Dealing with Dragons (1990)

I love this book. I wasn't sure about the multiple voices audio that the Listening Library was using, but I got used to it by the end. ( )

This is a cute, fun book. I like how it pokes fun and subverts traditional fairy tales, and has a very practical heroine. The plot isn't the most engaging, but it's not bad. Overall, I would recommend it, especially to kids. ( )

This was silly and fun, and left me wanting more. I loved how practical and logical the main character was. So smart and resourceful! ( )

Cimorene isn't a normal princess. Instead of learning how to sew and dance, she would much rather be casting spells and fencing. When her parents decide it is time for her to be a proper princess and marry a prince, Cimorene runs away. She doesn't want to be a bored girl sitting in a castle all day. She would much rather live with a dragon, and she does just that. Living with the dragon Kazul, Cimorene will learn what it means to find her place in the world.

This is a light fun story for early readers. I can see this being the perfect introduction to the fantasy genre. The story touches on common fairy tales and has a main character who outsmarts even the best of her opponents. Cimorene is a strong female lead for growing girls to follow, and I think they will find it amusing that she doesn't want to be a normal princess. Cimorene dares to break the mold and does so in a way that is neither offensive or rude.

It's hard to find books that are appropriate these days for young adults. While this may be a simpler read, I can see teens enjoying it just as much as the young crowd. I first read this when I was in my teens and found it a quick funny read. Coming back to the story now that I am older, I still found it entertaining and I smiled at Cimorene's antics. ( )

Cimorene is a princess, but she hates doing princess-y things like dancing and etiquette. So she runs away to become the personal assistant to a dragon, and foils the plans of some conniving wizards in the process.

This was my very favorite book as a kid, and it really holds up. I love that the things Cimorene runs away to do (cooking, cleaning, organizing) aren't exciting or glamorous, she just wants to be able to do things for herself. It's kind of a reverse Cinderella. (Though of course Kazul is respectful and friendly and not abusive.) ( )