Princess for a Week [Library Binding]

Betty Ren Wright (Author), Jacqueline Rogers (Illustrator)

Book Description

Roddy Hall is excited when he overhears his mother saying that "Princess" can come to visit--he's always wanted a dog. But much to his chagrin, Princess turns out not to be a dog, but rather the obnoxious daughter of a family friend, and she's staying for the whole week. One night Princess, Roddy, and his friend Jacob notice a mysterious car pull up to the abandoned house at the end of the street. Could it be a burglar? Or worse yet, a ghost? Princess is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery of the haunted house, and against his better judgment, Roddy goes along with her. They sneak out of the house to investigate during a thunderstorm--but will they be ready for what they might find?

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5 When Roddy Hall's mom tells him that Princess will be visiting, he assumes that a dog is coming. Upon her arrival, he is horrified to see that his guest is a girl, and a spunky, bossy girl to boot. Roddy plans to ignore her as much as possible but Princess is determined to investigate the supposedly haunted house in the neighborhood. When she starts sneaking out during the night, he feels compelled to keep her company and watch out for her. But Princess is fearless and Roddy is forced to do more investigating than he bargains for. In the end, the children discover stolen goods in the house and help the police capture the burglars. The story moves quickly and is excellently paced. Princess is as plucky and daring as Roddy is reluctant and thoughtful. The two make a believable team and Wright provides just the right amount of suspense and tension. The full-page illustrations add realism and depth to the story. This will be a great choice for kids looking for a fun summer read. Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. In this short thriller by the author of The Dollhouse Murders (1983) and many others, Wright calls into play the children's mystery trifecta: kids, ghosts, and a creepy old house. Just when Roddy is worried sick about his dad, a soldier in Afghanistan, his mother agrees to look after an extremely bossy girl, Princess. When the adventure-seeking guest notices suspicious activity at an abandoned house, Roddy wants to steer clear; his best friend's eccentric uncle Ring, who claims to see spirits, says the place harbors "the worst kind of ghost." Undaunted, Princess engineers stakeouts that lead to a scary climax, which involves flesh-and-blood thieves but doesn't completely rule out the possibility of ghostly doings. Despite a plot that feels dated, it's hard to argue with Wright's blend of shivery suspense and realism. Roddy's caution and Princess' bravado seem realistically rooted in their respective family situations. Occasional full-page illustrations capture the spooky moments better than the jacket artwork, which, like the humdrum title, gives little hint of the excitement within. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Library Binding: 105 pages
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439572208
• ISBN-13: 978-1439572207
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,036,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great summer read, July 18, 2009

By 

Maple "Bally" (Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Princess for a Week (Paperback)

I bought this book for my 10 yr old daughter, we have read twice together and she still loves it. Princess is great and my daughter relates to her sense of humor and adventure. She can also relate to Roddy's feelings about his absent dad, especially since her father travels a lot and her uncle has been recently been sent to Afghanistan. It's a lovely summer book, has humor, excitement and adventure.

5.0 out of 5 stars Deb, April 19, 2011

By 

DH - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Princess for a Week (Paperback)

This is a delightful book for middle elementary readers. It should be in every elementary school library. If your school doesn't have it buy it soon and get a copy for yourself as well.