Illustrated Girl

Gr 5 Up–After a run in with a magical bookseller, teenage Holly makes a reckless wish and finds herself transported into the fairytale world of The Chronicles of Lucitopia. There she finds herself cast as Princess Pleasant, a damsel in distress trapped in a tower during the bleak final chapters of the story. Holly’s only way out is to receive a kiss from a real person—a near impossible feat given that most of the book’s readers have long since lost interest. With only 15 days left before she is stuck as Princess Pleasant forever, Holly manages to bargain her way to an earlier point in the novel. Teaming up with the hero of the story, an exceedingly chivalrous and handsome (yet sadly fictional) knight named Torvold, Holly sets out on a quest to secure that much-needed kiss and maybe save the kingdom along the way. This younger YA tale starts off slowly but once the spunky heroine gets out on her own, it turns into a delightful adventure. Despite a rather abrupt ending, it’s a charming cozy fantasy. All characters read as white.