Mama Reads

Frankie’s new favorite bedtime story is Princess Hyacinth (The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated). 

Princess Hyacinth had a problem.
Well, you’re saying, everyone has a problem. But this was an unusual problem. Oh, she didn’t look unusual, that wasn’t it. She had two eyes, with a nose between them and a mouth under that– you know, the usual things in the usual arrangement.
In fact, if she wasn’t all dressed up in her Princess clothes, you’d think she was just anybody.
So what was the problem?
Princess Hyacinth floated.

First of all, I love it that the princess has a problem instead of some poor girl who becomes a princess and lives happily ever after.  Because of the floating thing, she cannot go about like the other children and often must be strapped down or wear weighted gowns and a heavy crown which makes it so she can hardly move.  I’m a little uncomfortable with the fact that the balloon man will do what she asks just because she’s the princess but that is a minor thing in an otherwise fabulous book.  I love the theme that “things” do not make you free and that after the adventures are had and the friendships made, she still has a problem.

The problem about the floating was never solved, and that’s too bad.
But Princess Hyacinth was never bored again.
Good.

The illustrations are quirky and the princess looks like an ordinary girl.  The text itself is also part of the fun of the story as it changes color, size, placement on the page, adds iltalics etc. which makes it quite fun as a read aloud.  We have been reading it at least twice a day since getting it from the library and not only does Frankie keep requesting it, but Mama is willing to keep reading it.  Always an ideal situation!

Do you remember when you were a kid and you read A Wrinkle in Time or The Chronicles of Narnia or A Wizard of Earthsea or A Ring of Endless Light for the first time?  It’s like that.  The 2010 Newbery Medal Winner, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead is just like that.  It has just enough magic, just enough mystery, just enough regular girl trying to figure out herself and the world.  It is one of the most solid books I have read in some time and I cannot wait for all those kids out there to read it and say “This is my favorite book, ever!”   And they will, because it is just that good!

The story is set in New York City in 1979.  The author said in an interview that was because she wanted the characters to have a certain amount of autonomy as she did growing up in the city and didn’t think it would be believeable in today’s culture.  Miranda’s best friend Sal doesn’t want to hang out with her anymore and she is starting to recieve strange notes that seem to predict the future.  She keeps re-reading a Wrinkle in Time and the way the author ties together the two stories is excellent.  As Miranda navigates the tricky world of 6th grade and new friendships the mystery unfolds itself until it reaches the exceptional ending which made me want to turn around and re-read the book immediately.  If you have middle readers, or a grownup who appreciates a good read, be sure to introduce them to this book!