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The Runaway Princess: A Graphic Novel
This princess can't resist the lure of adventure, but her parents aren't quite on board in this fantastical graphic novel perfect for fans of Princess in Black and Phoebe and Her Unicorn!
Robin? Robin? Robin?! Where are you?
She couldn't have gone far. . . .
Princesses don't run away to have their own adventures. Right?
Princesses stay quietly and obediently at home. They would never want mermaids and swamps and pirates and getting kidnapped to be a part of their lives.
Not this princess!
Adventures await when Robin (bored of princess-ing all the time) embarks on the best adventure of her life--meeting friends along the way as she travels through the magical landscape of her country. But her parents aren't so pleased--and they're coming to find her and bring her back to the castle, no matter how she feels about it!
Robin? Robin? Robin?! Where are you?
She couldn't have gone far. . . .
Princesses don't run away to have their own adventures. Right?
Princesses stay quietly and obediently at home. They would never want mermaids and swamps and pirates and getting kidnapped to be a part of their lives.
Not this princess!
Adventures await when Robin (bored of princess-ing all the time) embarks on the best adventure of her life--meeting friends along the way as she travels through the magical landscape of her country. But her parents aren't so pleased--and they're coming to find her and bring her back to the castle, no matter how she feels about it!
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 21, 2020
30 people are currently reading
814 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews
March 18, 2020
The weird tone of this book won me over. It collects three adventures of Princess Robin of Seddenga (Rouge in the original French) as she deals with kidnappers, a witch, and pirates. It seems like it should be pretty standard kid stuff, but the tales unfold in a goofy, seat-of-the-pants manner and occasionally stop to invite readers to solve an activities page puzzle or move the book in a particular way. Quirkiness abounds: the moai statues of Easter Island show up and talk; the pirates, for no explained reason, sail on a full-sized ship in a bottle; King Croesus and the Gingerbread House make appearances. It's all odd, but enjoyable.
February 8, 2022
A young princess repeatedly escapes from her castle to go on lighthearted adventures in the kingdom, meeting various silly or shady characters a long the way. I found the story a little thin, but the art is extremely charming and the book is full of interactive activities like mazes, puzzles, and Where's Waldo type searches that work very well.
January 18, 2020
Endearing and engaging! This new graphic novel is just delightful. The colors are brilliant and little Robin shines as the main star of the three stories inside. Sprinkled throughout are puzzles and interactive pages for the readers to participate in the story. As I was reading the first story I was reminded of "The Little Prince" and then shortly thereafter there was a direct reference in the narrative to that classic. The author borrows bits from many other stories making it a charming mish mash with something for everyone.
A big thank you to Random House Graphic for a paperback ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A big thank you to Random House Graphic for a paperback ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2020
This review and many others can also be found at Musings of a (Book) Girl.
Absolute. Pure. Magic.
I was instantly drawn in by Johan Troianowski’s art style. It’s quirky, bright, and was the perfect way to bring the story to life.
The characters were adorable. Robin was hilarious and full of spunk while also being completely endearing. She very easily stole the show but the band of brothers she befriended were also special. Not all of them spoke much but they each had specific identifiable traits that helped them stand apart.
One of my favorite parts about the entire thing was that it was interactive. This is something I would have been all over as a kid and even as an adult it sparked some joy. The reader is asked to shake the book three times before turning the page to help Robin escape a wolf, use their finger to help the characters find their way through a maze, search for a missing character on a crowded page, and so much more.
The Runaway Princess is truly special. Between great humor and being able to help the characters on their wacky adventures – readers of all ages will find themselves unable to put this book down.
A physical ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Absolute. Pure. Magic.
I was instantly drawn in by Johan Troianowski’s art style. It’s quirky, bright, and was the perfect way to bring the story to life.
The characters were adorable. Robin was hilarious and full of spunk while also being completely endearing. She very easily stole the show but the band of brothers she befriended were also special. Not all of them spoke much but they each had specific identifiable traits that helped them stand apart.
One of my favorite parts about the entire thing was that it was interactive. This is something I would have been all over as a kid and even as an adult it sparked some joy. The reader is asked to shake the book three times before turning the page to help Robin escape a wolf, use their finger to help the characters find their way through a maze, search for a missing character on a crowded page, and so much more.
