The Runaway Princess

By Kate Coombs

Book Overview

"A dragon darkens our dells. A witch haunts our woods. Bandits roam our moors" . . . King Stromgard swept on. "In the tradition of so many monarchs, I offer my daughter's hand in marriage and half my kingdom to the prince who can rid us of these evils, restoring peace and prosperity to our realm." And so the contest in the Kingdom of Greeve begins. But Princess Margaret is not your traditional princess. Meg firmly objects to her parents' giving her away, and she certainly has no intention of remaining in the tower where she is sequestered. Instead, she sets out to win the contest herself by enlisting the help of her good friend, her loyal maid, an eager guardsman, a young wizard, and a tenacious witch. Does Meg find her distinct place in the kingdom, or is she doomed to fulfill her royal duties? Kate Coombs weaves a magical tale full of pesky princes, enchanted frogs, a beady-eyed scarf, and invisibility juice - a tale of wonder, but a story familiar to all who struggle to find their own place in the world. The Runaway Princess is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374355460
• ISBN13: 9780374355463
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
• Length: 279 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 10 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 8

Customer Reviews

Fun, fun, fun!

I've been reading books to place on a summer reading list for my fifth graders. This one is by far my favorite pure fun book. I would highly recommend it to reluctant readers who have to read a longer book. While it's long in page length, the language is definitely easy to comprehend. I could easily see this as a very entertaining movie.... one to which they don't have to take a lot of artistic license like they did with Ella Enchanted. They completely lost the flavor of the book with that movie... but that's another story. The great part about being an elementary teacher is that you get to read books like this! They don't take long at all for an adult to read in this time-crunched world, and they are just as entertaining for us as they are for kids. Enjoy!

Amazingly enjoyable

I adored this novel. I have read dozens of books that have redone the classical fairy tale setting, but this is the best one I have ever had the pleasure to open. Coombs has a simple, yet elegant and easy to read writing style. The character interaction is hilarious, and the heroin is very likable and strong. Wonderfully done Kate Coombs! I hope there is a sequel.

A New Favorite

RUNAWAY PRINCESS isn't your grandma's fairy tale. The princess in the tower? Yeah. She has no intention of staying there. And all those witches, bandits and dragons? Misunderstood. Kate Coombs gives us a fresh take on the well-known fairy tale world with clever touches, endearing characters, and unique twists, all adding up to a delightful and entertaining read. Following closely on the heels of Coombs' lovely debut book THE SECRET KEEPER, RUNAWAY PRINCESS does not disappoint. It's sure to become a favorite of discerning readers everywhere.

WOW! You got to read this!

This book was awsome! In my English class we had to pick a book for pleasure reading. I choose this one and believe me, it was PLEASURE reading. I couldn't put it down! The characters are so real and you find yourself rooting for them. This book is a clever twist on any fairy tale you've ever known. You'll find yourself laughing out loud and counting down the minutes till you can read it again. The twists, turns and halarious plot and characters make "The Runaway Princess" a must read!

Priceless Princess

Kate Coombs has done it again! Once again this gifted author takes a fairy-tale world and stands it on its head. Princess Meg stands up to her father and the Kingdom of Greeve will never be the same again. All the ingredients for a delicious romp through a world of wicked witches and fantabulous frogs await those clever enough to pick up this story. A winner!