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Scandia #1
The Princess Plot
Jenna has just won the starring role in a film about a princess--sweet! In the wink of an eye, she's whisked off to a remote, romantic kingdom for the "shoot." But something's amiss: First, she finds out she bears an uncanny resemblance to the real princess, who has run away following the death of her father, the king. Then she learns that the conniving regent plans to use her to take control of the country, now being fought over by rebels. As the plot twists and turns, Jenna discovers just what she's made of--and just why she resembles the missing princess so much!
400 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2005
85 people are currently reading
1920 people want to read
About the author
Kirsten Boie
283 books106 followersKirsten Boie was born in Hamburg in 1950. She studied German and English literature and wrote a doctoral thesis on a topic in the field of literary research. She worked as a secondary school teacher in Hamburg from 1978 until 1983. When she adopted a child she had to stop teaching and began to write. Her first book "Paule ist ein Glücksgriff" (1985) was very well received and won several awards.
Since then she has published more than 60 books for children and teens that have been translated into many languages. Special mention must be made of her novels for young adults that critically examine social issues and display literary innovation. In addition to the many awards she has won, her complete works have been nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award three times (in 1999, 2001 and 2003).
Kirsten Boie lives with her family near Hamburg.
Since then she has published more than 60 books for children and teens that have been translated into many languages. Special mention must be made of her novels for young adults that critically examine social issues and display literary innovation. In addition to the many awards she has won, her complete works have been nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award three times (in 1999, 2001 and 2003).
Kirsten Boie lives with her family near Hamburg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews
March 23, 2012
My first comment about this book is that it is an unusual story. I picked it up for my library at a recent book fair and it has a pretty steady circulation; not hot, but definitely not dusty either. Both the book and the blurb are attractive: pink and princessey with a pirate-looking skull; a young girl wins a dream movie role and is catapulted into real danger.
For the most part, I would say that the story lives up to this expectation, especially if that expectation is from young dreamy-eyed girls. Jenna finds herself filling in for a young princess who she looks remarkably similar to and discovers that there is very real intrigue, politics, and class issues at stake. In general, I like the way the political problems are handled. They are intriguing and dangerous without the normal political complexity, which works well for a middle-grade novel, even if they are somewhat simplified.
However, I do have two problems with the book. First, the resolution of the book is a little too easy, considering the theoretical depth of political problems in the story.
And second, there is a crucial part of this story that I just don't believe. Jenna leaves home and hops on a plane with adults she has only just met without ever having spoken with her mother. She just goes off without a thought in her head, which I find troublingly stupid. She tries to phone her mother a few times, but seems content with (faked) texts. First, I doubt Jenna would be able to fly to another country without identification, and secondly, I find it difficult to believe that a girl who is as sheltered as Jenna has been just suddenly chooses to ignores her mother. I think I find her stupidity at the beginning of the book to be annoying, making the rest of her actions unbelievable.
However, as long as I can overlook this huge character flaw, I enjoyed the story. It was fast-paced and different: girly-girls rescuing the day among (somewhat) modern kidnappers and gun-wielding revolutionaries with a dose of royalty and celebrity dreams along side.
For the most part, I would say that the story lives up to this expectation, especially if that expectation is from young dreamy-eyed girls. Jenna finds herself filling in for a young princess who she looks remarkably similar to and discovers that there is very real intrigue, politics, and class issues at stake. In general, I like the way the political problems are handled. They are intriguing and dangerous without the normal political complexity, which works well for a middle-grade novel, even if they are somewhat simplified.
However, I do have two problems with the book. First, the resolution of the book is a little too easy, considering the theoretical depth of political problems in the story.
And second, there is a crucial part of this story that I just don't believe. Jenna leaves home and hops on a plane with adults she has only just met without ever having spoken with her mother. She just goes off without a thought in her head, which I find troublingly stupid. She tries to phone her mother a few times, but seems content with (faked) texts. First, I doubt Jenna would be able to fly to another country without identification, and secondly, I find it difficult to believe that a girl who is as sheltered as Jenna has been just suddenly chooses to ignores her mother. I think I find her stupidity at the beginning of the book to be annoying, making the rest of her actions unbelievable.
However, as long as I can overlook this huge character flaw, I enjoyed the story. It was fast-paced and different: girly-girls rescuing the day among (somewhat) modern kidnappers and gun-wielding revolutionaries with a dose of royalty and celebrity dreams along side.
July 3, 2010
This is a fun book. Lots of action, suspense and intrigue. I've tried to get some of the kids to read it at school but I think they were put off by the pink cover. I was afraid it would be just a 'girly' book and I wasn't really in the mood for one but wanted to read it so I could booktalk it when school starts again. I was really surprised at how much fun it was. It isn't a 'girly' book at all. I hope they change the cover because both girls and guys would like this book.
June 3, 2009
3 stars..ish...
The cover of this book was too delicious to pass up. Yummy pink with sparkles and a skull and cross bones to make it look bad ass, and though the cover is delicious like a cotton candy cupcake at Crumbs, the book is just ok like a smaller vanilla cupcake with vanilla frosting... which many people like because its comfortable. Much like this book.
The story goes that Jenna, daughter of an over protective mother who is an etiquette teacher for a living (really, does anyone actually do this?) takes one chance in her life to sneak behind her mother's back and audition to be a princess in a film. While she believes the other girls including her BFF (yes this term is used just like that numerous time throughout the book, unless the author got lazy and decided to just write BF) are prettier than she is she gets the part and is immediately scooted off to a country she has never heard of, while in an alternating plot her mother is seemingly deceived and kidnapped. While on "the set" Jenna is given a makeover to look like the country's beloved princess Malena, who she is a dead ringer for... except for her dark hair, dark eyes, tan skin, the fact that she is a bit shorter than Malena... and plumper... but really DEAD RINGER... no one can tell the difference when she is put in a wig and given contacts and told to not speak....