The Runaway Princess is truly special. Between great humor and being able to help the characters on their wacky adventures – readers of all ages will find themselves unable to put this book down.
A physical ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2021
Princess Robin can't resist the thrill of adventure: An Aquatic Festival, a two-faced witch and a world inhabited by pirates are the three different stories shared about the missing princess.
Full of vibrant and laughable illustrations, this graphic novel, combines the love of fairytales in graphic novel form. A perfect read-alike for those who are fans of the Princess in Black and Phoebe and her Unicorn series.
Additionally, the other great thing I enjoyed about this graphic novel were the games incorporated into it. Amidst each of Robin's adventures are several times when the reader themselves must save Robin or aide her in journeys, through mazes, repetition sequences, and breaking the fourth wall to help Robin evade villains. This makes it a great resource for teachers and grown-up's who don't think graphic novels count as literature, because the readers must pay attention to the story to be able to complete the puzzles included to continue.
A great fun and silly read!
Full of vibrant and laughable illustrations, this graphic novel, combines the love of fairytales in graphic novel form. A perfect read-alike for those who are fans of the Princess in Black and Phoebe and her Unicorn series.
Additionally, the other great thing I enjoyed about this graphic novel were the games incorporated into it. Amidst each of Robin's adventures are several times when the reader themselves must save Robin or aide her in journeys, through mazes, repetition sequences, and breaking the fourth wall to help Robin evade villains. This makes it a great resource for teachers and grown-up's who don't think graphic novels count as literature, because the readers must pay attention to the story to be able to complete the puzzles included to continue.
A great fun and silly read!
February 26, 2020
This is such a great graphic novel for younger readers. The story itself is engaging and the characters are super fun, plus there's an interactive element to the book that's cute and made the read that much more enjoyable. I highly recommend this for any young readers you might know.
June 16, 2020
After not reading for a few weeks or better said, months. I need some time to adjust myself to reading again. And that’s okay. My study is finished and finally I have more time on my hands. I decided to read some colorful graphic novels first. And I am glad I did.
I absolutely adored this books. The storyline is cute, the adventures have something magical and surrealistic and the art is just stunning. Also love the interactive parts, this book made me smile a lot.
I absolutely adored this books. The storyline is cute, the adventures have something magical and surrealistic and the art is just stunning. Also love the interactive parts, this book made me smile a lot.
October 11, 2024
What a creative delight. I checked this book out for my daughter from the library and she left it such a glowing review I had to try it! So cute, so engaging—there are even little puzzles and ways to interact with the text as you read. Highly recommend to emerging readers!
February 9, 2024
I really liked this book! It was funny and cute I liked how you get to do puzzles throughout the book. I especially liked Elias.😊
did-not-finish
February 2, 2020DNF @ 19%
Perfect for fans of Phoebe and Her Unicorn? I think not. This is neither clever nor particularly entertaining. It's way too long, aimed at the wrong age group, and is so nonsensical (the queen freaking flies!) that it's hard to take seriously. The author obviously loves Lewis Carroll's work, and the homage to absurdity is clear. But if I'm reading a book where a princess supposedly upends social conventions and runs off to have her own adventure, I except more than the sexualizing of children and the standard "boy saves girl" trope.
It seemed to take me forever to get almost 1/5 of the way through this 272-page monster, which brings me to my main complaint. This is way too long for a children's graphic novel. And it's clearly aimed at children. There are all these little "interactive" bits where kids are supposed to solve puzzles or randomly shout a character's name as loud as they can (which I'm sure unsuspecting parents will appreciate). The age group that this feature will appeal to is not the same one that's ready to tackle books that are almost 300 pages long.
The final straw for me was when Robin was kidnapped. Her kidnappers are hapless and useless, but that's beside the point. She actually joins forces with them, and promotes their music group. Call it a bad case of Stockholm Syndrome. Call it an excuse for child trafficking. Whatever it is, it has no place in a children's book.
If you want interactive picture books, go read Don't Push the Button! by Bill Cotter. If you want graphic novels for kids that aren't insufferably trite, try Phoebe and Her Unicorn in Unicorn Theater by Dana Simpson or The Bad Guys series by Aaron Blabey.
