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Annie, younger sister of the princess who would be known as Sleeping Beauty, is immune to magic and stays awake when the rest of the castle falls into an enchanted sleep, then sets out to find a way to break the spell.Tags
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Sometimes you just need a little froth. E. D. Baker's latest fractured fairy tale, The Wide-Awake Princess, is light and creamy enough to satisfy the most exacting fairy tale chef.
Most people don't know that Sleeping Beauty (aka Gwendoline) has a younger sister named Annie. Terrified that a similar curse would fall on Annie, her parents begged a powerful fairy to help. Be careful what you wish for...the fairy willingly helped, but her gift was to make Annie immune to all magic.
Not just evil curses, but also good fairy gifts, like beauty, grace, and a good complexion. Not only is she immune, she cancels out magic. Terrified of losing their own fairy gifts, her family won't go near her. She leads a lonely, but fairly satisfying life until show more Gwendolyn's curse falls upon the household and Annie decides she isn't waiting around for a prince to show up!
Accompanied by a footman who isn't what he seems, Annie sets out to find the perfect prince for Gwen. Or the next best thing. Then again, maybe Gwen would prefer to sleep for a hundred years....
Readers who enjoyed the definitely required new classics Kate Coombs' Runaway Princess and Runaway Dragon and Jessica Day George's Dragon series will enjoy this fluffy princess comedy.
Bon appetit!
Oh, re. the covers - the first is the one appearing on the ARC, this second one I think is the final cover. They're both pretty similar in tone and I was disappointed that the sisters didn't look more different. But they're ok.
Verdict: This episodic fantasy is a perfect read for those who like a pinch of romance, a generous measure of magic, and a thick topping of humor.
ISBN: 978-1599904870; Published May 2010 by Bloomsbury; ARC provided by publisher at ALA; Purchased for the library show less
Most people don't know that Sleeping Beauty (aka Gwendoline) has a younger sister named Annie. Terrified that a similar curse would fall on Annie, her parents begged a powerful fairy to help. Be careful what you wish for...the fairy willingly helped, but her gift was to make Annie immune to all magic.
Not just evil curses, but also good fairy gifts, like beauty, grace, and a good complexion. Not only is she immune, she cancels out magic. Terrified of losing their own fairy gifts, her family won't go near her. She leads a lonely, but fairly satisfying life until show more Gwendolyn's curse falls upon the household and Annie decides she isn't waiting around for a prince to show up!
Accompanied by a footman who isn't what he seems, Annie sets out to find the perfect prince for Gwen. Or the next best thing. Then again, maybe Gwen would prefer to sleep for a hundred years....
Readers who enjoyed the definitely required new classics Kate Coombs' Runaway Princess and Runaway Dragon and Jessica Day George's Dragon series will enjoy this fluffy princess comedy.
Bon appetit!
Oh, re. the covers - the first is the one appearing on the ARC, this second one I think is the final cover. They're both pretty similar in tone and I was disappointed that the sisters didn't look more different. But they're ok.
Verdict: This episodic fantasy is a perfect read for those who like a pinch of romance, a generous measure of magic, and a thick topping of humor.
ISBN: 978-1599904870; Published May 2010 by Bloomsbury; ARC provided by publisher at ALA; Purchased for the library show less
With all this talk lately regarding the merits of fractured fairy tales, sometimes it’s nice to just sit back and enjoy a sugar-spun story. The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker is ADORABLE. I think it’s my favorite book yet by Baker, who wrote the Tales of the Frog Princess book (the first novel was the inspiration for Disney’s The Princess and the Frog). The novel revolves around Princess Annie, the younger sister of Crown Princess Gwendolyn. As babies, Gwendolyn was cursed, destined to prick her finger on a spinning wheel upon turning sixteen. Not wanting another cursed princess, the King and Queen ask one fairy to gift Annie when she is born, making it so that no magic (good or bad) can ever harm her. When Gwendolyn pricks her show more finger and sends her kingdom into one hundred years of sleep, Annie is the only one unaffected. The Wide-Awake Princess is her story, and deservedly so—Annie is one kick-ass heroine!