So the story moves along at a very fast pace, if not a predictable pace. No surprises lurk behind the twists and turns for us with an analytical mind but a younger group may actually not see them coming. A younger less perceptive group but if they picked up this book, especially based on the cover they will not mind and may even suspend what they see coming and feign surprise.
I started to get lost when the book began over using abbreviations like OMG! OMG! but none the less I would give this book to tween girls looking for a mystery with a hint of pink... even if the actual mystery has more a hint "DUH!" than pink.
The cover of this book was too delicious to pass up. Yummy pink with sparkles and a skull and cross bones to make it look bad ass, and though the cover is delicious like a cotton candy cupcake at Crumbs, the book is just ok like a smaller vanilla cupcake with vanilla frosting... which many people like because its comfortable. Much like this book.
The story goes that Jenna, daughter of an over protective mother who is an etiquette teacher for a living (really, does anyone actually do this?) takes one chance in her life to sneak behind her mother's back and audition to be a princess in a film. While she believes the other girls including her BFF (yes this term is used just like that numerous time throughout the book, unless the author got lazy and decided to just write BF) are prettier than she is she gets the part and is immediately scooted off to a country she has never heard of, while in an alternating plot her mother is seemingly deceived and kidnapped. While on "the set" Jenna is given a makeover to look like the country's beloved princess Malena, who she is a dead ringer for... except for her dark hair, dark eyes, tan skin, the fact that she is a bit shorter than Malena... and plumper... but really DEAD RINGER... no one can tell the difference when she is put in a wig and given contacts and told to not speak....
So the story moves along at a very fast pace, if not a predictable pace. No surprises lurk behind the twists and turns for us with an analytical mind but a younger group may actually not see them coming. A younger less perceptive group but if they picked up this book, especially based on the cover they will not mind and may even suspend what they see coming and feign surprise.
I started to get lost when the book began over using abbreviations like OMG! OMG! but none the less I would give this book to tween girls looking for a mystery with a hint of pink... even if the actual mystery has more a hint "DUH!" than pink.
February 19, 2014
3.5 Stars
A very enjoyable and engaging story about Jenna, a young girl who is raised never knowing who her father is or the truth of her identity, but who is sucked into the political turmoil of Scandia, which is on the brink of civil war following the death of its king, and tricked into pretending to be their princess Malena, to whom Jenna just happens to bear an uncanny resemblance.
We also get to have snippets from the POV of Malena, Jenna's mother, the Regent and several others.
The emotions were very realistic, the politics both interesting and very illustrative of actual situations, which helps readers to have a better grasp of such incidents, and although the ending was satisfying enough, I really would not mind seeing a sequel to this.
A very enjoyable and engaging story about Jenna, a young girl who is raised never knowing who her father is or the truth of her identity, but who is sucked into the political turmoil of Scandia, which is on the brink of civil war following the death of its king, and tricked into pretending to be their princess Malena, to whom Jenna just happens to bear an uncanny resemblance.
We also get to have snippets from the POV of Malena, Jenna's mother, the Regent and several others.
The emotions were very realistic, the politics both interesting and very illustrative of actual situations, which helps readers to have a better grasp of such incidents, and although the ending was satisfying enough, I really would not mind seeing a sequel to this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2014
I've had this book on my bookshelf for years, and since I recently picked up its sequel, I though it was about rime for me to read it. The first thing I noticed straight away is that it's for a younger age group. Not middle grade. The awkward age in between. The age where people would actually use omg and bff in real life. So that kinda put me off, but I continued reading. Some parts are a little bit predictable, but some parts weren't. This may have started like a 'omg-im-so-cool' pre-teen story, but holy heck it didn't continue like it was one. There was plenty of suspense and some political stuff in there, too. It was awesome. I won't be lying if I said that this book shocked me. Because it did.
4 out 5.
4 out 5.
October 15, 2009
This book was really kind of weird. It had the whole princess and the pauper thing, but weirder. Maybe the whole book felt so weird because it was originally written in Polish or something. It felt really old fashioned, but eveyrone had cellphones. weird? Oh yeah.
Read
October 1, 2018It was ok. It lost my attention, and I lost interest. I don't think it was the right book for me, but I think many other people ay like it.
August 14, 2024
Die 14jährige Jarven Schönwald soll als Hausaufgabe für Kunst ihren Familienstammbaum zeichnen. Da ihre Mutter Auskünfte über Jarvens Vater stets verweigert hat, bleibt ihr nichts anderes übrig, als Tine und Gökan nachzueifern, die für die Aufgabe ein paar Namen erfinden. Als in Jarvens Schule mit Handzetteln für ein Filmcasting geworben wird, stehen Jarvens Chancen schlecht, für die Teilnahme die Einwilligung ihrer Mutter zu erhalten. Mutter Schönwald arbeitet als Benimm-Trainerin und hat unverrückbare Vorstellungen, was sich schickt. Jarven kommen die mütterlichen Weisheiten bereits zu den Ohren heraus; sie denkt in der Tonlage eines Elternratgebers in Klammern stets mit, wie ihre kontrollierende Mutter eine Situation bewerten würde. Für Jarwen überraschend, stellt sich heraus, dass sie für das Casting nicht vorsprechen muss, weil eine Doppelgängerin für die gleichaltrige Prinzessin von Skogland gesucht wird, deren Vater gerade verstorben ist. Ausgerechnet sie wird spontan als perfektes Double gewählt.