Perfect for fans of Phoebe and Her Unicorn? I think not. This is neither clever nor particularly entertaining. It's way too long, aimed at the wrong age group, and is so nonsensical (the queen freaking flies!) that it's hard to take seriously. The author obviously loves Lewis Carroll's work, and the homage to absurdity is clear. But if I'm reading a book where a princess supposedly upends social conventions and runs off to have her own adventure, I except more than the sexualizing of children and the standard "boy saves girl" trope.
It seemed to take me forever to get almost 1/5 of the way through this 272-page monster, which brings me to my main complaint. This is way too long for a children's graphic novel. And it's clearly aimed at children. There are all these little "interactive" bits where kids are supposed to solve puzzles or randomly shout a character's name as loud as they can (which I'm sure unsuspecting parents will appreciate). The age group that this feature will appeal to is not the same one that's ready to tackle books that are almost 300 pages long.
The final straw for me was when Robin was kidnapped. Her kidnappers are hapless and useless, but that's beside the point. She actually joins forces with them, and promotes their music group. Call it a bad case of Stockholm Syndrome. Call it an excuse for child trafficking. Whatever it is, it has no place in a children's book.
If you want interactive picture books, go read Don't Push the Button! by Bill Cotter. If you want graphic novels for kids that aren't insufferably trite, try Phoebe and Her Unicorn in Unicorn Theater by Dana Simpson or The Bad Guys series by Aaron Blabey.
June 26, 2019
This is the first graphic novel in the Random House Graphic imprint debuting January 2020.
This book is actually 3 stories in 1! The style and some of the characters remind me of Kerascoet's work. This is like if Beautiful Darkness by Fabien Vehlmann was made for kids and no one died haha. This graphic novel is also interactive and not just in a choose your own adventure type way but there are mini puzzles and mazes scattered throughout. They are few and far between and feel well thought-out.
Super excited to get this into the hands of readers and for the rest of the debut list for Random House Graphic!
This book is actually 3 stories in 1! The style and some of the characters remind me of Kerascoet's work. This is like if Beautiful Darkness by Fabien Vehlmann was made for kids and no one died haha. This graphic novel is also interactive and not just in a choose your own adventure type way but there are mini puzzles and mazes scattered throughout. They are few and far between and feel well thought-out.
Super excited to get this into the hands of readers and for the rest of the debut list for Random House Graphic!
January 23, 2021
A cute and rather bizarrely imaginative world. Tonally, something felt off, not only in the dialogue but in the expressions of our cast, who run from life-threatening situations without looking scared. Maybe not as wide a range of emotional expressions in the drawing style? But it was cute and I can see the interactive games the reader has to play as being of interest to younger readers.
For fans of Hilda!
For fans of Hilda!
June 2, 2021
Cute, fast paced graphic novel about a princess who goes on adventures. There’s not much in terms of cohesive plot, but it’s cute, the art is full color and beautiful, and I liked the reader moments where they ask the reader to turn the book or solve little puzzles.
February 20, 2020
Really unique, not like anything else I've seen lately. The kids will enjoy it.
December 24, 2020
I got this from the library and read it to my kids. Great graphic novel with a lot going for it:
-cartoon style is cute, fine, but it stands out from the crowd with a unique, oversaturated color palette
-has cute little games inside that encourage participation (eg asks the reader to shout, shake the book, solve mazes and little puzzles). My kids skipped these if I wasn't reading the part aloud and making them do them though.
-the story is told in several chapters of random adventures. It's usually cute, fine, and kinda nonsense, but it does take a dark turn when a nice new friend turns out to be an evil witch who wants to eat the princess for magic powers. That one didn't seem to fit in with the other cutesy stuff.
Overall I really liked it, but it didn't have that "heart" I look for, it was just fun fluff.
-cartoon style is cute, fine, but it stands out from the crowd with a unique, oversaturated color palette
-has cute little games inside that encourage participation (eg asks the reader to shout, shake the book, solve mazes and little puzzles). My kids skipped these if I wasn't reading the part aloud and making them do them though.
-the story is told in several chapters of random adventures. It's usually cute, fine, and kinda nonsense, but it does take a dark turn when a nice new friend turns out to be an evil witch who wants to eat the princess for magic powers. That one didn't seem to fit in with the other cutesy stuff.
Overall I really liked it, but it didn't have that "heart" I look for, it was just fun fluff.
