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Incredibly Penelope
A witty and moving take on A Little Princess from an acclaimed author about the friends and family who can be found in surprising places
Penelope has been all over the globe, from the tippity top to the bottomitty bottom, traveling alongside her godmother, the super celebrity Queenie Bee. And she’s done things most kids never dream of, like feeding giraffes, exploring real glaciers, and hopping from one five-star hotel to the next. But there’s one thing she has never done, and she desperately wants to give it a try: go to school! So Penelope persuades her mother and godmother to let her attend Idlewild Academy for Girls. There, Penelope’s charm, openness, and generosity quickly win over many of her new classmates. Although some, including sullen Dilly, think she’s a snob. But when Penelope’s mother and godmother go missing, her wealth goes along with them, and people start treating her differently—even cruelly. Is Penelope still special? Is she still the same person? And whatever will she do now? Celebrated author Lauren Myracle delivers a delicious update on a classic riches-to-rags story, both bubbly and poignant, in which friends and family are found in surprising places.
Penelope has been all over the globe, from the tippity top to the bottomitty bottom, traveling alongside her godmother, the super celebrity Queenie Bee. And she’s done things most kids never dream of, like feeding giraffes, exploring real glaciers, and hopping from one five-star hotel to the next. But there’s one thing she has never done, and she desperately wants to give it a try: go to school! So Penelope persuades her mother and godmother to let her attend Idlewild Academy for Girls. There, Penelope’s charm, openness, and generosity quickly win over many of her new classmates. Although some, including sullen Dilly, think she’s a snob. But when Penelope’s mother and godmother go missing, her wealth goes along with them, and people start treating her differently—even cruelly. Is Penelope still special? Is she still the same person? And whatever will she do now? Celebrated author Lauren Myracle delivers a delicious update on a classic riches-to-rags story, both bubbly and poignant, in which friends and family are found in surprising places.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published August 12, 2025
5 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Myracle
95 books2,032 followersLauren Myracle is the author of numerous young adult novels. She was born in 1969 in North Carolina. Lauren Myracle holds an MA in English from Colorado State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. she has written many novels, including the famous IM books, ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r.
Her first novel, Kissing Kate, was selected as one of ALA's "Best Books for Young Adults" for the year 2004. It was named by Booklist as one of the "Top Ten Youth Romances" of the year, as well as one of the "Top Ten Books by New Writers." Her middle-grade novel, Eleven, came out 2004, followed by its YA sequels (Twelve, Thirteen, Thirteen Plus One) .
Her first novel, Kissing Kate, was selected as one of ALA's "Best Books for Young Adults" for the year 2004. It was named by Booklist as one of the "Top Ten Youth Romances" of the year, as well as one of the "Top Ten Books by New Writers." Her middle-grade novel, Eleven, came out 2004, followed by its YA sequels (Twelve, Thirteen, Thirteen Plus One) .
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 9, 2025
You know how sometimes you read a book and think, “Omigod, if I had read this when I was little, I would totally be obsessed with it, but now I’m an adult”? Maybe it’s just a me experience... This modern version of A Little Princess is definitely going to take imaginative readers on a journey! Between Penelope’s whimsical past experiences and her all-too-uncharted present, readers are going to love her fearlessness, kindness, and determination throughout the novel. Lauren (hi! 👋) also does a great job of showing inclusivity with a multitude of characters, which will make readers of all backgrounds feel seen. This would be great for upper elementary / younger middle school, though there are some big vocabulary words that some readers may struggle with (but a learning opportunity presents itself!). There are many great messages for young readers to take away from this book — but my favorite one is to be your own trueberry. 🫐
Thanks for the ARC!!!!
Thanks for the ARC!!!!
February 16, 2026
As a huge little princess fan, I was a little wary but if you like that book but wanted one for the twenty first century this is it!!! Super great!
September 22, 2025
love love LOOOOVE Penelope!
