What do you think?
Rate this book
Camp Princess #1
Born to Rule
Are you growing tired of royal balls and boring banquets with visiting kings and princes? Do you long to escape the confines of the palace and find yourself in a completely new place, surrounded by other princesses your own age? Camp Princess is the perfect place for any princess to find a summer of magical fun! And this year, for a princess named Alicia, Camp Princess will become something more -- a place of mystery and adventure. Her turret seems to be haunted, and the golden bird that she captured for the songbird contest refuses to sing a note! It's all utterly frustrating -- until one shadowy night, when Alicia feels a ghostly presence in her room and begins to discover a destiny far more exciting than anything she could have imagined.
160 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2006
6 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Lasky
266 books2,269 followersKathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 24, 2015
I liked it but i don't think the book was for me. Some parts i go confused on because royal language is confusing! This book is about princess Alicia at camp and soon she find out there is a ghost and they communicate. I recommend this book to young readers because it is interesting for young readers, although there can be strong words that some don't understand.
December 24, 2017
Lasky, Kathryn Born to Rule, 160 p HarperCollins –
Alicia, a princess of B----- is away for her first summer at princess camp. She has formed a bond of friendship with her roommates, but she is struggling with the challenge every princess must face – finding and training a songbird. To further complicate things, rumors of a ghost haunting Alicia’s tower seem to have some truth, distracting Alicia with an enticing mystery. Fluffy and cute, prefect for middle elementary.
EL-ADVSIABLE
Alicia, a princess of B----- is away for her first summer at princess camp. She has formed a bond of friendship with her roommates, but she is struggling with the challenge every princess must face – finding and training a songbird. To further complicate things, rumors of a ghost haunting Alicia’s tower seem to have some truth, distracting Alicia with an enticing mystery. Fluffy and cute, prefect for middle elementary.
EL-ADVSIABLE
October 11, 2019
A great story!
I loved this book and wish I could read more! I have read a few books by this author and loved them both. However, most of them are the first ones in a series, and I can’t get the next one. But it just makes it even more fun finally reading the second, usually. A bit spooky, but not scary at all. A funny twist on summer camp.
I loved this book and wish I could read more! I have read a few books by this author and loved them both. However, most of them are the first ones in a series, and I can’t get the next one. But it just makes it even more fun finally reading the second, usually. A bit spooky, but not scary at all. A funny twist on summer camp.
April 19, 2018
Was one of my favorite childhood books. Never read the whole series but it inspired me to be graceful as a kid. I recommend this most especially to tweens :)
March 4, 2019
It was amazing and truly interesting. I have read it around 5 times now.
November 15, 2012
Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com
Princess Alicia has never been far from the company of her own family and servants. Now she's away from them at Camp Princess. A place full of new people, new experiences, and constant surprises. Her turret-mates are completely different from anyone she's ever known. Princess Gundersnap is frumpy and blunt, and Princess Kristen is a stylish tomboy, whose garments consist mostly of animals she's hunted. Not to mention the other Princesses, some of whom aren't very friendly.
As if the other Princesses weren't enough to deal with, there are the activities; needlepoint, swimming in the moat, makeup (with a very nasty duchess), falconry, lawn tennis, canoing, sailing, archery, jewel crafts, catching a songbird and teaching it to sing. Plus, all outdoor activities are weather dependent, and it can change from summer to winter in two minutes on any given day. Princess Camp is hard to keep up with!
The appearance of a ghost comes as a bit of a surprise to Princess Alicia. At first she just thinks she's dreaming. It will take help from all of her turret-mates to solve the mystery, and put the ghost to rest. Not to mention getting her songbird to sing!
BORN TO RULE is a light, sweet story, well suited to younger girls. It felt like it traveled in fits and spurts, but that might just have been the weather! At the end of the story the point of view switches seamlessly from Princess Alicia to Princess Gundersnap. Which tells me that our Princesses have much more adventure in store for them!
Princess Alicia has never been far from the company of her own family and servants. Now she's away from them at Camp Princess. A place full of new people, new experiences, and constant surprises. Her turret-mates are completely different from anyone she's ever known. Princess Gundersnap is frumpy and blunt, and Princess Kristen is a stylish tomboy, whose garments consist mostly of animals she's hunted. Not to mention the other Princesses, some of whom aren't very friendly.
As if the other Princesses weren't enough to deal with, there are the activities; needlepoint, swimming in the moat, makeup (with a very nasty duchess), falconry, lawn tennis, canoing, sailing, archery, jewel crafts, catching a songbird and teaching it to sing. Plus, all outdoor activities are weather dependent, and it can change from summer to winter in two minutes on any given day. Princess Camp is hard to keep up with!
The appearance of a ghost comes as a bit of a surprise to Princess Alicia. At first she just thinks she's dreaming. It will take help from all of her turret-mates to solve the mystery, and put the ghost to rest. Not to mention getting her songbird to sing!
BORN TO RULE is a light, sweet story, well suited to younger girls. It felt like it traveled in fits and spurts, but that might just have been the weather! At the end of the story the point of view switches seamlessly from Princess Alicia to Princess Gundersnap. Which tells me that our Princesses have much more adventure in store for them!
July 11, 2012
Princess Alicia of All the Belgravias does not want to attend Camp Princess. Young royals from near and far, nasty and nice, engage in activities that include swimming, falconry, embroidery, flawless makeup application, and training songbirds from the Forest of Chimes.
She expected things to go easy upon arrival and yet Alicia's bird refuses to sing and the girls' unexpected outspokenness gets her in trouble with a camp counselor, threatening to put her purple team in last place in the camp's color wars. The only saving grace turns out to be her new turret mates: Princess Kristen of the Isles of Salt Tears in the Realm of the Rolm and Princess Gundersnap of the Empire of Slobodkonia.