January 7, 2020
“The Runaway Princess” is a charming graphic novel for middle-grade readers. Princess Robin has a total of three extraordinary adventures in this book. She along with her four new friends will get to see the wildly fanciful Aquatic Circus, find themselves on the run from the Autumn Witch in the Kingdom of Darkness and finally end up stranded on an island where they’re aided by Professor Dandelion in escaping the clutches of a group of pirates. Winsomely illustrated with a briskly paced plot, it’s an interactive story where the reader is asked repeatedly to help advance the story whether it’s to follow a maze, complete a dot-to-dot or to shake the book up and down. A totally FUN and entertaining read!
October 13, 2020
I love maps and this title has three stories each with its own map. So cool. Love the illustrations, the super silliness of the adventures, the friends that were made, and the interactions needed by the reader. Clever fun for the whole family. A must read to ages below the suggested reading age of 5-up because I think parents need to go graphic to appreciate the genre.
Add some fun to your world and pick this gem up today either at the library or the book store.
Add some fun to your world and pick this gem up today either at the library or the book store.
June 29, 2020
I grabbed this one from the library for my 6-year-old on a whim. It completely engaged him, and I found myself reading it separately and being absolutely delighted. Quirky, clever, and full of adventure.
November 12, 2020
I don't have much to say... Fun adventures, cute fantastical elements, great protagonist, but it's all a little forgettable. It's like very nice not too high calorie candy. Great read for kids who like adventures! Reminded me of a sunshiny version of the movie MirrorMask.
February 28, 2020
The illustrations are amazing but the story is really no story and meanders. Some puzzles are included in the drawings. Not that interesting except for the illustrations.
January 29, 2021
Its colors and storyline’s interaction with the reader make this graphic novel one-of-a-kind!
February 18, 2021
This was just plain fun. With gorgeous art and so much whimsy. Plus, interactive pages that kids will love (they delighted my 10 year-old), such as mazes, prompts to tip or shake the book, and more.
March 16, 2021
5/5 Such a cute GN, I loved it :) There were 3 stories within the book that follow the same main characters, it was great, also the illustrations were amazinggg!
December 16, 2021
This is an exceptionally beautiful graphic novel--really a collection of three related but standalone titles. The color and the drawing and the swirling inks are just jaw-dropping. And it's punctuated with puzzles (a maze, a logic game, etc) that I kept thinking I wouldn't actually do because, you know, I'm a grown-up. But EVERY TIME I had to do them. What a joy.
March 13, 2023
Super cute and fun. I think it was originally written in French or German and then translated. The drawing style is rough but you can tell what’s going on - it’s just kind of ‘sketch’ style with a lot of watercolors. This book is 3 books in one so this must have been a series when it was originally published.
November 9, 2020
3.5 -- This was so adorable and magical. Robin is sassy, funny, and I love how she is like "F being a princess. I'm an adventurer!" Very cute.
April 6, 2024
Representation: N/A
Trigger warnings: N/A
Score: Six out of ten.
Find this review on The StoryGraph.
I never heard of The Runaway Princess until a few days ago, when I saw it in a public library shelf and picked it up. I glanced at the blurb, making it seem intriguing, although it's targeted at a younger audience. I picked it up and read it, and when I closed the final page, it was a unique reading experience.
Trigger warnings: N/A
Score: Six out of ten.
Find this review on The StoryGraph.
I never heard of The Runaway Princess until a few days ago, when I saw it in a public library shelf and picked it up. I glanced at the blurb, making it seem intriguing, although it's targeted at a younger audience. I picked it up and read it, and when I closed the final page, it was a unique reading experience.
July 17, 2021
A cutesy and interactive graphic novel. Great for emergent readers.
September 24, 2022
Fun illustrations and it feels similar to Moomin. 3 stories in 1.
Recommend to: Aunty Erin and Aunty Mel.
Recommend to: Aunty Erin and Aunty Mel.
November 10, 2020
4⭐️
An adorable graphic novel containing 3 adventures of a little princess who finds herself far from home and must find her way back with the help (or hinderance) of a group of 4 little brothers.
An adorable graphic novel containing 3 adventures of a little princess who finds herself far from home and must find her way back with the help (or hinderance) of a group of 4 little brothers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews