Dealing with Dragons: Dealing with Dragons
(Libby/OverDrive eAudiobook)

Gr. 6-12. There is a witty playfulness about Wrede's tale of a princess who refuses to be proper; she'd rather take lessons in fencing, juggling, Latin, philosophy, or economics than in dancing, embroidery, drawing, and etiquette, all of which she finds very dull. Princess Cimorene is the youngest of seven daughters, and her royal parents find her quite trying, so they arrange a match between Cimorene and dull-witted Prince Therandil. "I'd rather be eaten by a dragon," she mutters. And risking just that, she volunteers to be a dragon's captive princess. "`This is ridiculous!' said a large, bright green dragon . . . `A princess, volunteering? Out of the question!'" But Cimorene is taken on by the powerful dragon Kazul and given duties that include cooking, sorting treasure, and cataloging the Latin scrolls in Kazul's library. When assorted pesky knights want to rescue her, she drives them off, being careful that they not interact with her dragon because blood might be shed. But when some unscrupulous wizards show up in dragon territory, matters take a more serious turn, and Cimorene finds herself involved in solving the mystery of the murder of the King of the Dragons and in defeating a dragon who has sold out to the wizards. A decidedly diverting novel with plenty of action and many slightly skewed fairy-tale conventions that add to the laugh-out-loud reading pleasure and give the story a wide appeal. The good news is that this is book one in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. ~--Sally Estes

Gr 5-9-- The independent princess has been well established in modern children's books, but there can't be a dandier example than Princess Cimorene. Rangy, curious, energetic, matter-of-fact, she rolls up her sleeves and gets the job done with a happy disregard for the traditions of her role. Although her parents want her to stifle her improper interests in fencing, Latin, and cooking, the princess is not about to be forced into marriage with the vapid prince they have chosen. She throws herself wholeheartedly into a career as a dragon's princess, a respectable role, although not one for which one usually volunteers. As she fends off nosy wizards, helps out hysterical princesses, and turns away determined rescuers, Cimorene makes a firm place for herself in the dragon world. The story is full of excitement, sly references to the staples of fantasy and fairy tales, and good humor. Cimorene is of a sisterhood that includes Menolly, the dragonsinger of Anne McCaffrey's Dragonsong (Atheneum, 1976); and Avi's Morwenna of Bright Shadow (Bradbury, 1985), but Wrede's delightful voice is all her own. Her previous books have generally been played as YA or even adult fiction, but Cimorene is so much fun that once younger readers discover her here, many will want to search outthe earlier titles. One of these, Talking to Dragons (Ace, 1985) is narrated by Cimorene's son and introduces many of this book's main characters. --Sally T. Margolis, Park Ridge Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Cimorene is an iconoclastic princess bored with court life. Outraged by an arranged engagement to a dull prince and prevented from following her preferred pursuits of cooking and magic, she runs away to become the princess of a dragon. Wryly humorous, with an appealing, strong-minded heroine. From HORN BOOK 1990, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Princess Cimorene hates deportment and advanced curtseying, but she's denied lessons in magic, swordsmanship, or cooking--so she runs away and applies for a job as Dragon's princess. She keeps cave, treasure, and kitchen in order, but has trouble convincing the rather dim Prince Therandil that she really doesn't want to be rescued. It's fortunate that she succeeds, since a renegade Dragon has betrayed his kind to the Wizards, and only Cimorene can save her Dragon, Kazul, from being destroyed, in the end, Kazul becomes King of the Dragons, while Cimorene becomes King's Cook and Librarian. Along the way, she learns to fireproof herself, consort with witches, read magic tomes, outwit djinns, and instill pluck in a fellow princess. Smoothly written and ingenious fantasy. Both Cimorene and her dragon are firmly drawn, tough-minded females who refuse to conform to stereotypes (being female doesn't prevent a dragon from becoming king). The touch of feminist persuasion only adds to the story's charm. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Gr 5-9-A feisty princess with a mind of her own shuns regal training and protocol, preferring to volunteer herself as a dragon's servant and companion. It's a spirited, rollicking story with clever fairy tale references subtly tied to elements of magic, wizardry, and the satisfying triumph of good over evil. (Dec. 1990) Copyright 1998 School Library Journal

Gr 5-9-- The independent princess has been well established in modern children's books, but there can't be a dandier example than Princess Cimorene. Rangy, curious, energetic, matter-of-fact, she rolls up her sleeves and gets the job done with a happy disregard for the traditions of her role. Although her parents want her to stifle her improper interests in fencing, Latin, and cooking, the princess is not about to be forced into marriage with the vapid prince they have chosen. She throws herself wholeheartedly into a career as a dragon's princess, a respectable role, although not one for which one usually volunteers. As she fends off nosy wizards, helps out hysterical princesses, and turns away determined rescuers, Cimorene makes a firm place for herself in the dragon world. The story is full of excitement, sly references to the staples of fantasy and fairy tales, and good humor. Cimorene is of a sisterhood that includes Menolly, the dragonsinger of Anne McCaffrey's Dragonsong (Atheneum, 1976); and Avi's Morwenna of Bright Shadow (Bradbury, 1985), but Wrede's delightful voice is all her own. Her previous books have generally been played as YA or even adult fiction, but Cimorene is so much fun that once younger readers discover her here, many will want to search outthe earlier titles. One of these, Talking to Dragons (Ace, 1985) is narrated by Cimorene's son and introduces many of this book's main characters. --Sally T. Margolis, Park Ridge Public Library, IL Copyright 1990 Cahners Business Information.