12) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2013

Gr 5-8-Next to fashionable Delphine and bookish Marianne, English orphan Sophie is easy to overlook. Her clothes are worn and drab, her guardian doesn't want to deal with her, and her school's headmistress is constantly on her case. But on a school trip to St. Petersburg, the girls find themselves abruptly abandoned in a snowy wonderland. Soon, they meet a beautiful and mysterious princess who seems especially taken with Sophie. Swept away to her icy palace, the three are pampered and entertained until they begin to suspect that the princess has ulterior motives. The breathtaking, wintry setting brings this old-fashioned fairy tale to life. Readers can practically hear the howling winds, the cry of the wolves, and the silent beauty of moonlit snowfall. The story moves slowly at times, but patient readers will enjoy the Russian history and wonder what Princess Anna is hiding. Savvy readers will likely guess Sophie's true identity long before Sophie does, but the predictable plot doesn't detract from the story. The Wolf Princess will appeal most to strong female readers looking to curl up with a dark tale on a cold, wintry night.-Leigh Collazo, Ed Willkie Middle School, Fort Worth, TX

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2013
Grades 5-8 Sophie dreams of Russian winters and of searching with her father for a lost girl in the snow. But she wakes to the same reality: attending boarding school as an impoverished orphan. A chance meeting with a wealthy Russian visitor leads to a trip to Saint Petersburg with her new friends: glamorous French Delphine and studious, mousy Marianne. In the northern woods of Russia, they meet a real princess and stay in the dilapidated Volkonsky Winter Palace. The story reads as a modern-day fairy tale reminiscent of Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess (1905). Evocative language transports the reader to a land of snow, white wolves, and mystery. Sophie feels compelled to help the princess find the lost Volkonsky diamonds, ignoring signs that her intentions may be sinister. This is Constable's first novel, and while the plot slows in the middle before its breakneck conclusion, and the characters are never fully developed, fans of novelized fairy tales will likely enjoy this modern, Russian spin on the genre.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)