Once Upon a Marigold

By Jean Ferris

Summary:
Christian was raised by a troll in a cave, literally by a troll in a cave.  But he can't help but think that one day, maybe, he could meet the beautiful princess he sees every day across the river.  Maybe if she knew he existed he could be the thing that makes her happy, since he can't help but notice her immeasurable sadness every time he sees her.  With a little help from his stepfather the troll, and a lot of ingenuity, Christian finds a way to finally meet her, but will everything turn out ok?

Review:
Once Upon a Marigold is a charmingly witty fairy tale about an inventive boy with a heart of gold, who wins himself a princess.  The book has a few fun twists in it which keep the reader guessing about Christian's true roots and the real motives of the queen.  It isn't overly complicated making it ideal for tweens who like princess stories.

Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Age Level: 5-6th Grade