I hate how fairy tales can fall into tropes where the prince is always the one to save the day and rescue the powerless maiden. Not so here. One thing that hooked me early on was the way Annie saves Liam ( one of the unaffected guards who was away from the palace when the curse set in). He gets all shame-faced about it, but Annie could care less. Without her, he would have died. Liam joins Annie on her journey to gather up princes in an attempt to find her sister’s True Love. Along the way, she encounters a mish-mash of fairy tale encounters such as Hansel and Gretel as cleverly thrown together as something out of Stephen Sondheim’s epic musical Into the Woods or the Shrek movies. There’s even a fairy tale role for Annie, which I didn’t see coming, but was delighted about. The way the novel arrives at its conclusion was completely satisfactory. I especially loved the way romance builds between Annie and Liam despite their opposite roles in society. This book hit my sweet spot in all the right ways. It’s ADORABLE and I loved it to bits. I would have loved to see what happened next and wasn’t quite ready to leave Annie behind; she’s such a strong heroine that she wormed her way irrevocably into my heart. show less
I hate how fairy tales can fall into tropes where the prince is always the one to save the day and rescue the powerless maiden. Not so here. One thing that hooked me early on was the way Annie saves Liam ( one of the unaffected guards who was away from the palace when the curse set in). He gets all shame-faced about it, but Annie could care less. Without her, he would have died. Liam joins Annie on her journey to gather up princes in an attempt to find her sister’s True Love. Along the way, she encounters a mish-mash of fairy tale encounters such as Hansel and Gretel as cleverly thrown together as something out of Stephen Sondheim’s epic musical Into the Woods or the Shrek movies. There’s even a fairy tale role for Annie, which I didn’t see coming, but was delighted about. The way the novel arrives at its conclusion was completely satisfactory. I especially loved the way romance builds between Annie and Liam despite their opposite roles in society. This book hit my sweet spot in all the right ways. It’s ADORABLE and I loved it to bits. I would have loved to see what happened next and wasn’t quite ready to leave Annie behind; she’s such a strong heroine that she wormed her way irrevocably into my heart. show less
Annie has never been beautiful. Not compared to most people - and especially not compared to her sister Gwendolyn, who is the most beautiful princess in the whole world. Annie is normal – ordinary, as some people might call it. When her sister Gwendolyn was a baby, she was cast under a spell by a fairy who said when Gwendolyn was 16 she would prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die. Another fairy changed it the spell so that she would only fall asleep for 100 years until her true love came to the castle and kissed her. This lessened their parents fear, for a while…until Annie comes along and they decide that they couldn’t bear to have something go wrong for Annie as well. So they call a good fairy, who casts a spell on Annie show more so that the girl would NEVER be affected by magic. So Annie grows up, simpler than your average town folk, always having to stay away from her family, or else her magic-repellent-body would cause their magic to fade temporarily. But when the old prophetic curse comes to past, and Annie is the only one inside the castle who is not affected by the magic that would have put her to sleep, she sets out on a dangerous journey to find her sister’s true love so the quest can be broken…and she may even discover love for herself on the way.
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I started out with this book thinking, “There’s no stinking way that this book can hold a whole, developed story, when it’s so short, small, and doesn’t have itty bitty letters.” Oh, I was so wrong. E. D. Baker has a way of wording things – to the point. Not boring, just…really toned.
And honestly, as I went along, I was shocked (pleasantly so) by the amount of information carried in this story, this tiny story. Annie was well-developed; I felt like I was her friend from the start. She’s lonely and wants others to not call her ordinary, just because she can’t make herself look perfect by magic. She wishes to be a part of her family – and yet she’s forced to stand far away from everyone in case her presence affects the magic and causes everyone else to look ordinary as well. She’s brave and wants to help, despite all her misfortunes.
So she embarks, and her adventure is greater than she (or I) could ever have imagined. She is accompanied by the castle’s newest guard, Liam, who was outside the castle when Gwendolyn pricked her finger on a spinning wheel. She meets princes, affronts witches, enters contests…and falls in love. Could anyone ever ask for a better adventure?
The way this book is executed is just amazing… Like I said, I hadn’t expected there to be so much to it, but there was, and it went at a PERFECT pace. There were more fairytales woven into this story than I can count, along with a lot of hilarious “my fair maiden!” and “I must rescue my ladylove!” that had me giggling out loud. I liked Liam, but I felt that his charater was awkward for the first half of the book. I didn’t quite know what to think of him…he was just kind of a boring character. But then it got better and he grew on me…of course…like every handsome love interest should.
