A Secret Princess

April 15, 2022
Mary Lennox, Sara Crewe, and Cedric Errol all in the same book? Having riffed on Little Women in Jo & Laurie (2020), the co-authors now create a mashup with characters from several Frances Hodgson Burnett classics. When 16-year-old Sara arrives in England in 1865 to attend the Select Seminary for Young Ladies and Gentlemen, her brown skin has everyone talking. Sara has Irish, German, Spanish, and Filipino ancestry, and the racist treatment begins immediately. Sara, hurt by the constant remarks, nevertheless holds her head high even after she becomes a servant following her parents' deaths and the disappearance of her wealth. Luckily, she is supported by her friends, two other school outcasts: Mary, 15, is an imaginative girl who wants to be a writer, and Cedric, 16, is an artistic boy with a condition that affects his legs. The trio escapes from the school after Mary is told she must go stay with an uncle in Knoxville, Tennessee, after her father dies. Following a failed attempt to run away to Paris, Cedric reveals that he is Lord Fauntleroy, and his lawyers help them reach his Yorkshire estate, where events play out along the lines of The Secret Garden. The writing and the characters (most of whom present White) are engaging, and there are some romantic interludes; as with the original stories, the dramatic plot at times encourages readers to suspend disbelief. Readers nostalgic for Burnett's Victorian world will enjoy this adaptation. (note by de la Cruz) (Historical fiction. 12-16)

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July 11, 2022
Previous collaborators Stohl and de la Cruz (Jo & Laurie) combine themes and characters from Frances Hodgson Burnett classics such as The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, and Little Lord Fauntleroy in this theatrical mash-up. While attending the Select Seminary for Young Ladies and Gentlemen in Victorian England, headstrong Mary, sensitive Cedric, and bookish Sara cling to one another to cope with their boarding school’s melancholy routine. Tragedy leaves Sara—who is targeted by racist classmates and administration for her brown skin and Irish, German, Spanish, and Filipino ancestry—orphaned and penniless; soon after, Mary is expected to leave for America to stay with a distant relation following her father’s death. Hoping to keep them all together, Cedric invites Mary and Sara to live with him at his isolated estate where the trio find an oasis of freedom, safety, and first love. Though the narrative doesn’t often rise above its inspiration, Stohl and de la Cruz imbue this escapist plot and heady romance with Victorian charm, picturesque villas, and idyllic atmosphere for fans of the original texts. Cedric, Mary, and most other characters read as white. Ages 12–up.

June 30, 2022
Grades 6-9 When she was young, Mary Lennox met a genie who offered her a deal: she'll have every adventure if only she can be brave always. Young Mary takes him very seriously; when, as a teenager, she finds herself at a dank seminary school in England, she's become quite the rebel. She's made friends with Sara Crewe and Cedric Errol, and the three are much like the musketeers of the same era. Upon the death of Sara's parents and her subsequent peasantry, the three friends, led by Mary, set out to stage a grand play for the parents of the seminary school, a marvel that will ensure their release from the dark halls. But further misfortunes are still to befall them. Borrowing from Frances Hodgson Burnett's well-known stories, Stohl and de la Cruz breath fresh life into the narrative while still holding the characters in familiar patterns. Recommended for larger collections where recent retellings and updates on classics have been circulating well.

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August 5, 2022

Gr 9 Up-In this mashup of A Little Princess and The Secret Garden, readers meet teen outcasts Mary, Sara, and Cedric, who are friends that attend the Select Seminary for Young Ladies and Gentlemen in 1860s England. Mary is soon orphaned when her father passes away; he leaves her penniless, and she is told she will be leaving for America. Cedric comes to her rescue and shares that he is the son of an earl with an estate and money, so the three friends decide to run away together. Budding romances start to blossom as the friends enjoy their time at Maythem Estate. This book falls a little flat in the retellings of Frances Hodgson Burnett's stories. The characters perceive themselves younger than their actual ages, which can be distracting. The romances happen a little too fast and don't seem relatable. The prologue is also a little confusing, with the mention of a genie-it is never made clear if Mary is dreaming or not. Besides these issues, it is refreshing to see diversity in the cast; Sara is Filipino and Cedric experiences seizures; their identities allow Stohl and de la Cruz to bring discussions of wealth, racism, and physical ailments to light in the 1860s. VERDICT Recommend to teens who enjoy A Little Princess and The Secret Garden but have their expectations kept to a medium.-Maeve Dodds

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