Palace of Mirrors [Paperback]

Margaret Peterson Haddix (Author)

Book Description

Cecelia lives like a peasant girl, but she knows she is truly a princess, hidden away for safety as an infant and replaced by a decoy commoner. When danger finds her in her small village, Cecelia decides it is time to act, setting out to claim her rightful place on the throne. But when she and her best friend Harper venture to the capital city and into the famed Palace of Mirrors, they discover that all is not as it seems, and that they have placed themselves in more danger than they could have imagined….

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5–8—A lively companion to Just Ella (S & S, 1999). Cecilia, 14, has a secret. Despite her peasant appearance, she is the true princess of Suala, hidden from birth to protect her from the conspirators who murdered her parents. To evade capture, she leaves her village with her friend Harper and heads for the capital city to claim her throne. Imagine her surprise when Desmia, the figure-head princess, reveals 11 other "true princesses" locked in the palace dungeons. Visiting from Fridesia, Ella turns up to help Desmia, Cecilia, and Harper unravel this political intrigue. Palace of Mirrors sits nicely alongside Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted (HarperCollins, 2007) and Shannon Hale's Princess Academy (Bloomsbury, 2005). Much of the humor stems from Cecilia's misconceptions, and from the wit of her friend-turned-beau, Harper. The plot will be a familiar one to genre readers, but they will happily travel it again to see Cecilia's identity unfold. The suspense builds to a well-paced climax and conclusion with few pauses in an action-packed story. While the setting is less defined than the characters and plot, readers will be too focused on the protagonist's many concerns to notice.—Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Palace of Mirrors sits nicely alongside Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted and Shannon Hale's Princess Academy...The suspense builds to a well-paced climax and conclusion with few pauses in an action-packed story."--School Library Journal

"Aficionados of Gail Carson Levine and Shanno Hale will find much to like in this welcome addition to the ver-growing canon of smart-princess stories."--Booklist

"Haddix's skill with vivid descriptions and believable characters make this tale a standout in the retold fairy tale genre....a story that feels both familiar and fresh. It is a sure hit for those who want to cultivate their rough-and-tumble inner princess."--VOYA

"Plenty of fun here from a superior author."--Kirkus Reviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; 1 Reprint edition (February 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1442406674
• ISBN-13: 978-1442406674
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #503,459 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up on a farm outside Washington Court House, Ohio. As a kid, I liked to read a lot, and was also involved in 4-H, various bands and choirs (I played flute and piano), church youth group, the school newspaper, and a quiz-bowl type team. I was pretty disastrous as an athlete, although I did run track one year in high school. After graduating from Miami University (of Ohio), I worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a part-time community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois, before my first book was published. I've moved around a lot as an adult, having also lived in Luxembourg (during a college semester abroad) and in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. Several years ago, I moved back to Ohio with my husband and kids; we now live in Columbus, Ohio. My husband trains investigative journalists, and my kids are in high school, so there's always a lot going on around our house.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful tale of adventure and palace intrigue, September 25, 2008

By 

Sheila L. Beaumont (South Pasadena, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Palace of Mirrors (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

As this light, fun story begins, 14-year-old Cecilia, brought up as a village commoner by Nanny Gratine while being tutored in chess and other royal topics by Sir Stephen, knows that she is in reality the true princess of Suala, destined to replace the decoy princess, Desmia, on the throne as soon as the evil men who killed her parents are vanquished. It soon becomes apparent, however, that her enemies have tracked her down, so she and her best friend, a peasant boy named Harper, decide to trek to the royal palace at Cortona so Cecilia can claim her throne. But when they arrive there, they discover that Desmia has been told a very different story.

Palace of Mirrors is set in the same world as the author's earlier book Just Ella, and Ella shows up here, though not as a major character. The story isn't as predictable as it first seems, as the situation at the palace turns out to be much more complicated than the reader expects. But ultimately everything is resolved, and though there's no magic in this book, its happy fairy-tale ending is as satisfying as you could wish.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a fan of "Just Ella" but LOVED "Palace of Mirrors", January 24, 2009

By 

Erin (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Palace of Mirrors (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

I was wonderfully surprised by "Palace of Mirrors." Haddix took the sugar-coating off the fairy tale like she tried to do with "Just Ella," but where "Just Ella" came out sounding whiney and forced, "Palace of Mirrors" came out pitch perfect. Watching Cecilia develop from a child who only thinks of herself to a young woman who is able to see the big picture and her true place in it was totally believable. Haddix wrote it the way it really happens... your life is one way, then things start happening and you make one choice after another and at some point you are able to look back and realize that you've changed and become just who you are supposed to be.

Not to mention, Haddix managed to create a plot unlike any I've read before... quite a feat considering the burgeoning number of princess stories being written nowadays. This story has unique twists that don't end up being just the same old fairy tale, but truly suspenseful and satisfying!

The message of the book is that it is our choices that make us who we are, and the author supports that message in every page of the story without whacking the reader over the head with it. It is skillfully done and I really enjoyed reading it.

If you didn't care much for "Just Ella" (I didn't), don't hold it against "Palace of Mirrors"--this book is superior in every way and well worth your time. But if you loved "Just Ella" then "Palace of Mirrors" will really knock your socks off!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 100% Awesome Its only like the Best, April 16, 2009

By 

H. Dusselaar "Book Reader" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Palace of Mirrors (Hardcover)

I am 13 years old and I wanted a book to read from the library, but my mom was telling me that I didn't have time to search for a book. But I quickly ran and just grabbed Palace of Mirrors which was the first book I saw. It is such a good book. With a lot of books you can predict what happens but with this book you this you know what happens then something comes up and you get a new idea of what happens. The ending is really romantic you just can't help but smile while you read it. The next couple nights after I ready it I had dreams that I was the girl in the book. I think they should make a movie of this book. I would go see it the day it came out. I love books and think this one is awesome. I would definitely recommend it.