The only thing I didn’t like was the last couple of pages. Something happened that felt too short…I felt that the story was resolved well, just not that scene. It was like, boom! and then it was over…. However, it wasn’t bad enough for me to not recommend it. In fact, I totally recommend this book!
Favorite character: Annie. She was just adorable! Voracia comes in second. She made me laugh and cower at the same time…weird combination, I know, but she did. She was frightening, and yet so hilarious in her own way.
Favorite aspect: The culture of the story. It was well-thought out and very original. All the fairytales fit perfectly together and added up to equal an incredibly original world, despite the fact that practically the whole world already knows these stories. Very impressed.
One word to sum this book up: I wanted to write something like sweet, or cute, or silly, or adorable, or adventurous… Yes, it is all these things, but the best one word that I can think of is cunning. I was totally surprised by how clever the writing and story were. Definitely a great read and recommended to everyone who loves a great story! (Ages 8 and up could read this book and really grasp it, I think.) show less
______________________________________________
I started out with this book thinking, “There’s no stinking way that this book can hold a whole, developed story, when it’s so short, small, and doesn’t have itty bitty letters.” Oh, I was so wrong. E. D. Baker has a way of wording things – to the point. Not boring, just…really toned.
And honestly, as I went along, I was shocked (pleasantly so) by the amount of information carried in this story, this tiny story. Annie was well-developed; I felt like I was her friend from the start. She’s lonely and wants others to not call her ordinary, just because she can’t make herself look perfect by magic. She wishes to be a part of her family – and yet she’s forced to stand far away from everyone in case her presence affects the magic and causes everyone else to look ordinary as well. She’s brave and wants to help, despite all her misfortunes.
So she embarks, and her adventure is greater than she (or I) could ever have imagined. She is accompanied by the castle’s newest guard, Liam, who was outside the castle when Gwendolyn pricked her finger on a spinning wheel. She meets princes, affronts witches, enters contests…and falls in love. Could anyone ever ask for a better adventure?
The way this book is executed is just amazing… Like I said, I hadn’t expected there to be so much to it, but there was, and it went at a PERFECT pace. There were more fairytales woven into this story than I can count, along with a lot of hilarious “my fair maiden!” and “I must rescue my ladylove!” that had me giggling out loud. I liked Liam, but I felt that his charater was awkward for the first half of the book. I didn’t quite know what to think of him…he was just kind of a boring character. But then it got better and he grew on me…of course…like every handsome love interest should.
The only thing I didn’t like was the last couple of pages. Something happened that felt too short…I felt that the story was resolved well, just not that scene. It was like, boom! and then it was over…. However, it wasn’t bad enough for me to not recommend it. In fact, I totally recommend this book!
Favorite character: Annie. She was just adorable! Voracia comes in second. She made me laugh and cower at the same time…weird combination, I know, but she did. She was frightening, and yet so hilarious in her own way.
Favorite aspect: The culture of the story. It was well-thought out and very original. All the fairytales fit perfectly together and added up to equal an incredibly original world, despite the fact that practically the whole world already knows these stories. Very impressed.
One word to sum this book up: I wanted to write something like sweet, or cute, or silly, or adorable, or adventurous… Yes, it is all these things, but the best one word that I can think of is cunning. I was totally surprised by how clever the writing and story were. Definitely a great read and recommended to everyone who loves a great story! (Ages 8 and up could read this book and really grasp it, I think.) show less
I have had this book on my bookshelf to read for quite some time. It was an okay read and I think elementary aged girls will enjoy it. For me it was pretty simple and predictable. I also had some trouble relating and engaging with the characters.
Terrified of the curse that was put on their eldest daughter Princess Gwen (basically a sleeping beauty curse) the King and Queen of the realm ask a good fairy to prevent their youngest daughter Princess Annie from being similarly cursed. As a result Princess Annie is spelled so that no magic will work on her. Sounds awesome until you consider that all the Princes and Princesses of the area are magically enhanced both in beauty and in abilities. This results in Annie being a rather plain show more princess. However, when Gwen succumbs to her curse and the whole kingdom falls asleep it is up to Princess Annie to save it...because of course the curse couldn’t affect Princess Annie.
I don’t really have any problems with this book; it was just kind of okay in every area. The plot was incredibly predictable and the characters very stereotypical. Even Annie’s tomboy-like rebellion (which wasn’t all that rebellious) is very typical of many of these types of princess stories.