When I saw that this was a retelling of A Little Princess I knew I had to read it, and it was just so perfect! I listened to the audio and the narrator was fantastic! The book was so much fun,I loved the school setting and I just adored Penelope. There were a lot of great, fully rounded characters in this one. I found I really loved reading the bits from the POV from Mrs. Grimsley. She was a complex and conflicted villain and I enjoyed that, while she was not a very good person, we got to see the why inside her head.
When I saw that this was a retelling of A Little Princess I knew I had to read it, and it was just so perfect! I listened to the audio and the narrator was fantastic! The book was so much fun,I loved the school setting and I just adored Penelope. There were a lot of great, fully rounded characters in this one. I found I really loved reading the bits from the POV from Mrs. Grimsley. She was a complex and conflicted villain and I enjoyed that, while she was not a very good person, we got to see the why inside her head.
November 8, 2025
Nine-year-old Penelope Goodheart is the type of girl who sees “rainbows everywhere.” It’s no wonder; up till now she has spent her entire life traveling the world with, and being spoiled by, her mother Rose and her godmother, Queenie Bee, an internationally beloved reality TV star. Penelope has the best of everything - designer clothes, the latest toys and gadgets - but she has never been to school, or stayed in one place long enough to make a friend her age. So she convinces her mother to let her attend Idlewild Academy, a tiny boarding school on an island near Savannah, Georgia, where Rose grew up. Starting school, being away from her mom, meeting other girls - all of it is a huge adjustment, but she becomes fast friends with her roommate Tate, and connects with several of the other students, who are interested in her at first only because of her relationship with Queenie. Her roommate Dilly, on the other hand, resents Penelope’s popularity and wealth, and finds lots of ways to sabotage her experience at school. The headmistress, Mrs. Grimsley looks at Penelope as a golden opportunity to enhance her own fortune; she has been given a spending allowance by Queenie Bee and uses it on herself and on fancy new fixtures for the school as much as on Penelope. Mrs. Grimsley is obsequious toward Penelope, but it is clear she also deeply envies her.
Right before Thanksgiving break, disaster strikes and Rose and Queenie Bee disappear near Bora Bora. Mrs. Grimsley suddenly finds herself in debt for all the spending. With no way to pay her tuition, Penelope is banished to the basement and forced to become a servant at the school instead of a student. Mrs. Grimsley is draconian and cruel; she takes and sells all of Penelope’s belongings and gives her bizarre and disgusting chores. For Penelope, learning to live without all her favorite things is nothing compared to the grief she feels over the loss of her mother and godmother. She is desperate to learn the truth about what happened in Bora Bora, and is hopeful to cross paths with kindly Mr. Wilkerson, the school's benefactor. She tries to maintain her sunny disposition, but every day seems bleaker and bleaker, despite the kindness of Tate and some of the other girls. Readers will fully anticipate the book’s happy ending, but will celebrate it nonetheless.
Incredibly Penelope is a modern re-telling of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s A Little Princess, but it is certainly not necessary to know that classic story to enjoy this one (although it is quite fun to connect the dots). Penelope is a plucky, likeable heroine that readers will empathize with, even if they can’t relate to her designer wardrobe or worldly ways. Lauren Myracle uses omniscient narration to help readers get into the mindset of all the other characters too, especially the bewildered Tate, the spiteful Dilly, and the horrid Mrs. Grimsley. The text is full of descriptive detail, particularly about the setting and Penelope’s clothes, entertaining dialogue, sweet friendships, and a few surprising twists and turns. Penelope and the other main characters cue as white, but the secondary cast of boarding school students is racially diverse, and Tate is nonbinary. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
Right before Thanksgiving break, disaster strikes and Rose and Queenie Bee disappear near Bora Bora. Mrs. Grimsley suddenly finds herself in debt for all the spending. With no way to pay her tuition, Penelope is banished to the basement and forced to become a servant at the school instead of a student. Mrs. Grimsley is draconian and cruel; she takes and sells all of Penelope’s belongings and gives her bizarre and disgusting chores. For Penelope, learning to live without all her favorite things is nothing compared to the grief she feels over the loss of her mother and godmother. She is desperate to learn the truth about what happened in Bora Bora, and is hopeful to cross paths with kindly Mr. Wilkerson, the school's benefactor. She tries to maintain her sunny disposition, but every day seems bleaker and bleaker, despite the kindness of Tate and some of the other girls. Readers will fully anticipate the book’s happy ending, but will celebrate it nonetheless.
Incredibly Penelope is a modern re-telling of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s A Little Princess, but it is certainly not necessary to know that classic story to enjoy this one (although it is quite fun to connect the dots). Penelope is a plucky, likeable heroine that readers will empathize with, even if they can’t relate to her designer wardrobe or worldly ways. Lauren Myracle uses omniscient narration to help readers get into the mindset of all the other characters too, especially the bewildered Tate, the spiteful Dilly, and the horrid Mrs. Grimsley. The text is full of descriptive detail, particularly about the setting and Penelope’s clothes, entertaining dialogue, sweet friendships, and a few surprising twists and turns. Penelope and the other main characters cue as white, but the secondary cast of boarding school students is racially diverse, and Tate is nonbinary. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
August 10, 2025
What worked:
The book opens with Penelope encountering new feelings. She grows up surrounded by love and encouragement from her mother and godmother, the world-famous Queenie Bee. Queenie, Penelope, and her mom travel around the globe, sharing adventures while visiting exotic locations. Penelope decides she wants to experience the adventure of a real school, but she may not be prepared for the attitudes of those who resent her upbringing. One roommate, Dilly, thinks Penelope’s a braggart and show-off, and Mrs. Grimsley, head of the academy, is internally jealous and angered by a perceived sense of Penelope’s entitlement and superiority. Actually, the woman doesn’t like kids. Penelope begins to feel self-doubt because Dilly’s comments make her reflect on her behavior. Does talking about adventures with Queenie and wearing designer clothes make others feel bad or inferior? Is she being a show-off?
The author infuses different emotions through Penelope’s interactions with other characters. A bit of humor is created when Penelope’s positive outlook leads her to believe the angry, selfish headmaster is a kind and caring person. Another girl suspects Russian spies are everywhere. Penelope becomes best friends with Tate, a character who doesn’t identify as a boy or a girl. They support each other through different challenges, although Tate is afraid to go into the basement or visit the peaceful marsh. The other students are unaware of Dilly’s cruel mother, but this knowledge will help readers understand her character. Huge emotional swings arise later in the story, but I won’t spoil the experience for readers.
Readers will definitely have strong thoughts and questions about Mrs. Grimsley’s character. How is such a self-centered, wicked woman in charge of an academy for young girls? Mrs. Grimsley initially tries to instruct the eight fourth graders about outdated etiquette for young ladies. She treats Penelope like a cash cow, and readers will be privy to her thoughts to understand the shaky explanations behind her behavior. There’s a selfish reason behind every incident when she helps Penelope. Her ultimate hope is to be lucratively rewarded by Queenie sometime in the future. She treats every positive behavior toward Penelope as an investment in eventual financial profits.
What didn’t work as well:
The author uses an omniscient point of view, so readers are aware of characters’ thoughts and past experiences. The first half of the book interjects flashbacks from different characters, and some readers may be distracted by them. It’s nice to have background information, but some of it isn’t necessary.
The final verdict:
Hopefully, readers will connect with Penelope’s positivity and experience a variety of emotions as her attitude is challenged. Some may not be prepared for a huge surprise later in the story, but rest assured, a happy ending awaits. I highly recommend you check this book out for yourself.
The book opens with Penelope encountering new feelings. She grows up surrounded by love and encouragement from her mother and godmother, the world-famous Queenie Bee. Queenie, Penelope, and her mom travel around the globe, sharing adventures while visiting exotic locations. Penelope decides she wants to experience the adventure of a real school, but she may not be prepared for the attitudes of those who resent her upbringing. One roommate, Dilly, thinks Penelope’s a braggart and show-off, and Mrs. Grimsley, head of the academy, is internally jealous and angered by a perceived sense of Penelope’s entitlement and superiority. Actually, the woman doesn’t like kids. Penelope begins to feel self-doubt because Dilly’s comments make her reflect on her behavior. Does talking about adventures with Queenie and wearing designer clothes make others feel bad or inferior? Is she being a show-off?
The author infuses different emotions through Penelope’s interactions with other characters. A bit of humor is created when Penelope’s positive outlook leads her to believe the angry, selfish headmaster is a kind and caring person. Another girl suspects Russian spies are everywhere. Penelope becomes best friends with Tate, a character who doesn’t identify as a boy or a girl. They support each other through different challenges, although Tate is afraid to go into the basement or visit the peaceful marsh. The other students are unaware of Dilly’s cruel mother, but this knowledge will help readers understand her character. Huge emotional swings arise later in the story, but I won’t spoil the experience for readers.
Readers will definitely have strong thoughts and questions about Mrs. Grimsley’s character. How is such a self-centered, wicked woman in charge of an academy for young girls? Mrs. Grimsley initially tries to instruct the eight fourth graders about outdated etiquette for young ladies. She treats Penelope like a cash cow, and readers will be privy to her thoughts to understand the shaky explanations behind her behavior. There’s a selfish reason behind every incident when she helps Penelope. Her ultimate hope is to be lucratively rewarded by Queenie sometime in the future. She treats every positive behavior toward Penelope as an investment in eventual financial profits.
What didn’t work as well:
The author uses an omniscient point of view, so readers are aware of characters’ thoughts and past experiences. The first half of the book interjects flashbacks from different characters, and some readers may be distracted by them. It’s nice to have background information, but some of it isn’t necessary.
The final verdict:
Hopefully, readers will connect with Penelope’s positivity and experience a variety of emotions as her attitude is challenged. Some may not be prepared for a huge surprise later in the story, but rest assured, a happy ending awaits. I highly recommend you check this book out for yourself.
September 3, 2025
🎧 Audiobook Rating: 4 ⭐ (RBmedia)
📖 Story Rating: 3.25 ⭐
🎙 Narrated by: Laura Knight Keating
I enjoyed the narration of this story - Laura had a lovely, expressive voice with an engaging tone. I actually loved the slight hoarseness and softness in her voice, which added a lot of character to the narration. The southern accents were also quite charming, and the character voices were all done quite well.
Story Review:
Penelope has lived an unconventional life filled with adventure and comforts. She has also been surrounded by loving parental figures that have shaped her into a confident young girl. Most importantly, she embodies kindness and understanding towards others. She also has an innate sense of optimism and hope - of believing the best about people. When faced with adversity, she showed great inner resilience.
It's interesting to consider how unhappy people can often be envious of your happiness and resent you for your confidence. It effects their perception of you, leading them to misconstrue and resent even genuine goodness as attitude or a sense of entitlement. The story shifted POV's between characters, which gave the reader/listener insight into why various character's were behaving the way they were, and to cultivate a sense of understanding and empathy towards them.
This was a delightful and meaningful story, with Penelope at the forefront as a thoughtful and reflective character. The story gave a good look into various emotions, attitudes and values - and is certainly instructive for children.
Additional Thoughts:
This book was a bit younger than middle-grade fiction. While I didn't mind the shifting of POV's, it was done quite often in moving from one paragraph to the next sometimes. From a personal reading perspective, the situation Penelope finds herself in was quite exaggerated, and the lead up to the end was fairly dramatic. The extent of actions taken by the Headmistress against Penelope also seemed unrealistic, as well as the initial response of the students towards Penelope when she was going through a difficult time. There is good enough reasoning provided for it, which again focuses on illustrating why different people behave in different ways, and the emotions they may be experiencing.
Overall, I think the book did a good job of communicating key values and messages throughout the story in a thoughtful manner, and is a good story for children.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complementary audiobook arc of this story. All opinions expressed here are my own.
📖 Story Rating: 3.25 ⭐
🎙 Narrated by: Laura Knight Keating
I enjoyed the narration of this story - Laura had a lovely, expressive voice with an engaging tone. I actually loved the slight hoarseness and softness in her voice, which added a lot of character to the narration. The southern accents were also quite charming, and the character voices were all done quite well.
Story Review:
Penelope has lived an unconventional life filled with adventure and comforts. She has also been surrounded by loving parental figures that have shaped her into a confident young girl. Most importantly, she embodies kindness and understanding towards others. She also has an innate sense of optimism and hope - of believing the best about people. When faced with adversity, she showed great inner resilience.
It's interesting to consider how unhappy people can often be envious of your happiness and resent you for your confidence. It effects their perception of you, leading them to misconstrue and resent even genuine goodness as attitude or a sense of entitlement. The story shifted POV's between characters, which gave the reader/listener insight into why various character's were behaving the way they were, and to cultivate a sense of understanding and empathy towards them.
This was a delightful and meaningful story, with Penelope at the forefront as a thoughtful and reflective character. The story gave a good look into various emotions, attitudes and values - and is certainly instructive for children.
Additional Thoughts:
This book was a bit younger than middle-grade fiction. While I didn't mind the shifting of POV's, it was done quite often in moving from one paragraph to the next sometimes. From a personal reading perspective, the situation Penelope finds herself in was quite exaggerated, and the lead up to the end was fairly dramatic. The extent of actions taken by the Headmistress against Penelope also seemed unrealistic, as well as the initial response of the students towards Penelope when she was going through a difficult time. There is good enough reasoning provided for it, which again focuses on illustrating why different people behave in different ways, and the emotions they may be experiencing.
Overall, I think the book did a good job of communicating key values and messages throughout the story in a thoughtful manner, and is a good story for children.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complementary audiobook arc of this story. All opinions expressed here are my own.
April 7, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Readers who are familiar with Myracle's middle grade and young adult novels will be surprised by this elementary retelling of Burnett's 1905 A Little Princess. Penelope's mother and godmother are off on an adventure because the godmother, Queenie, is a fat positive social media star. Penelope would like to start a school for disadvantaged children, and in order to do so, needs to finally attend an educational institution. She struggles with fitting in with the girls at her boarding school, but the headmistress likes her... as long as she can spend Queenie's mother. When the mother and godmother go missing, all of the assets are frozen, and Penelope is made to do chores around the school. A secret about her ancestry is revealed, and there is a happy ending.
Read this yourself to see if your library needs another retelling of this classic novel. Gilded Girl (Gilded Magic, 1) by Alyssa Colman is another version, with a little touch of fantasy. I don't have the readers for it at my middle school library, since the language is rather young, but it might go over well in elementary libraries where readers are fans of Jane's character in Birdsall's The Penderwicks.
Readers who are familiar with Myracle's middle grade and young adult novels will be surprised by this elementary retelling of Burnett's 1905 A Little Princess. Penelope's mother and godmother are off on an adventure because the godmother, Queenie, is a fat positive social media star. Penelope would like to start a school for disadvantaged children, and in order to do so, needs to finally attend an educational institution. She struggles with fitting in with the girls at her boarding school, but the headmistress likes her... as long as she can spend Queenie's mother. When the mother and godmother go missing, all of the assets are frozen, and Penelope is made to do chores around the school. A secret about her ancestry is revealed, and there is a happy ending.
Read this yourself to see if your library needs another retelling of this classic novel. Gilded Girl (Gilded Magic, 1) by Alyssa Colman is another version, with a little touch of fantasy. I don't have the readers for it at my middle school library, since the language is rather young, but it might go over well in elementary libraries where readers are fans of Jane's character in Birdsall's The Penderwicks.