In parallelen Handlungssträngen verschwindet in Skogland Prinzessin Malena (auch sie 14 Jahre) spurlos aus ihrem Internat und ein Junge in auffälliger Jacke wird offenbar auf der Flucht beobachtet. Das technisch fortgeschrittene Skogland besteht aus einer nördlichen und einer südlichen Insel. Die „dunklen“ Nordinsulaner verfügen über Bodenschätze, die jedoch nur die blonden Südinsulaner mit Gewinn verarbeiten. Der Nord-Süd-Konflikt hat zur Bildung einer Rebellengruppe im Norden geführt, mit dem sich Malenas Onkel Norlin als Interimsherrscher konfrontiert sieht. Mit den Königlichen und den Rebellen aus dem Norden stehen sich in Skogland unversöhnliche Gegner gegenüber, die vor nichts zurückzuschrecken scheinen. Jarven, inzwischen als Prinzessinnen-Double aufgehübscht, kann den Konflikt nur schwer begreifen, schließlich hatte sie in der Schule stets abgeschaltet, wenn der Begriff Politik fiel.
Jarvens Abenteuer in Skogland mit all seinen Geheimnissen kommt erst spät in Gang, entwickelt sich jedoch zum spannenden Wettstreit politischer Gegner. Durch das Prinzessinnen-Thema und den anfänglichen Auftritt junger, weiblicher Figuren wirkt Skogland leider wie ein reines Mädchenbuch. Das ist schade, weil die sozialen und politischen Konflikte, denen sich 14jährige zu stellen haben, aktueller denn je sind. Von Rassismus, Othering, Abstammung contra Nationalität, Vernichtung einer Kultur, Rolle der Presse bis zur Frage, was einen Herrscher legitimiert und was ein Staat ist, muss sich Jarven mit genau den Themen befassen, die sie bisher vermieden hat. Hochinteressant war für mich auch das Leseerlebnis mit Personennamen, die zunächst keinen Hinweis darauf geben, ob sie männlich oder weiblich gelesen werden.
Fazit
Sprachlich überarbeitet kommt hier die Neuauflage des Klassikers von 2005. Kirsten Boie überzeugte in Skogland schon damals mit listigen Humor und ihrem Talent, für Kinder altersgerecht zu schreiben. Der topaktuelle Einstiegsband weckt Neugier auf die Fortsetzung und den dritten Band, der 2024 erscheint.
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Serien-Info
Band 1 von 3, überarbeitete Neuausgabe der Ausgabe von 2005
In parallelen Handlungssträngen verschwindet in Skogland Prinzessin Malena (auch sie 14 Jahre) spurlos aus ihrem Internat und ein Junge in auffälliger Jacke wird offenbar auf der Flucht beobachtet. Das technisch fortgeschrittene Skogland besteht aus einer nördlichen und einer südlichen Insel. Die „dunklen“ Nordinsulaner verfügen über Bodenschätze, die jedoch nur die blonden Südinsulaner mit Gewinn verarbeiten. Der Nord-Süd-Konflikt hat zur Bildung einer Rebellengruppe im Norden geführt, mit dem sich Malenas Onkel Norlin als Interimsherrscher konfrontiert sieht. Mit den Königlichen und den Rebellen aus dem Norden stehen sich in Skogland unversöhnliche Gegner gegenüber, die vor nichts zurückzuschrecken scheinen. Jarven, inzwischen als Prinzessinnen-Double aufgehübscht, kann den Konflikt nur schwer begreifen, schließlich hatte sie in der Schule stets abgeschaltet, wenn der Begriff Politik fiel.
Jarvens Abenteuer in Skogland mit all seinen Geheimnissen kommt erst spät in Gang, entwickelt sich jedoch zum spannenden Wettstreit politischer Gegner. Durch das Prinzessinnen-Thema und den anfänglichen Auftritt junger, weiblicher Figuren wirkt Skogland leider wie ein reines Mädchenbuch. Das ist schade, weil die sozialen und politischen Konflikte, denen sich 14jährige zu stellen haben, aktueller denn je sind. Von Rassismus, Othering, Abstammung contra Nationalität, Vernichtung einer Kultur, Rolle der Presse bis zur Frage, was einen Herrscher legitimiert und was ein Staat ist, muss sich Jarven mit genau den Themen befassen, die sie bisher vermieden hat. Hochinteressant war für mich auch das Leseerlebnis mit Personennamen, die zunächst keinen Hinweis darauf geben, ob sie männlich oder weiblich gelesen werden.
Fazit
Sprachlich überarbeitet kommt hier die Neuauflage des Klassikers von 2005. Kirsten Boie überzeugte in Skogland schon damals mit listigen Humor und ihrem Talent, für Kinder altersgerecht zu schreiben. Der topaktuelle Einstiegsband weckt Neugier auf die Fortsetzung und den dritten Band, der 2024 erscheint.
---
Serien-Info
Band 1 von 3, überarbeitete Neuausgabe der Ausgabe von 2005
December 20, 2024
Ich hab es als Jugendliche geliebt und jetzt nochmal gehört. Ich liebe, wie spanned das Buch ist, ich liebe, wie die Gefühle der Protagonistin beschrieben werden. Die unterschiedlichen Handlungsstränge und Perspektiven im Buch sind das, was es so spannend macht. Die Szenenbeschreibungen und Natur-Motive fand ich auch ganz toll an dem Schreibtstil.
Allerdings hat mich der Anfang ein wenig wahnsinnig gemacht, weil man als LeserIn mehr weiß als die Figuren. Man muss am Anfang auch versuchen, über ein paar Logikfehler hinweg zu sehen. Den Anfang der Geschichte fand ich zu vorhersehbar, aber dann wurde es immer spannender, dass man gar nicht aufhören kann. Es hat mich wirklich begeistert und ich war eingetaucht und habe es sehr genossen. Nur zum Schluss fand ich das Ende der Handlung etwas zu schnell erzählt.
Zusammenfassend: Eine politische Heldinnengeschichte mit viel Spannung und liebevollen Charakteren. Große Empfehlung.