I found the whole thing to be a bit bland and boring. The adventure was kind of bland, the romance very cutesy but not that engaging, and the plot just very predictable.
I think younger girls will enjoy this story though. It does convey a good message; basically to be yourself and that it’s what you do and who you are...not how you look that matters. Although I was a bit frustrated that despite Annie’s supposedly plain appearance she is depicted as a beautiful slender blond on the front cover of the book.
Overall this was an okay book. I think it is a book best left to younger readers; especially young girls who enjoy princess stories. I am an older girl who enjoys princess stories but this story didn’t really appeal to me it was just too bland and predictable. show less
Terrified of the curse that was put on their eldest daughter Princess Gwen (basically a sleeping beauty curse) the King and Queen of the realm ask a good fairy to prevent their youngest daughter Princess Annie from being similarly cursed. As a result Princess Annie is spelled so that no magic will work on her. Sounds awesome until you consider that all the Princes and Princesses of the area are magically enhanced both in beauty and in abilities. This results in Annie being a rather plain show more princess. However, when Gwen succumbs to her curse and the whole kingdom falls asleep it is up to Princess Annie to save it...because of course the curse couldn’t affect Princess Annie.
I don’t really have any problems with this book; it was just kind of okay in every area. The plot was incredibly predictable and the characters very stereotypical. Even Annie’s tomboy-like rebellion (which wasn’t all that rebellious) is very typical of many of these types of princess stories.
I found the whole thing to be a bit bland and boring. The adventure was kind of bland, the romance very cutesy but not that engaging, and the plot just very predictable.
I think younger girls will enjoy this story though. It does convey a good message; basically to be yourself and that it’s what you do and who you are...not how you look that matters. Although I was a bit frustrated that despite Annie’s supposedly plain appearance she is depicted as a beautiful slender blond on the front cover of the book.
Overall this was an okay book. I think it is a book best left to younger readers; especially young girls who enjoy princess stories. I am an older girl who enjoys princess stories but this story didn’t really appeal to me it was just too bland and predictable. show less
This was such a cute book. I think E.D. Baker always does a fabulous job with her fairy tale retellings. The Wide-Awake Princess did not disappoint me at all. It had a voice all its own. I loved Princess Annie. I thought it was such a nice touch that the heroine of the fairy tale had no magical powers at all. In fact, at her Christening, her "gift" was the gift of no magic. How appropriate, right?
As you would expect from E.D. Baker, the humor was timely and well played. Annie was a sassy and independent thing--which I loved. I get so tired of princesses being portrayed as dependent and helpless. Annie was strong-willed and resourceful. She didn't need anyone's help. In fact, she saved most of characters in the story--herself included. show more
The other thing that I loved about this book was the subtle (and sometimes more obvious) mentioning of other fairy tales. There was Hansel and Gretel (very original take on this story) who were dining with a witch suffering from dementia. The witch had to leave reminders for herself on conversation hearts plastered to the walls of her cottage. (She also had a large pet rat named "Fluffy" that she thought was a dog.) There was the story of Rapunzel which was pretty ironic. If you think about a girl trapped in a tower with a prince that visits everyday, but never rescues her, you can't help but wonder what the draw is. Then another prince shows up on Thursday. You start to get an idea of what kind of girl Rapunzel really is with her weekly visitors. There was also a mentioning of The Princess and the Pea and a few other lesser known tales, all of which were uniquely incorporated into the story. I loved it.
I'm a huge fan of E.D. Baker after reading her The Princess Frog series. It doesn't come as much surprise that I highly recommend this one. It's perfect for middle grade readers. It was quick and witty, but it didn't offer many twists and turns. Honestly, though, the complicated plot twists aren't needed. They story reads perfectly well being straight forward and predictable. I do hope that this will become a series. I would love to find out what happens between Annie and Liam (love them). Plus, there were a few other "items" that could develop into another book or two. You'll have to read the book to discover those, however. show less
As you would expect from E.D. Baker, the humor was timely and well played. Annie was a sassy and independent thing--which I loved. I get so tired of princesses being portrayed as dependent and helpless. Annie was strong-willed and resourceful. She didn't need anyone's help. In fact, she saved most of characters in the story--herself included. show more
The other thing that I loved about this book was the subtle (and sometimes more obvious) mentioning of other fairy tales. There was Hansel and Gretel (very original take on this story) who were dining with a witch suffering from dementia. The witch had to leave reminders for herself on conversation hearts plastered to the walls of her cottage. (She also had a large pet rat named "Fluffy" that she thought was a dog.) There was the story of Rapunzel which was pretty ironic. If you think about a girl trapped in a tower with a prince that visits everyday, but never rescues her, you can't help but wonder what the draw is. Then another prince shows up on Thursday. You start to get an idea of what kind of girl Rapunzel really is with her weekly visitors. There was also a mentioning of The Princess and the Pea and a few other lesser known tales, all of which were uniquely incorporated into the story. I loved it.
