Once Upon a Marigold

By: Jean Ferris

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Pages: 271

Published: 2002

Told in: Third Person

Series: Marigold Series, 1^st of 3

Compare to:

Goose Chase, Patrice Kindl

Princess Tales Books, Gail Carson Levine

Dragon Slippers, Jessica Day George

In a nutshell:

Christian has grown up in a cave, with a troll as his foster father. Marigold is the lonely princess across the river who Christian takes up a correspondence with. When Christian decides to take his place in the world, he finds there is trouble brewing while serving in the princess’s palace.

What you may enjoy:

A cute and funny story, which is “part comedy, part love story, part everything-but-the-kitchen-sink.” It’s sweet, it’s fun, it will make you giggle. You can’t help but love the characters and cheer for them.

What you may NOT enjoy:

This book is predictable and full of clichés. Although it’s meant for young readers, it’s a little too juvenile. The humor is often a little too ridiculous and becomes tiresome.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Boy is threatened; boy is shot with an arrow; dog bites man’s foot.

Sex and Nudity:

Girl kisses boy; boy kisses girl

Language and Profanity:

None

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Dragon Slippers

By: Jessica Day George

Genre: Young Reader Fantasy

Pages: 324

Published: 2007

Told in: First Person

Series: Dragon Slippers, #1

Compare to:

Dealing with Dragons, Patricia Wrede

A Tale of Two Castles, Gail Carson Levine

Once Upon a Marigold, Jean Ferris

In a nutshell:

After Creel is given to a dragon to help make her family rich, she strikes a bargain and ends up with a pair of shoes instead of gold. Creel makes her way to the capital city to start her own dress shop, eventually learning that her shoes are anything but normal and could even be the downfall of the entire kingdom.

What you may enjoy:

If you like Patricia Wrede’s classic Enchanted Forest series, then odds are that you’ll enjoy this book as well. As Goodreads reviewer, Small Review, stated, it’s “like cotton candy…light, sweet, and happy.” It’s a wonderfully fun read for older children to pre-teen.

What you may NOT enjoy:

This is not a groundbreaking story. It is similar to many other young reader dragon books, using common tropes and ideas. The characterizations are a little forced with the villain being too unforgiving and the heroine being too perfect.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Men tackle girl; window smashes man; girl gets slapped (3 times); girl’s hair is pulled; people die from dragon flame (mentioned); girl gets punched (2 times); girl gets kicked in the face; two girls wrestle; man’s arm is cut; dragon dies.

Sex and Nudity:

Girl kisses a boy

Language and Profanity:

Damned

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