Allerdings hat mich der Anfang ein wenig wahnsinnig gemacht, weil man als LeserIn mehr weiß als die Figuren. Man muss am Anfang auch versuchen, über ein paar Logikfehler hinweg zu sehen. Den Anfang der Geschichte fand ich zu vorhersehbar, aber dann wurde es immer spannender, dass man gar nicht aufhören kann. Es hat mich wirklich begeistert und ich war eingetaucht und habe es sehr genossen. Nur zum Schluss fand ich das Ende der Handlung etwas zu schnell erzählt.
Zusammenfassend: Eine politische Heldinnengeschichte mit viel Spannung und liebevollen Charakteren. Große Empfehlung.
May 18, 2012
Man, German’s children’s book are a head trip. Over the years, I’ve read a handful of children’s books originally published in German and translated into English, and all of them are much darker and more sinister than their English counterparts. Oh, and on that note: This may be the worst title and cover design ever for a book that’s pretty dark and sinister in its own right. A bright-pink cover with a whimsical name like The Princess Plot may sound like bubblegum fiction – and this book may have moments of seeming light and frothy – but there’s nothing about this story that’s particularly whimsical.
Stuck with an overprotective single mom, fourteen-year-old Jenna rebels by going to an audition with her best friend, where she’s picked to play a princess in a movie. I know what you’re thinking. That sounds like The Princess Diaries (which is the ultimate bubblegum fiction) only fluffier. To which I say: keep reading. Because Jenna, upon getting the part, is whisked away from her home – without even talking to her Mom – by a bunch of strange adults who suddenly tell her they’re going to another country, where they need her to stand-in for the princess, who is grieving for her recently-deceased father. What follows is political intrigue, kidnappings, terrorism, and other subjects not usually handled with such directness in children’s books. An underlying tension lurks about in many of the scenes that’s disturbing because, while Jenna seems oblivious, as an adult, I had a good idea of what could happen to her, and there are moments when I thought Ms. Boie might drift towards that line. I’m not entirely sure my tween self would have picked up on the full expanse of underlying danger (thank goodness for wide-eyed innocence), but I still think I would have known something was wrong.
I generally dislike “Children’s Books Disguised as Entertainment That Beat Children Over the Head with Learning Important Things,” but this one I liked. Overall, it worked in introducing some adult concepts without seeming like a preachy lesson. My biggest complaint, though, is the translation. I haven’t read the book in German, so it’s entirely possible it reads similarly in that language, but I really think this is an example of a book that’s probably not going to get the English-speaking audience it deserves because the translation lost some of the book’s original magic. Also, I’m not crazy about the ending, but I can see why it was a sort of necessary resolution for what is, at the end of the day, a children’s book. Recommended.
Stuck with an overprotective single mom, fourteen-year-old Jenna rebels by going to an audition with her best friend, where she’s picked to play a princess in a movie. I know what you’re thinking. That sounds like The Princess Diaries (which is the ultimate bubblegum fiction) only fluffier. To which I say: keep reading. Because Jenna, upon getting the part, is whisked away from her home – without even talking to her Mom – by a bunch of strange adults who suddenly tell her they’re going to another country, where they need her to stand-in for the princess, who is grieving for her recently-deceased father. What follows is political intrigue, kidnappings, terrorism, and other subjects not usually handled with such directness in children’s books. An underlying tension lurks about in many of the scenes that’s disturbing because, while Jenna seems oblivious, as an adult, I had a good idea of what could happen to her, and there are moments when I thought Ms. Boie might drift towards that line. I’m not entirely sure my tween self would have picked up on the full expanse of underlying danger (thank goodness for wide-eyed innocence), but I still think I would have known something was wrong.
I generally dislike “Children’s Books Disguised as Entertainment That Beat Children Over the Head with Learning Important Things,” but this one I liked. Overall, it worked in introducing some adult concepts without seeming like a preachy lesson. My biggest complaint, though, is the translation. I haven’t read the book in German, so it’s entirely possible it reads similarly in that language, but I really think this is an example of a book that’s probably not going to get the English-speaking audience it deserves because the translation lost some of the book’s original magic. Also, I’m not crazy about the ending, but I can see why it was a sort of necessary resolution for what is, at the end of the day, a children’s book. Recommended.
November 6, 2012
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Jenna and her friend get invited to audition for a movie about a princess. Little does Jenna know, it's not actually for a movie.
Without telling her overprotective mother, she auditions. She makes it to the final round, not believing that she's been singled out and chosen above all the other girls in her town.
But instead of filming a movie, they take her out of the country to fill in for a real princess during her salute to the crowd during her birthday - so that the princess can enjoy her day in peace. She's still dealing with her grief over her father's death not two months prior.
While Jenna's auditioning, the real princess has escaped from her boarding school and is heading for safety. Political issues are cropping up and she knows that her uncle, the regent, will be siding on a very important issue. The two parts of the country are at odds: the southern half is wealthy and happy while the northerners struggle with poverty.
When the king was alive, he was working towards strengthening the country - together. But now that he's dead, things have gotten worse. The regent is going in the opposite direction.
The princess knows she's got to make a stand, but with someone standing in for her, how will she get the chance? Meanwhile, Jenna's beginning to figure out that something's not right, but she's not sure what's really going on.
THE PRINCESS PLOT is one part political drama, one part mystery, and one part fairy tale, all included in a very fun read.
Jenna and her friend get invited to audition for a movie about a princess. Little does Jenna know, it's not actually for a movie.
Without telling her overprotective mother, she auditions. She makes it to the final round, not believing that she's been singled out and chosen above all the other girls in her town.
But instead of filming a movie, they take her out of the country to fill in for a real princess during her salute to the crowd during her birthday - so that the princess can enjoy her day in peace. She's still dealing with her grief over her father's death not two months prior.
While Jenna's auditioning, the real princess has escaped from her boarding school and is heading for safety. Political issues are cropping up and she knows that her uncle, the regent, will be siding on a very important issue. The two parts of the country are at odds: the southern half is wealthy and happy while the northerners struggle with poverty.
