The Accidental Princess

by Jen Storer, Lucia Masciullo (Illustrator)

Inside the lilac hedge, two sets of glittering emerald eyes observed Matilda through the heart-shaped leaves. 'It is the princess!' whispered a tiny voice . . .

When the pixies and fairies of the lilac hedge mistake Matilda for royalty, she is drawn into a wondrous world. But evil forces threaten the hedge and its folk, and Matilda must fight to save her new friends. She can't do it alone, but could it mean losing her sister forever?

Fans of The Magic Faraway Tree and the Narnia series won't be able to resist The Accidental Princess!

Genres: Childrens, Fantasy

264 pages, Hardcover

First published July 27, 2011

About the author

Jen Storer grew up in a small country town in the Wimmera. She began her working life as a nurse. In the 1990s she returned to study, graduating from Monash University with first class honours in Literature. She has written many books for children including the best-selling Truly Tan series and the acclaimed gothic fantasy, Tensy Farlow and the Home for Mislaid Children. She lives in Melbourne.

Reviews

[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book because it keeps you guessing and wondering what will happen next
it has a great use of words and is amazing

[Zoya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful fairy fantasy for girls. About 2 sisters who venture into a hedge and discover a secret world of talking animals and trees, an old legend and a lost coin. Fun adventure with colourful characters. Well-written.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming, old fashioned book about fairies in a lilac hedge. Beautifully written and took me back to my Enid Blyton days. Probably not a wide audience for this book but some girls would love the fairy action.

[Wendy Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful, magical story.

[Hayley Smith-Finch · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favourite book fr its so amazing

[Maria Parenti · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is clever as it is wise. The children’s adventurers are fantastical as they sift through truths and lies.

[Jade Dell-Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun story about two sisters who find another world in their garden hedge. It was a cute story with great writing and amazing illustrations but there was just something missing I'm not sure what was missing there was definitely something missing.

In the middle of the story, I really started to hate the two sisters and how they interacted with each other. Towards the end, I started to like them again and how they interacted with each other but not as much as I liked them at the start of the novel.

I would say that if you are a younger reader you will probably enjoy this book a lot but as someone who has read quite a bit of middle grade and young adult and some adult, I have read much better stuff that I love to bits. But I have also read some books that are horrible and much, much worse than this book.

Overall I didn't hate this book but I didn't love it either and I would give it 3/5 stars.

[Heather Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admission - Jen Storer is a friend and has been incredibly supportive to me as a writer - thanks Jen! I loved the ideas in this book - two sisters find a secret world in the lilac hedge at the bottom of the garden. I also found the rivalry/argie bargie between the sisters convincing. I liked the language - pillywiggins, etc - and some of the grossness - loved the line about the frog with oozing pustules like popcorn ready to spurt! I realise Jen was trying for an international audience and has described it as an ode to Enid Blyton but personally I would've liked a bit of an Australian setting.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this with my 7 year old. It's a charming fairytale with a bit of a different plot, a few scares and unique creatures including a hedge troll who can only talk in questions and two sisters who don't get along but who look out for each other in the end. Made me want to plant a lilac hedge!

[Lyn Battersby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lyn is a judge for the Aurealis Awards. This review is the personal opinion of Lyn herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.

I will be reviewing and rating this once the AAs are announced.

[Megan Higginson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jen Storer, who has a talent for interesting characters and great description, kept me intrigued with this story of two sisters and their connection to a magic lilac hedge, and the beings living in there. The story is well paced and has great rhythm, with a satisfying conclusion.

[Amanda O'Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this story to my six year old daughter and we both loved it! Full of fun, adventure, wonderful characters and also, beautifully written.

[Bookishbabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is wonderful and is an enjoyable read even for adult readers. The illustrations are breath taking.