The Birthday Ball

Author: Lois Lowry 
Release Date: April 12th, 2010
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers 
Genre(s): Middle Grade Fantasy (Fairy Tale) 
Pages: 192
*Stand alone*

Summary (Goodreads):
Princess Patricia Priscilla is bored with her royal life and the excitement surrounding her sixteenth birthday ball. Doomed to endure courtship by three grotesquely unappealing noblemen, she escapes her fate—for a week. Disguised as a peasant, she attends the village school as the smart new girl, Pat,” and attracts friends and the attention of the handsome schoolmaster. Disgusting suitors, lovable peasants, and the clueless king and queen collide at the ball, where Princess Patricia Priscilla calls the shots. What began as a cure for boredom becomes a chance for Princess Patricia Priscilla to break the rules and marry the man she loves.

Review:

I loved this book! It was a quick and easy read, but it had a whole bunch of SAT words scattered in it, especially when Princess Pat talked to her cat (who knew there were so many words that rhymed with Delicious?).

The plot was generally predictable, but it was a sweet story and has your typical fairytale feel to it. It was mostly about Princess Pat and her search for adventure in a schoolhouse, but Lois also gave the other minor characters a voice too (in the case of the triplets, a singing voice!), which I appreciated, because it made all of them very memorable (especially Liz and Duke Desmond. They were just adorable!). 

I loved all the really awkward interactions Princess Pat had with the schoolmaster. It was super cute. Princess Pat is a little bit insensitive, and the story seemed a little rushed (it's a middle grade novel after all!:)), but overall, I really liked it. I haven't read such a light and cute tale in a long time!!:)

Thanks for reading!

Rating: 3 out of 5