When the king was alive, he was working towards strengthening the country - together. But now that he's dead, things have gotten worse. The regent is going in the opposite direction.
The princess knows she's got to make a stand, but with someone standing in for her, how will she get the chance? Meanwhile, Jenna's beginning to figure out that something's not right, but she's not sure what's really going on.
THE PRINCESS PLOT is one part political drama, one part mystery, and one part fairy tale, all included in a very fun read.
May 17, 2015
S- Possibly the most confusing book I have ever read. "The Princess Plot" tells the story of a mssing princess adnd a young, similar looking girl who is taken awaky by officials to serve as a replacement while the princess is being relocated. Sounds like a great tale, I know. But let me tell you, this book is anything but that. "The Princess Plot" skips to conversations where you have no idea who the people are and what they're talking about. Half of the things they are saying are boring and unneccessary to the plot. THere is about fifty pages of interesting text in the entire 400 page book
December 8, 2017
Cute story.
The writing style takes some getting used too, and it was slow in several places.
More on the girly side, but may work for some young boys as well.
For my clean readers:
I don't remember much in the way of language but there is violence, bombings, and talk of murder. Also kidnapping, both adult and child, through misdirection.
Good story to help discuss choices for your kiddos and the dangers of life.
No romance.
The writing style takes some getting used too, and it was slow in several places.
More on the girly side, but may work for some young boys as well.
For my clean readers:
I don't remember much in the way of language but there is violence, bombings, and talk of murder. Also kidnapping, both adult and child, through misdirection.
Good story to help discuss choices for your kiddos and the dangers of life.
No romance.
June 11, 2009
best book ever! Must read
March 1, 2011
It was a streach for everything to stick together, but overall a great story. BTW, don't let the cover full you! :)
January 21, 2020
LOved it. Future readers it is not the sappy type of book.
Read
June 7, 2017This book lacked personality, but it had a clever plot. I think that it being translated probably sucked some of the life out of it.
June 16, 2024
Mochte das voll!! Obwohl das eher ein Kinderbuch ist, fand ich es echt spannend und war invested. Ich fand die politischen Probleme als Thema auch sehr interessant.
Aber ich fand den so häufigen Perspektivwechsel ein bisschen anstrengend und warum hat Jarven die ganze Zeit geflüstert😭😭 und warum hat sie erst unterwegs gefragt, wo die überhaupt hinfliegen????
Obwohl ich den Plot mochte, fand ich manche Plottwists leider predictable (wie z.B. dass Hjalmar Malena ist und dass Norlin Jarvens Vater ist).
Außerdem fand ich, dafür dass die Spannung im Buch relativ lange so hoch war, das Ende viel zu kurz geraten, ich weiß es gibt eine Fortsetzung, aber es fühlt sich unabgeschlossen an. Man weiß nichtmal, warum die zu dritt jetzt nach Deutschland geflogen sind usw, ich hätte mir ein letztes Kapitel gewünscht, das die Handlung mehr abschließt.
Aber ich fand den so häufigen Perspektivwechsel ein bisschen anstrengend und warum hat Jarven die ganze Zeit geflüstert😭😭 und warum hat sie erst unterwegs gefragt, wo die überhaupt hinfliegen????
Obwohl ich den Plot mochte, fand ich manche Plottwists leider predictable (wie z.B. dass Hjalmar Malena ist und dass Norlin Jarvens Vater ist).
Außerdem fand ich, dafür dass die Spannung im Buch relativ lange so hoch war, das Ende viel zu kurz geraten, ich weiß es gibt eine Fortsetzung, aber es fühlt sich unabgeschlossen an. Man weiß nichtmal, warum die zu dritt jetzt nach Deutschland geflogen sind usw, ich hätte mir ein letztes Kapitel gewünscht, das die Handlung mehr abschließt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2025
Die Story hat mich nicht überzeugt, es wirkt alles so unglaubwürdig - die Protagonistin ist so jung und hinterfragt NICHTS?!
Nach einer Pause hab ich auch wegen der vielen Namen nicht mehr ins Buch gefunden.
DNF.
Nach einer Pause hab ich auch wegen der vielen Namen nicht mehr ins Buch gefunden.
DNF.
Want to read
June 27, 2023R͎e͎a͎d͎ ͎d͎a͎t͎e͎:͎
R͎a͎t͎i͎n͎g͎:͎
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October 29, 2009
This German import, translated by David Henry Wilson, takes readers on surprising twists and turns. It starts of when Jenna and her best friend Bea decide to audition for a movie after seeing an announcement for the tryouts. She know that her mother wouldn't want her to do it because it is not the proper thing, but Bea talks Jenna into going anyway.
When they arrive, they learn that they are trying out for the role of a princess in a story. Jenna is surprised to find herself chosen as the leading contender after the director and his staff first meet her. While she highlights that her acting skills may not be up to snuff, they highlight that she just has the perfect presence for the role. They want to jet her off to the Kingdom of Scandia to do a dry run. Jenna knows her mother would really not want her to go, but the director makes a call home and sets things up.
When she arrives in Scandia, Jenna learns that she will be standing in for the real princess for an event. She ooes well, and the production crew wants her to continue doing such events. As time goes by, it quickly becomes apparent to the reader (and less so for Jenna) that something is not quite right in the kingdom. She is drawn into the center of a developing civil war between the rich and powerful south and the poor and used north.
The reader gets glimpses into what is really happening with scenes centering around the princess, her uncle, and the rebels from the north.
I thought the story could have been a little tighter in the telling, but I found it to be really interesting. Jenna has always wondered about her family and why her mother is so into proper etiquette. In her experiences she learns about these things and so much more, including the fact that she has more inner strength than should have thought. The story is a little predictable, but I found that it was more tied to the fairy tale feel of the story rather than anything else. This is basically a modern fairy tale with just a touch of Twain's The Prince and the Pauper thrown in. Of course, you have to suspend belief in realism for some of the plot details, but we have to do that with all fairy tales. I think fans of Gail Larson Levine's books will pick this one up and enjoy.
