The Spy Princess

June 1, 2012
A middle-grade fantasy squashes an entire trilogy into one volume. In the first part, 12-year-old Lilah, who tells the tale, strives to have adventures not suitable for a princess, a conundrum she solves in the usual way, by disguising herself as a scruffy boy. She learns quickly that the townsfolk are taxed to the limit by her father and her uncle, the king, and that her adored older brother, Peitar, despite his crippled leg, is in league with revolutionaries led by Derek, a friend of many years. In the second part, the uses of magic, barely mentioned earlier, become clearer, as Lilah finds refuge from the bloody revolution in a magical place beloved of her dead mother. In part three, Peitar and Derek, whose revolution has fallen apart in chaos, are captured by Lilah and Peitar's uncle, and Lilah, with her loyal band, finds a way to help make things right. There is very little onstage violence, and the language is relatively simple. Readers may find themselves a bit nonplussed as various types of magic appear without warning and the physical dangers of revolution are noted but not made real. The well-meaning adventure suffers from the unwieldy compression of events and tropes. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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September 1, 2012

Gr 5-8-A fast-paced adventure set in the fictional land of Selenna within the larger realm of Sartorias-deles. Despite the long list of books set there, this one can easily stand alone. Princess Lilah, 12, lives in a world on the brink of revolution. When she gets an itch for adventure, she disguises herself as a boy and becomes embroiled in the action as the kingdom descends into chaos. The legions of poor have rebelled against their rich overlords, including Lilah's family, and her brother is helping to lead the revolution. The plot is complex but well developed and there are plenty of twists to keep clever readers guessing. Smith's writing keeps pace with well-placed descriptive passages, but without frills. Lilah is an empowered girl, but still acts her age and makes plenty of impetuous mistakes. Her world is richly detailed, and the supporting characters often defy convention. The political themes and complexity keep this novel out of reach for reluctant readers, but would likely satisfy more sophisticated children longing for something meatier.-Ricca Gaus, New York Public Library

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2012
Grades 5-8 Feeling cloistered in the castle, Princess Lilah disguises herself as a peasant boy and sneaks out at night. The friendships she forms in the village and the education she receives there serve her well in the revolt that follows. Along with her brother and their allies, Lilah works to overthrow her uncle, a king whose policies have robbed his people and enriched the nobility. When revolution proves easier than setting up a workable government, they rely on wise folk from an enchanted place to help them find their way. High-flying magic meets practical politics in a lengthy fantasy with a brave, resourceful heroine with a knack for finding friends. Though Lilah's insistence on writing down her thoughts (even in code) in a treasonous journal may lead readers to question her judgment, the first-person narrative it represents will entertain many fans of adventure fantasies that balance action with reflection.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)