Brave Princess Aina: The Courageous Heart of Sarah Forbes Bonetta

Tales of Boldness and Faith #3

by Leah Boden

She was a real-life princess.

Brave Princess Aina tells the true story of a courageous child who grew into a faithful, brave young woman. In this fictionalized biography, Leah Boden brings to life the tale of Aina—later known as Sara Forbes Bonetta. Born into nobility in West Africa, Aina was orphaned and enslaved as a child before being freed during a daring rescue mission that was part of a long fight to end slavery. Her journey took her from Africa to England, where she formed a close family bond with Queen Victoria. This bright young woman received an education at Anglican missionary schools and at the home of abolitionist Captain Frederick Forbes, alongside his children, where she learned the power of prayer. Her remarkable story of faith, bravery, and unshakable spirit will captivate and inspire young readers.

Genres: Biography, Childrens

160 pages, Paperback

Published August 5, 2025

About the author

Leah Boden is a long-time home educator with over two decades of experience in church leadership. Currently, her life and education focuses on the practice and pedagogy of early 20th century educator Charlotte Mason. She leads the Charlotte Mason Conversations UK online community and founded Modern Miss Mason, an international initiative to help parents and children find their freedom within Mason’s philosophy. She lives with her husband and four children in the West Midlands, England.

Reviews

[Luminous Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that will enrich your faith!

In Brave Princess Aina Leah tells the story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a courageous girl born into African royalty who is enslaved and orphaned at a young age. Leah masterfully brings to life Sarah’s incredible journey as she is sails to England and forms a close bond with none other than Queen Victoria herself.

Brave Princess Aina celebrates the diverse history that shapes our world today, highlighting forgotten stories like Sarah’s, which have the power to inspire future generations to value their culture, embrace their identities, and dream big despite the struggles they face.

I particularly appreciate how Sarah’s story, though filled with many challenges and hardships, showcases the power of love and friendship to bridge worlds and unite people. Readers are invited to witness Sarah’s transformation from a courageous girl into an influential educator, loving wife, and devoted mother, whose legacy inspires future generations.

This beautifully written story of hope and resilience is sure to touch the hearts readers of all ages.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Amber (Her Home and Hearts) Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She was a real-life princess."

💭My Thoughts:
This fictionalized biography, book 3 the Tales of Boldness and Faith series, is my personal favorite! I truly love books that bring deep feelings to the surface, and this story does just that. It takes the reader through Sarah Forbes Bonetta’s life, (born Princess Aina in West Africa) from her childhood to her passing. Sarah lived a hard but deeply meaningful life, and I was often inspired by her bravery and selflessness. Orphaned and enslaved as a child, she was freed during a daring rescue mission tied to the fight against slavery. Her remarkable story of faith, courage, and selfless love captivated me. Her story makes an inspiring must-read for a variety of ages.
5/5 ⭐️ I highly recommend this book!!!


💕 Read This If You Love:
• Inspirational true stories
• Christian historical biographies
• Tales of courage and faith
• Stories of overcoming adversity

⚠️ Content Notes: Mentions of orphans, enslavement, being uprooted, & death. All handled gently for young readers (ages 8–12).

[Niyah Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another inspirational life story by Leah Boden. I had never heard of Aina (Sarah Forbes Bonetta) until I read this book. Her life was interesting, to say the least. Taken in as the goddaughter of Queen Victoria herself after she was taken from Africa, her homeland, by Captain Forbes, who had rescued her from a life of slavery. Her life bounced between her homeland and England several times before she finally married and settled down in Africa to be a missionary teacher.
I was saddened by her early death, which I didn't see coming. But her life wasn't lived in vain, and she lived a full and wonderful life for the Lord.
Note: This book says it is a fictionalized biography, but whether that means the author recreated facts or dialogue I am unsure, but just keep in mind that this book's facts may contradict facts in other books about Aina.
Thanks to Moody Publishing for my own free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Sarah Forbes Bonetta was a real-life African princess who was born in 1843. When she was five years old, a neighboring kingdom invaded her village, killing Princess Aina's parents and capturing people as slaves. After a British naval officer rescued her, she grew up in England under a new name as Queen Victoria's ward. She became a bridge between cultures, and during her adult life, she returned to West Africa and helped establish schools there. Her story exemplifies many complexities from that time in history, particularly related to the British Empire and colonialism. Her story is also a powerful example of resilience and faith in God, showing how someone can thrive in spite of trauma and make a difference in the world.

This is the third book in the Tales of Boldness and Faith series, and it is my favorite so far. This fictionalized biography has excellent pacing and beautiful grayscale illustrations, and even though the dramatized scenes involve creative license, the writing style will engage readers in a way that mere summaries of facts cannot. Also, because so much of the book focuses on Bonetta's childhood, kids will be able to see her as a role model and imagine how they would feel in her situation. Bonetta's life circumstances were intense and unique, but the author draws out broad emotional themes that kids can relate to from their own circumstances. This story can be especially meaningful for other children who feel culturally displaced and torn between two worlds.

The publisher is recommending this for kids ages eight to twelve. This book deals with tough topics in an age-appropriate way and never goes into detail about the traumas that Bonetta experienced during the attack on her village or her time in captivity. The book only obliquely references these horrors, showing their impact on her without graphic details. The author also explores tough themes about racial discrimination and cultural dislocation in a thoughtful way. I wondered how well the author would handle writing about a historical figure from a different race and culture than her own, and it is clear that she put a lot of research and thought into this. She also thanks people in the dedication whose feedback influenced her manuscript.

Brave Princess Aina: The Courageous Heart of Sarah Forbes Bonetta is a touching story that will appeal to kids and adults. This fictionalized biography is truly inspirational, and I recommend this to families who are looking for true stories about historical figures, especially if they are seeking out biographies about lesser-known people from diverse racial backgrounds. The faith-related elements in this book will especially appeal to Christians, but this book is a great read for anyone who wants to learn about Princess Aina and her powerful life story.

I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Brittany Roberson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of a young African princess, enslaved for a while to an enemy chief, eventually brought to England under the guardianship of Queen Victoria. Her life was filled with hardships and obstacles, and yet the strength of her character and personhood stood strong. Her short life left a strong legacy of faith, grace, and bravery.

This book is the 3rd release in the “Tales of Boldness and Faith” by Leah Boden, published by Moody: @moodypublishers Charlotte Mason, C.S. Lewis and now Sarah Forbes Bonetta. They are written for ages 8-12, but I have read all 3, and highly recommend them for older than 12 too!

This sweet book was such a joy to read. I knew nothing about Sarah Forbes Bonetta before I had read this book…but now I do - thank you for bringing her story to life, Leah!

[H.R.H. Carpathia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book about Aina/ Sarah. While this book is for younger readers and does not go into extensive detail about her life, I recommend it for anyone interested in stories about this princess that are closer to the actual events. Boden, paints a lovely and sympathetic picture of Aina and one can easily sympathize with the girl as she grows and takes on the challenges. The end is really moving. I will always look for more books on this remarkable princess. The illustrations are also beautiful.

[Antonea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I stopped to look up the many books and places mentioned. It’s clear, fair, and really just a lovely take on a relatively unknown story. I’m grateful for Leah’s honest, hopeful, and careful treatment of the complexities of Princess Aina’s story. I’m most grateful for the clear joy and peace that radiates through and how each person gets to be human: flawed, human, and yet deeply capable of good in the midst of hard. I hope she writes many more books like this!

[Jeri Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the story, I felt like the “moral” of the story was too pushy, rather than open for the reader to make their own connections.

[Ginny Yurich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these biographies by Leah!

[HisPresence MyHome · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful read about Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a young lady and African Princess I had never heard of before reading this book! This was a beautiful story of bravery, forgiveness, and resilience that needs to be read by more people. I can't wait to have my 9 year old read this book next!

Thank you to Moody Publishers for providing me with an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.