There are a few times when the language becomes "stiff," but I think that it is do more to the translation from German into English. I have a feeling that the translator stuck to a closer translation, which can leave American readers with a different feel than they are used to.
When they arrive, they learn that they are trying out for the role of a princess in a story. Jenna is surprised to find herself chosen as the leading contender after the director and his staff first meet her. While she highlights that her acting skills may not be up to snuff, they highlight that she just has the perfect presence for the role. They want to jet her off to the Kingdom of Scandia to do a dry run. Jenna knows her mother would really not want her to go, but the director makes a call home and sets things up.
When she arrives in Scandia, Jenna learns that she will be standing in for the real princess for an event. She ooes well, and the production crew wants her to continue doing such events. As time goes by, it quickly becomes apparent to the reader (and less so for Jenna) that something is not quite right in the kingdom. She is drawn into the center of a developing civil war between the rich and powerful south and the poor and used north.
The reader gets glimpses into what is really happening with scenes centering around the princess, her uncle, and the rebels from the north.
I thought the story could have been a little tighter in the telling, but I found it to be really interesting. Jenna has always wondered about her family and why her mother is so into proper etiquette. In her experiences she learns about these things and so much more, including the fact that she has more inner strength than should have thought. The story is a little predictable, but I found that it was more tied to the fairy tale feel of the story rather than anything else. This is basically a modern fairy tale with just a touch of Twain's The Prince and the Pauper thrown in. Of course, you have to suspend belief in realism for some of the plot details, but we have to do that with all fairy tales. I think fans of Gail Larson Levine's books will pick this one up and enjoy.
There are a few times when the language becomes "stiff," but I think that it is do more to the translation from German into English. I have a feeling that the translator stuck to a closer translation, which can leave American readers with a different feel than they are used to.
October 9, 2012
this review was originally posted at a-thousand-ships.blogspot.com
Ships Launched: 773
When I first read this book, I had no idea that it was originally a German bestseller. Yes, I'm a tad ignorant.
In The Princess Plot, a young girl named Jenna wins a starring role in a princess movie against all odds, but mysterious things begin to happen when she arrives at the filming location in the foreign country of Scandia.
Boie did a great job with creating the country of Scandia. Every country has its problems, and Scandia certainly has its fair share of them. Made up of two islands, the South has always been rich and successful, but the North has been taken advantage of for years. They are one step away from a civil war.
Jenna seems like a normal teenage girl. She is insecure at times, and in difficult situations she tries to be brave and do the right thing, but a lot of the time she cannot help but panic.
We don't really get much information on Malena, just that she is sad that her father is dead and that her people love her. Her character doesn't really have much depth.
Jonas, however, we know a little more about. We know that he misses his mother and that he has a strong friendship with Malena. He seems rude and sullen a lot of the time, but when you get to know him better you find that he is not like that at all.
Norlin is a bad guy, yes, but you cannot help but feel a little sympathy for him at times. That is not the case with Bolstrom. He is rotten through and through.
The plot of The Princess Plot (ha ha) is interesting, if not a bit fantastical. It's easy to get swept up in all of the action and drama.
The one thing that annoys me with this book is the writing. I understand that it is first and foremost a German book, and the English is translated from that, but I must say that the writing seems halting and, well, fake at some points. I find myself snorting at certain phrases and thinking, "Real teenagers would never say that."
The translator, David Henry Wilson, is obviously not a teenage girl and never was a teenage girl, so of course he does not know the things that teenage girls know.
Take, for example, this description:
"The young man smiled. He was good-looking, film-star good-looking. He was supercute." (pg. 21)
Um... supercute? Since when is that one word? Since when do teenagers use that to describe guys?
Please excuse my nitpicking. It just annoys me a bit.
Other than those little things, The Princess Plot is a pretty entertaining book. Read it!
Ships Launched: 773
When I first read this book, I had no idea that it was originally a German bestseller. Yes, I'm a tad ignorant.
In The Princess Plot, a young girl named Jenna wins a starring role in a princess movie against all odds, but mysterious things begin to happen when she arrives at the filming location in the foreign country of Scandia.
Boie did a great job with creating the country of Scandia. Every country has its problems, and Scandia certainly has its fair share of them. Made up of two islands, the South has always been rich and successful, but the North has been taken advantage of for years. They are one step away from a civil war.
Jenna seems like a normal teenage girl. She is insecure at times, and in difficult situations she tries to be brave and do the right thing, but a lot of the time she cannot help but panic.
We don't really get much information on Malena, just that she is sad that her father is dead and that her people love her. Her character doesn't really have much depth.
Jonas, however, we know a little more about. We know that he misses his mother and that he has a strong friendship with Malena. He seems rude and sullen a lot of the time, but when you get to know him better you find that he is not like that at all.
Norlin is a bad guy, yes, but you cannot help but feel a little sympathy for him at times. That is not the case with Bolstrom. He is rotten through and through.
The plot of The Princess Plot (ha ha) is interesting, if not a bit fantastical. It's easy to get swept up in all of the action and drama.
The one thing that annoys me with this book is the writing. I understand that it is first and foremost a German book, and the English is translated from that, but I must say that the writing seems halting and, well, fake at some points. I find myself snorting at certain phrases and thinking, "Real teenagers would never say that."
The translator, David Henry Wilson, is obviously not a teenage girl and never was a teenage girl, so of course he does not know the things that teenage girls know.
Take, for example, this description:
"The young man smiled. He was good-looking, film-star good-looking. He was supercute." (pg. 21)
Um... supercute? Since when is that one word? Since when do teenagers use that to describe guys?
Please excuse my nitpicking. It just annoys me a bit.
