Strong writing, characters make 'Two Moon Princess' appealing

“TWO MOON PRINCESS,” by Carmen Ferreiro-Estevan, Tanglewood Press, June 2010, $8.95 (ages 9-12)

Parental expectations, family duty and rebelling against them are themes many of us are familiar with. That’s probably why Carmen Ferreiro-Estevan’s “Two Moon Princess” is so relatable.

At the center of the story is Andrea, a strong-minded young princess who would rather be a knight than a lady. Andrea already has many of the skills needed to become a squire and train under one of her father’s knights. She sees no point in becoming a lady, wearing long dresses and embroidering hold no interest.

But Andrea has no say in the matter; her father’s word is law. And there’s no way her mother will change her mind, either. Andrea tries her hardest, but she’s miserable.

Things take a turn for the better, though, when the princess stumbles into modern-day California. How strange this new place is with its moving pictures and the roaring, angry beast called a “car.” While others from her world might find California frightening, Andrea finds it fascinating. In this wonderful place she can become anyone she wants. She can make her own decisions and she vows to stay.

Decisions come with consequences, though, and when Andrea accidentally returns to her world and her family’s kingdom, she inadvertently brings war.

There’s a lot of fantasy and paranormal fiction out right now. With such a glut, I find myself opening each new book with a mixture of trepidation and anticipation. Book covers can be deceiving, too. A good cover can hide bad content and vice versa. It’s only when you become an active participant that you discover worthwhile content.

In the case of “Two Moon Princess” the content is excellent. It took about 10 pages for me to get hooked. The story is a mix of fairy tale and fantasy with some reality mixed in. Ferreiro-Estevan has a comfortable writing style that readers will instantly find accessible.

Andrea is a strong female character who has faults and learns to recognize them. As she grows, so does the story. Ferreiro-Estevan presents her story in a way that makes things plausible, even though they’re pure fiction.

I read “Two Moon Princess” in digital form via Netgalley. Upon completion, I’m planning on purchasing a hard copy for my personal collection.