Once Upon a Marigold
Jean Ferris
(Guest Reviewer - Ellen Lymond)
2002 Harcourt
ISBN: 0152167919

A modern fairy tale with a group of immensely likeable characters, including a troll, an inventor, & a heroine to admire.

Guest Reviewer Ellen Lymond writes:

Although Once Upon a Marigold is a fairy tale in the classic sense, with a princess, an evil queen, & a troll, it has a decidedly modern feel to it. One of the best & most modern things about the book is the heroine, Marigold. Jean Ferris has created a princess who wants to be a ruler, who takes an active part in turning away unwelcome suitors, & who dares to stand up to those people who try to force her into a life she doesn't want.

Across the river from Princess Marigold lives Ed, a troll, who spends his days wandering through the forest collecting things people have lost. One day he collects a small boy, Christian, who has run away from home because he is tired of doing the boring things his parents make him do. Ed & Chris live together happily in Ed's cave until Chris becomes a young man.

Then Chris sees the beautiful Marigold standing on the terrace of her father's castle across the river. Because he is lonely for someone to talk to besides Ed, Chris sends the girl a p-mail, mail tied to the legs of two carrier pigeons. She responds, & they strike up a regular correspondence. Inevitably, Chris falls in love with her.

One day Chris leaves Ed's safe cave & goes across the river to get a job at Marigold's castle. At first he doesn't tell her that he is her pen-pal (she's never seen him), but when he finds out the terrible future her mother has planned for her he reveals himself, & the two struggle to find a way to save Marigold from her mother's evil plot.

Once Upon a Marigold is a very funny book, well-written, & will be a joy to readers interested in wordplay. It will also be a joy to those readers who are tired of frightened, helpless princesses who wait for a big strong man to carry them off. Marigold is smart & brave & resourceful, & perfectly capable of looking after herself -- but it's always nice to have backup, & she happily accepts Chris's assistance.

I would give Once Upon a Marigold to my junior high daughter, in order to show her that she can be a beautiful, funny, brave woman with a romantic & adventurous life.

More from Jean Ferris:
Bad
Eight Seconds
Of Sound Mind
Love Among the Walnuts: Or How I Saved My Entire Family from Being Poisoned, & more!
(06/13/04)

Guest Reviewer - Ellen Lymond
2004©Ellen Lymond