Other than those little things, The Princess Plot is a pretty entertaining book. Read it!
August 26, 2018
Was a little confusing at first but it's a good book.
June 16, 2017
My library had this as an audio-book and i wanted something simple and fluffy to read. I know this was meant to be YA, but i thought it was really uneven in it's target age group. Maybe it was because the narrator spoke slowly and like she was speaking to a toddler, but there were points where it felt like it was aimed at 10 year olds and times where it was trying to (poorly) compete with other YA dystopian novels. It really wasn't even in the storytelling.
The story started out like the prince and the pauper (kind of)-Jenna is chosen to play a princess in a movie and is whisked away to the country of Scandia where she looks so much like the real princess she is asked to pretend to be her while the princess gets a break. Only she soon finds out there is more to it than meets the eye.
I had huge problems with the plot. Jenna was basically an idiot that acted much younger than her 14 years. Her mother has been established as someone who is so protective and overbearing, she won't even let Jenna hang out at her friends house without turning up to take her home. Jenna has always listened to her mother, yet sees no problem in going away alone with a random film crew to another country (she's never been out of the country before), and doesn't find it strange that her mother is suddenly ok with her going alone and only talks to her through texts. She doesn't question the fact that the film crew need to fly her away immediately, and doesn't think to ask about contracts, money or any logistics. She doesn't find it strange that she's asked to pretend to be the princess without having met her or why the film crew are so close to the royals. She's incredibly slow to grasp her situation and any reveals that happen throughout the book are obvious with the amount of clues and plot point that are thrown at you.
The whole north-south civil war is fine although badly done, but there are plot point that are ridiculous to move the story forward. Young girls are cleverer than this book would have you believe. There are so many better YA stories out there. Do not read!
The story started out like the prince and the pauper (kind of)-Jenna is chosen to play a princess in a movie and is whisked away to the country of Scandia where she looks so much like the real princess she is asked to pretend to be her while the princess gets a break. Only she soon finds out there is more to it than meets the eye.
I had huge problems with the plot. Jenna was basically an idiot that acted much younger than her 14 years. Her mother has been established as someone who is so protective and overbearing, she won't even let Jenna hang out at her friends house without turning up to take her home. Jenna has always listened to her mother, yet sees no problem in going away alone with a random film crew to another country (she's never been out of the country before), and doesn't find it strange that her mother is suddenly ok with her going alone and only talks to her through texts. She doesn't question the fact that the film crew need to fly her away immediately, and doesn't think to ask about contracts, money or any logistics. She doesn't find it strange that she's asked to pretend to be the princess without having met her or why the film crew are so close to the royals. She's incredibly slow to grasp her situation and any reveals that happen throughout the book are obvious with the amount of clues and plot point that are thrown at you.
The whole north-south civil war is fine although badly done, but there are plot point that are ridiculous to move the story forward. Young girls are cleverer than this book would have you believe. There are so many better YA stories out there. Do not read!
December 2, 2015
This book was pretty bad. If I had paid full price for this I would have been upset. As it is paying half price for it was too much in my estimation. I will be getting rid of my copy of this book.
A girl who has a super controlling mother goes to a movie audition. She doesn’t do anything except stand there and she’s picked for the part!! She doesn’t question this. Nor does she question the people auditioning her and their need to confiscate her cell phone for like three hours. She also doesn’t question when they say they have to leave for a foreign country that day without her mom. She gets a text from her mom saying that she knows all about the movie and is totally cool with her going… which is super out of character, again not questioned. She doesn’t question the fact that they aren’t doing a movie at all but she is replacing the princess for her birthday celebration. This is one of the dumbest main characters I have read in a while and really it just threw off the entire book. The plot is centered on her being stupid. Also this foreign country is separated by hair color, and the main girl complains so much about how she is not blonde. Like seriously it started giving me a complex, like being a brunette is literally nothing. She is also a little bigger than her friends and constantly mentions it. This book is one of these that seem to only exist to make girls feel bad about themselves and project a heroine who is stupid. I really don’t recommend this book at all but if I had to give it an age range- fifth grade girls who are looking to read a book about a girl who is stupid. Perhaps this is more of a book about being aware of stranger danger, or being more savvy about going with people who claim to be in the movie industry?
A girl who has a super controlling mother goes to a movie audition. She doesn’t do anything except stand there and she’s picked for the part!! She doesn’t question this. Nor does she question the people auditioning her and their need to confiscate her cell phone for like three hours. She also doesn’t question when they say they have to leave for a foreign country that day without her mom. She gets a text from her mom saying that she knows all about the movie and is totally cool with her going… which is super out of character, again not questioned. She doesn’t question the fact that they aren’t doing a movie at all but she is replacing the princess for her birthday celebration. This is one of the dumbest main characters I have read in a while and really it just threw off the entire book. The plot is centered on her being stupid. Also this foreign country is separated by hair color, and the main girl complains so much about how she is not blonde. Like seriously it started giving me a complex, like being a brunette is literally nothing. She is also a little bigger than her friends and constantly mentions it. This book is one of these that seem to only exist to make girls feel bad about themselves and project a heroine who is stupid. I really don’t recommend this book at all but if I had to give it an age range- fifth grade girls who are looking to read a book about a girl who is stupid. Perhaps this is more of a book about being aware of stranger danger, or being more savvy about going with people who claim to be in the movie industry?
March 10, 2010
Jenna is tired of her mother always being so overprotective, so when the chance comes along for her to audition for a part in a movie, she decides to go for it without telling her. All of Jenna’s friends are auditioning; why shouldn’t she?