I'm a huge fan of E.D. Baker after reading her The Princess Frog series. It doesn't come as much surprise that I highly recommend this one. It's perfect for middle grade readers. It was quick and witty, but it didn't offer many twists and turns. Honestly, though, the complicated plot twists aren't needed. They story reads perfectly well being straight forward and predictable. I do hope that this will become a series. I would love to find out what happens between Annie and Liam (love them). Plus, there were a few other "items" that could develop into another book or two. You'll have to read the book to discover those, however. show less
Annie, younger sister of the ill-fated Princess Gwendolyn (aka Sleeping Beauty) was given only one fairy gift at her christening: Annie is impervious to magic. So, when Gwendolyn inevitably pricks her finger and the whole castle falls into an enchanted sleep, it's up to Annie to rescue her sister, and the rest of her family, from a hundred-year nap. Annie wanders and blunders through several other well-known fairy tales in an attempt to locate her sister's True Love -- and she just may find the key to her own happiness along the way.
Baker's writing is light and fun. As with Gail Carson Levine's fairy tale retellings, I often find that there's not enough substance there for a really satisfying read, but The Wide-Awake Princess and books show more like it are a nice introduction to the genre for young readers. show less
Baker's writing is light and fun. As with Gail Carson Levine's fairy tale retellings, I often find that there's not enough substance there for a really satisfying read, but The Wide-Awake Princess and books show more like it are a nice introduction to the genre for young readers. show less
Fun. I enjoy retellings of fairy tales, especially when they get more realistic. This one doesn't, quite - there's still the fairy story "nothing will happen because I'm the hero/princess" thing, where they go wandering blithely into what should be serious danger and then come wandering out. But Annie's protection against magic does help with that (and quite a few other things), a lot. I like Liam, too, though he should have admitted the truth earlier. Or at least hinted at it. The story is a whole mishmash of fairy tales - Sleeping Beauty as the frame, of course, but everything from Snow White and Rose Red to Hansel and Gretel to a kelpie attack...yeah. Lots. And the fairies are funny - even the human-sized ones are flutterheads (in show more varying degrees). I rather like Andreas, too - I hope he gets a good princess eventually. Several villains of various sorts and degrees, sneaky plots changing things in the background...Fun story. I think I'll probably read it again, in a few years when I've forgotten more of it. show less
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- Canonical title
- The Wide-Awake Princess
- People/Characters
- Princess Annie (Annabelle); (Prince) Liam (Prince); Princess Gwendolyn (Gwennie); Moonbeam; Queen Karoline; King Halbert (show all 23); Digby; Voracia; Rupert; Fenly; Twitch; Granny Bentbone; Tomas; Clara; Prince Beldegard; Captain Sterling; Prince Andreas; Lord Penbroken; Fairy Sweetness N Light; Prince Cozwald; Prince Emelio; Prince Clarence; Queen Lenore
- Important places
- Treecrest; Delaroo Pass; Shimshee; Montrose; Corealis; Kenless (show all 13); Shelterhome; Gallfield; Garden of Happiness; Wryden; Bellaroost; Great Greasy Swamp; Dorinocco
- Dedication
- This book is dedicated to my fans, whose loyalty and enthusiasm has meant so much to me -- particularly the fans on my message board, those who send letters, and those who send their wonderful entries to my contests. It is a... (show all)lso dedicated to my family, whose understanding about late dinners and a messy house enables me to keep writing.
- First words
- "WE CAN'T LET IT HAPPEN again," Queen Karolina said, dabbing at the tears that glistened in her deep blue eyes.
We can't let it happen again," Queen Karolina said, dabbing at the tears that glistened in her deep blue eyes. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"You," he said, pulling her into his arms.
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