The Princess Knight »

Cornelia Funke is Germany's bestselling children's author after J. K. Rowling and R. L. Stine. In the fall of 2002, she made her brilliant debut in the English-language market with the release of the New York Times bestseller The Thief Lord. She is also the author of an acclaimed YA fantasy trilogy that includes Inkheart, Inkspell, and Inkdeath.

Violet is a young princess who wishes she could show the world that she is just as brave and strong as her brothers. But her strict father insists that she get married, and her brothers only mock her when she wants to be included in their fun. So Violet decides to use her intelligence and bravery to show everyone--once and for all--what she's made of. Disguising herself as a boy, Violet takes part in a knights' jousting tournament. When she wins the contest, she reveals her true identity--and wins the prize of freedom!

Child Magazine

Fairy-tale princesses are a notoriously passive bunch, but not Princess Violetta. Her father, although enlightened enough to encourage her to learn jousting, promises her hand in marriage to the victor of a tournament. Never fear: Violetta's skill and smarts lead to a surprise ending unimagined by the Brothers Grimm but utterly satisfying to any modern-day princess. (Ages 4 to 6)
Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2004