The movie people tell her that the role for which they are casting is the part of a princess. Jenna doesn’t think that she’s very princess-like, so she can’t believe it when they tell her that she got the part! She can’t believe that they didn’t even have her read any lines, either. When she mentions this, the movie people say she has great “presence” and that is what they are looking for. She doesn’t think that her mother will let her be in a movie, but, to her surprise, when she texts her asking if it’s okay, her mom texts back and tells her that it is! With that, the movie people take her on a private plane to Skandia, the (fictional) country where the movie is being filmed. However, Jenna soon finds out that there is no movie—and that she has become a part in a crazy plot involving the princess of Skandia. Jenna needs to get home before anything worse happens!
This is a great book! It not only is (mostly) realistic; it is also full of suspense, adventure, and survival. Jenna is a very likable character who the reader will root for throughout the story. Suggest this to those who enjoyed The Princess Diaries (Cabot), but warn them that it’s not all fun and romance!
The movie people tell her that the role for which they are casting is the part of a princess. Jenna doesn’t think that she’s very princess-like, so she can’t believe it when they tell her that she got the part! She can’t believe that they didn’t even have her read any lines, either. When she mentions this, the movie people say she has great “presence” and that is what they are looking for. She doesn’t think that her mother will let her be in a movie, but, to her surprise, when she texts her asking if it’s okay, her mom texts back and tells her that it is! With that, the movie people take her on a private plane to Skandia, the (fictional) country where the movie is being filmed. However, Jenna soon finds out that there is no movie—and that she has become a part in a crazy plot involving the princess of Skandia. Jenna needs to get home before anything worse happens!
This is a great book! It not only is (mostly) realistic; it is also full of suspense, adventure, and survival. Jenna is a very likable character who the reader will root for throughout the story. Suggest this to those who enjoyed The Princess Diaries (Cabot), but warn them that it’s not all fun and romance!
October 11, 2024
Es macht einfach mega viel Spaß Skogland zu lesen. Kirsten Boie schreibt flüssig, ohne zu ausschweifend in ihren Formulierungen zu sein und gleichzeitig schreibt sie nicht zu eintönig, dass das Lesen langweilig wird. Schauplatz der Geschehnisse ist eine Welt, die in den allermeisten Aspekten mit unserer realen Welt übereinstimmt, aber auch vereinzelt fiktive Elemente beinhaltet, wie z.B. das Land Skogland, dass im Mittelpunkt der Handlung steht. Inhaltlich geht es um politische Intrigen, Rebellion, soziale Ungerechtigkeit, Diskrimminierung und vieles mehr, aber alles für eine jüngere Zielgruppe aufbereitet, ohne zu sehr zu beschönigen. Gerade dass Folter, Drohungen und Ähnliches zwar ein bisschen verharmlost dargestellt, aber nicht weggelassen wurden, fand ich gut. Auch die Charaktere fand ich schön dargestellt. Alle hatten ihre Ecken und Kanten, waren aber trotzdem nie nur böse oder nur gut.
Die Story ist schlüssig, wenn auch ein bisschen unrealistisch, besonders im Hinblick auf Jarvens naives Verhalten. Auch die Handlung ist ein bisschen vorhersehbar, deswegen aber nicht weniger spannend. Man muss außerdem, wie erwähnt im Hinterkopf behalten, dass das Buch ein Jugenthriller ist, der politische Themen für ab 12 jährige behandelt. Für mich also insgesammt ein rundum gelungenes Buch.
Die Story ist schlüssig, wenn auch ein bisschen unrealistisch, besonders im Hinblick auf Jarvens naives Verhalten. Auch die Handlung ist ein bisschen vorhersehbar, deswegen aber nicht weniger spannend. Man muss außerdem, wie erwähnt im Hinterkopf behalten, dass das Buch ein Jugenthriller ist, der politische Themen für ab 12 jährige behandelt. Für mich also insgesammt ein rundum gelungenes Buch.
March 3, 2011
Super fun book! Listened to most of it on a play-a-way on our trecherous road trip over Thanksgiving (10 hours in a snow storm to get to 5 hours away location--and that was only part way to our goal). The play-a-way died on chapter 22 leaving a van full of very disappointed listeners. Once I checked out the library book, the 14 yr. old boy and two 11 year old boys fought over who got to finish the book first!
Even though the main character is girl and the cover is pink--this book is full of adventure and plots! It is not a "girlie" book. Originally written in German and then translated into English. I loved that it is very British sounding--so much easier to imagine everything happening in the fictional European nation of Scandia.
Excellent springboard for discussions about prejudice and perceptions. Along with discussions about greed and power--how when power is used unrighteously it leads to destruction.
Even though the main character is girl and the cover is pink--this book is full of adventure and plots! It is not a "girlie" book. Originally written in German and then translated into English. I loved that it is very British sounding--so much easier to imagine everything happening in the fictional European nation of Scandia.
Excellent springboard for discussions about prejudice and perceptions. Along with discussions about greed and power--how when power is used unrighteously it leads to destruction.
July 8, 2018
This book started very slow and I struggled with the constant changing of perspectives. However, once the book progressed I got used to them and really enjoyed this book. The movie idea was brilliant; what teenage girl doesn't want to be a movie star? And of course she was naive enough to believe everything they were telling her. The meeting of Jenna and Malena was very well done. How protective her mother was made perfect sense once you knew she was the missing princess. Bea was a great friend, and the only one who believed that anything was wrong; her parents when she was finally proved correct were amazing. This had action, adventure, mystery, and a happy ending. I am very interested in reading more to find out if her father gets away or gets captured and what happens to the rest of his followers?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2010
This was a great book. It definitely kept me guessing. It was as longer book, so it had more details in it. It was fun to read. During the ending of the book, I couldn’t stop reading it. I usually don’t read during the weekends, but I couldn’t help myself. I didn’t know what was going to happen. It’s one of those books where when the character is confused and doesn’t know much, you’re confused and you don’t know much. In the middle of the book a lot is revealed, but it’s only until the ending of the book where you really know what is actually going on. This book was suspenseful. Sometimes I get bored reading books as long as this one, but this one was different. I really liked it and I would extremely recommend it.
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