January 7, 2026
This story is about a girl who has traveled the world all her life and wants to go to school. She gets dropped off at a boarding school and things are going pretty well. She makes some good friends at this all girls school including a girl who doesn't really know if she is a girl. She also makes an enemy. Then her mom and godmother go missing presumed dead. She then is made to be a servant and no longer a student and be verbally abused and mistreated by the headmistress.
I didn't enjoy this book. It has a weird shifting perspective. There was a lot that was just reducing and depressing. At the end they of course wrap everything up in a nice bow in that her mom and godmother are okay and she meets her estranged grandfather.
I didn't enjoy this book. It has a weird shifting perspective. There was a lot that was just reducing and depressing. At the end they of course wrap everything up in a nice bow in that her mom and godmother are okay and she meets her estranged grandfather.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2025
It was OK.
The Pollyanna optimism of Penelope was undaunted by her situation, which was inspiring. I saw echoes of the book of Job and Boethius' "Wheel of Fortune." Both of which I credit to the inspiration of "A Little Princess" — a book I Apparently haven't read, but I think I need to. I trust it will have the same themes & echoes with more depth, and without the token characters who — while having nothing to do with the plot — must be included in a contemporary book in order for it to get published.
The Pollyanna optimism of Penelope was undaunted by her situation, which was inspiring. I saw echoes of the book of Job and Boethius' "Wheel of Fortune." Both of which I credit to the inspiration of "A Little Princess" — a book I Apparently haven't read, but I think I need to. I trust it will have the same themes & echoes with more depth, and without the token characters who — while having nothing to do with the plot — must be included in a contemporary book in order for it to get published.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2025
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC.
This is an enjoyable book to listen to. The characters are well written. I think the struggles and conflicts that Penelope were well written and engaging. There are some great messages in this book. I did have some issue eith the pacing being slow in some areas and a bit fast in others. However I still think this book is still enjoyable and many young readers will enjoy.
This is an enjoyable book to listen to. The characters are well written. I think the struggles and conflicts that Penelope were well written and engaging. There are some great messages in this book. I did have some issue eith the pacing being slow in some areas and a bit fast in others. However I still think this book is still enjoyable and many young readers will enjoy.
September 2, 2025
First, I loved Penelope. She was smart and kind and honest and humble. She kind of reminded me of a modern Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables). The trope was foreseeable, but maybe only for more experienced readers. I think younger readers will really enjoy it. And I was glad that Penelope didn't have to suffer at the hands of Mrs. Grimsley for a majority of the book.
December 20, 2025
Having trouble rating this one because I can’t get over the part where the head mistress tells Penelope to take her clothes off right in front of her. Cringe. And beyond that, the amount of times the book talks about death/dying, mentions being better off dead, and poor language. In my opinion, this book isn’t appropriate for the targeted age.
January 10, 2026
The book was really good but it was definitely a modern remake of “a little princess” the plot what the same the outcome was the same but the characters where different obviously if I haven’t read the “little princess” I would have given it 5 stars but since it was basically the same can’t give it 5 stars good read though!
September 7, 2025
👧🏻 review: this book
November 24, 2025
3.5/5 - this would be a great movie. It took a dark turn half way, but I do think kids will constantly and consistently root for Penelope.
November 26, 2025
So whimsical and full of heart!
December 10, 2025
Incredibly Penelope is a modern take on The Little Princess. Penelope is fun-loving, kind, generous, liked, and well-to-do. After traveling all over the world with her family, she wants to go to school. She is enrolled at a boarding school, Idlewild Academy. When her family's money runs out, she is relegated to the academy's basement. Will she change? Will she still be the fun-loving, kind, liked and generous person she has always been? The dialogue is lively and engaging.
April 19, 2026
🎧 Cute middle grade book.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews