It turns out I don't like being pulled away from my days off to play cross-country chauffeur."-Grady What starts as an antagonistic relationship, softens into allies and then more. What will happen when they reach New York and her portrait artist? Well, you will just have to watch to find out! "Sorry. And along the way.well a romance blossoms with the very handsome and capable Grady. When caught trying to steal a vehicle to drive across country from LA to Chicago, Amelia confesses the true reason for her visit to her beloved gay uncle.who also came to America to pursue a man he loved! So, he sets Grady and Amelia up with a convertible to drive across country in, giving her a little taste of freedom before she has to assume the crown. Assigned a security detail (Grady Beck) when she arrives, she initially tries to give him the slip. In order to visit Wes she contrives a Royal visit with her uncle the envoy to America, who lives in Beverly Hills. Amelia has her Royal portrait painted (and it is stunning!) and during the process falls in love with the Chicago portrait artist Wes. With the book encouraging silliness, readers' imaginations are freed from normal bounds and allowed to accept the unexpected surprises Troianowski offers.Introducing Princess Amelia of the made up kingdom of Bundbury. Princess Robin's adventures are a delight to read! While they don't use much logic, I see their nonsensical nature as a strength. Help her escape evil witches, find her way through mazes, and more, so she and her friends can get safely home - again! After returning to the castle, Princess Robin stumbles upon more adventures near and far. Robin runs away from her princess etiquette class to attend a festival in another part of the kingdom, making friends along the way. Random House Graphic (Random House Children’s Books), 2020. The Runaway Princess by Johan Troianowski, 266 pages. If you want graphic novels for kids that aren't insufferably trite, try Phoebe and Her Unicorn in Unicorn Theater by Dana Simpson or The Bad Guys series by Aaron Blabey. If you want interactive picture books, go read Don't Push the Button! by Bill Cotter. Whatever it is, it has no place in a children's book. Call it a bad case of Stockholm Syndrome. She actually joins forces with them, and promotes their music group. Her kidnappers are hapless and useless, but that's beside the point. The final straw for me was when Robin was kidnapped. The age group that this feature will appeal to is not the same one that's ready to tackle books that are almost 300 pages long. There are all these little "interactive" bits where kids are supposed to solve puzzles or randomly shout a character's name as loud as they can (which I'm sure unsuspecting parents will appreciate). This is way too long for a children's graphic novel. It seemed to take me forever to get almost 1/5 of the way through this 272-page monster, which brings me to my main complaint. But if I'm reading a book where a princess supposedly upends social conventions and runs off to have her own adventure, I except more than the sexualizing of children and the standard "boy saves girl" trope. The author obviously loves Lewis Carroll's work, and the homage to absurdity is clear. It's way too long, aimed at the wrong age group, and is so nonsensical (the queen freaking flies!) that it's hard to take seriously. This is neither clever nor particularly entertaining. Perfect for fans of Phoebe and Her Unicorn? I think not. Between great humor and being able to help the characters on their wacky adventures – readers of all ages will find themselves unable to put this book down.Ī physical ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The reader is asked to shake the book three times before turning the page to help Robin escape a wolf, use their finger to help the characters find their way through a maze, search for a missing character on a crowded page, and so much more. This is something I would have been all over as a kid and even as an adult it sparked some joy. One of my favorite parts about the entire thing was that it was interactive. Not all of them spoke much but they each had specific identifiable traits that helped them stand apart. She very easily stole the show but the band of brothers she befriended were also special. Robin was hilarious and full of spunk while also being completely endearing. It’s quirky, bright, and was the perfect way to bring the story to life. I was instantly drawn in by Johan Troianowski’s art style. This review and many others can also be found at Musings of a (Book) Girl.
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