A Princess in Disguiseis the tale of a young princess who must discover her identity and is compelled to unravel the mysteries surrounding her childhood years before crossing the threshold into the responsibilities of adulthood. Author April Michelle Davis began writing this captivating 141-page paperback book when she was just a young lady herself in middle school.

In this tale, Princess Margaret, the oldest of three triplet girls, has always been a spirited young lady who challenged the confines of her royal upbringing and the rules set by her father, the king. On the day of her sixteenth birthday, when her father is to publicly announce who he has chosen for each of the princesses to marry, Margaret decides to escape the palace and run away on her own adventure. She seeks to find her mother, who left the palace shortly after the birth of the triplets.

The main body of the book details the experience of Princess Margaret while she is on her journey to distant lands in search of her mother. Through many significant hardships and with the providential help of a peasant friend, she quickly matures and discovers the truth of her own distinctive purpose. The book ends unexpectedly with several surprise twists. Ultimately, Princess Margaret successfully fulfills her mission, and pleases her father, the king, while attempting to restore previously decimated relationships.

My two teenage daughters and I shared this book. We each read it on our own then discussed it together. We thought the story ended very abruptly. So much detail was written of Margaret’s journey, yet the conclusion was wrapped up in just a few short pages at the end. As a parent, I believe I understand the essence of the story, yet I feel it is far from being clear, especially to the age group it is targeting—middle school and high school. There is a random Scripture placed near the end, referencing the armor of God, which seems out of place in contrast to the rest of the story. I think the basic premise of the story is strong but that it needs more development to make it an effective tool to encourage young ladies to fulfill their purpose, as I believe the author intends.

The paperback version of A Princess in Disguise is currently selling on Amazon for $12.99.

-Product review by Erica Beyea, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, June 2017