Yet, it is shy Alicia who becomes embroiled in a tragic old love story. She meets a mysterious, magical woman in the forest and discovers a ghost lurking in her bedchamber and a missing tapestry that tells only half of the lovers' tale. In the end, the girls release the ghost princess and her knight for a happy reunion. Perfect for girly girls or for devoted fans of puffball princess stories.
Book Details:
Title Born to Rule (Camp Princess #1)
Author Kathryn Lasky
Reviewed By Purplycookie
She expected things to go easy upon arrival and yet Alicia's bird refuses to sing and the girls' unexpected outspokenness gets her in trouble with a camp counselor, threatening to put her purple team in last place in the camp's color wars. The only saving grace turns out to be her new turret mates: Princess Kristen of the Isles of Salt Tears in the Realm of the Rolm and Princess Gundersnap of the Empire of Slobodkonia.
Yet, it is shy Alicia who becomes embroiled in a tragic old love story. She meets a mysterious, magical woman in the forest and discovers a ghost lurking in her bedchamber and a missing tapestry that tells only half of the lovers' tale. In the end, the girls release the ghost princess and her knight for a happy reunion. Perfect for girly girls or for devoted fans of puffball princess stories.
Book Details:
Title Born to Rule (Camp Princess #1)
Author Kathryn Lasky
Reviewed By Purplycookie
July 21, 2011
This was an easy read, and an amusing way to pass a bit of time. This story had lots of little storylines running through it, as well as the main one. I am attracted to the idea of ‘camp’, and all the little details the author chose to add. Nothing rankles me more than a story with a theme, but then it has no details to support it. Like it could be set anywhere, anytime. I think it is the thought that an author puts in that makes all the difference. I like that the princess’s sleep in turrets, take classes in everything from swimming to make-up to embroidery. They hunt and train songbirds. Their camp ‘councilors’ are other princesses, duchesses and other nobility. They interact with ghosts and witches. Even the camp is located in a magical place, where seasons can last hours or days. It is obvious the author took lots of time and care crafting this story. Even the diversity of the princess’s and the clique feel was an interesting touch, and added some realism. After all, isn’t that what everyone wants, is to be accepted? I would recommend this book to middle grade girls, especially those who like fantasy.
April 3, 2023
Loved it!
April 9, 2008
CIP: none
Summary: Alicia goes to summer camp for princesses where she encounters a ghost and must solve a 200 year old mystery.
Review: This fantasy novel will enchant those who dream of being able to wear tiaras all day and engage in activities such as embroidery and teaching songbirds to sing. However, it moves slowly and predictably, with the requisite happy ending.
SLJ says: "readers will enjoy the satisfying ending."
Publisher's Weekly says : "Lasky's Camp Princess series is off to a sprightly start."
Summary: Alicia goes to summer camp for princesses where she encounters a ghost and must solve a 200 year old mystery.
Review: This fantasy novel will enchant those who dream of being able to wear tiaras all day and engage in activities such as embroidery and teaching songbirds to sing. However, it moves slowly and predictably, with the requisite happy ending.
SLJ says: "readers will enjoy the satisfying ending."
Publisher's Weekly says : "Lasky's Camp Princess series is off to a sprightly start."
June 6, 2011
She & 2 other girls get assigned to a bedroom that has a mystery. The princess who used to live there haunts the room. She sees the ghost and follows the ghost princess into a secret room. She and 2 other girls have to sew to reunite a couple who happens to be a human transformed into a bird and a ghost princess. Finally, after they get reunited, she ( the ghost princess ) stops haunting the room and is finally "at peace" with her love.
January 2, 2009
Princess Alicia is off to a summer camp for princesses. While doing typical things such as songbird hunting and jewel crafts, she and her turretmates must discover why a ghost is haunting the South Turret.
This was a cute and clever book, with just enough quirk to keep me reading. It was a little juvenile, but since that is the target audience, I can't really complain too much.
This was a cute and clever book, with just enough quirk to keep me reading. It was a little juvenile, but since that is the target audience, I can't really complain too much.
September 18, 2010
I read this book when i was going through my princess phase (which happened when i was like 12 for whatever reason). I remember really enjoying it and wanting the rest of the books in the series to come.
January 16, 2014
Very cute book. I like how different the princesses all are and how very different the cultures of their kingdoms. The magically changing seasons too was funny.
http://www.pussreboots.pair.com/blog/...
http://www.pussreboots.pair.com/blog/...
March 31, 2013
Princess Alicia has a book called, "Forgotten Princess". She enjoys that book but she didn't know it was a clue of mytery. She didn't know the contest was a clue of the mystery. She didn't know if the castle was really haunted. But oneday, she found out something surprising. Really surprising.
August 16, 2008
love, Love, LOVE this book!
August 20, 2009
Cute Story. Read it to my 4 year old niece. Little above her head, but she enjoyed most of it. Well worth the read for some light entertainment.
September 30, 2011
I really like the book, it make a really good story to read to little kids sometimes.
March 17, 2015
A good deal fluffier than her regular books. The story was all right, but I doubt I'll read more from this series.
October 16, 2012
Born to Rule is an awsome book!!!
January 16, 2015
Love this book!!!!!!!!!
What a lovely adventure. Perfect read when so few authors write books that are appropriate for young 8-55 year olds.
What a lovely adventure. Perfect read when so few authors write books that are appropriate for young 8-55 year olds.
October 24, 2024
Sometimes I get an itch to read middle-grade and then 2 chapters in, remember why I'm too old for middle-grade fiction.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews