Princess of Glass »

Jessica Day George is the author of several books for young readers, including Princess of the Midnight Ball, Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, and two previous novels featuring Creel and her dragon allies. Originally from Idaho, Jessica studied at Brigham Young University and now lives in Salt Lake City, UT with her husband and two children. www.jessicadaygeorge.com or www.dragonslippers.net

Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other's countries in the name of better political alliances—and potential marriages. It's got the makings of a fairy tale—until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince. Ballgowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest from an author with a flair for embroidering tales in her own delightful way.

Children's Literature

Princess Poppy and her eleven sisters finally broke the evil King Under Stone's curse with the help of her oldest sisters' husbands and no longer danced night after night until their shoes wore out and their toes bled. Poppy vowed never to dance again. But then her father sends her to stay with the Seadowns cousins in Breton, and learn how to be a proper princess with elegant manners. Unfortunately, she keeps being taken to balls and is expected to dance. Poppy does finally attend a ball and, though refusing to dance, has a fine time beating the men at cards—much to their dismay. Prince Christian of Danelaw is at the Breton court on a goodwill mission and is smitten with Poppy. A beautiful girl about Poppy's age is also living at the Seadowns, but she lives well below her station as an inept maid, calling herself Ellen, though her real name is Eleanora. Turns out her family was cursed by the Corley who keeps trying to replace her long dead goddaughter and now befriends Ellen, who is thrilled to have a way back into society as the bewitching Lady Ella. When Poppy and her cousins and Christian realize poor Ellen is being turned to glass by the evil Corley, they rush to her aid. With the help of magic potions and Poppy masquerading as Ellen/Eleanora/Ella, the courageous bunch outwit the Corley and reinstate Eleanora to her rightful position. This was a fun read with a nice fast pace and an engaging heroine. Reviewer: Sarah Maury Swan