The Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw
Gr 4–6—The third installment in this series finds the League of Princes on the run, falsely accused of murdering Briar Rose. Prince Frederic, Prince Gustav, Prince Liam, and Prince Duncan (the jokester of the group), along with Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Princess Lila devise a plan to clear their names so that they can stop the evil Lord Rundark from taking over the 13 Kingdoms. Midway through the story, the princesses form their own band of do-gooders. Chaos ensues as they and the princes spend a good portion of the narrative tripping one another up in the race to prove Briar Rose is still alive. Countless battles take place—one in each Kingdom. Enemies include giant mongoose, pirates, and bounty hunters. Surprises abound with the reappearance of past foes, including the evil witch, Zaubera. Powerful Magic Orbs are Lord Rundark's secret weapons of choice. There's really something for everyone here, although sometimes it feels as if there is just too much going on. Readers new to the series will probably find the going a bit tough at times trying to keep track of who's who. Nevertheless, Healy has a good understanding of middle-grade humor and his audience in general. With its gender-bending stereotypes and oodles of action, this addition will be welcomed by fans of the series.—Mary Beth Rassulo, Ridgefield Library, CT