The Two Princesses of Bamarre [Paperback]

Gail Carson Levine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2001

A kingdom beset by monsters... A disease that weakens and destroys...An epic poem and a hero of long ago...A story of danger and desperation... The two princesses of Barmarre couldn't be more different. Princess Addie is fearful and shy. Her deepest wish is for safety. Princess Meryl is bold and brave. Her deepest wish is to save the Kingdom of Bamarre. They are sisters, and they mean the world to each other. Then disaster strikes, and Addie-terrified and unprepared sets out on a perilous quest. In her path are the monsters of Bamarre: ogres, specters, gryphons, and dragons. Addie must battle them, but time is running out, and the sisters' lives-and Bamarre's fate-hang in the balance. 241 pages

Product Details

• Paperback: 241 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439405483
• ISBN-13: 978-0439398831
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (233 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,444,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City and has been writing all her life. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Dave At Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; and her Princess Tales books: The Princess Test, The Fairy's Mistake, Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep, Cinderellis and the Glass Hill, For Biddle's Sake and The Fairy's Return. She is also the author of the picture book Betsy Who Cried Wolf, illustrated by Scott Nash. Gail, her husband, David, and their Airedale, Baxter, live in a two-hundred-year-old farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley.

In Her Own Words..."I grew up in New York City. In elementary school I was a charter member of the Scribble Scrabble Club, and in high school my poems were published in an anthology of student poetry. I didn't want to be a writer. First I wanted to act and then I wanted to be a painter like my big sister. In college, I was a Philosophy major, and my prose style was very dry and dull! My interest in the theater led me to my first writing experience as an adult. My husband David wrote the music and lyrics and I wrote the book for a children's musical, Spacenapped that was produced by a neighborhood theater in Brooklyn.

"And my painting brought me to writing for children in earnest. I took a class in writing and illustrating children's books and found that I was much more interested in the writing than in the illustrating.

"Most of my job life has had to do with welfare, first helping people find work and then as an administrator. The earlier experience was more direct and satisfying, and I enjoy thinking that a bunch of people somewhere are doing better today than they might have done if not for me."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even better than Ella Enchanted, June 10, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Two Princesses of Bamarre (Hardcover)

The Two Princesses of Bamarre is about two completely different princesses. The older one, Meryl, is courageous, brave and valiant, always wanting to fight dangerous creatures, such as: Vollys the dragon, specters, monsters, and even ogres! The other one, Addie, is the opposite. She is afraid of everything, starting with spiders, and will not let Meryl leave her side until she is happily wed. One day, the most terrible thing happens. Meryl was sick with the Gray Death, the most feared illness of them all. Many hundreds die of it every year. Addie, inspired by Drualt, her hero, realizes that she must go find the cure, to save her beloved sister and lots of others. Along with the help of her friend Rhys, the young sorcerer and many gifts from Bella and her late mother, she sets out on her quest. She comes across ogres, dragons, specters and many other dangers. Will Addie be able to save her sister? Will she survive? What will become of Rhys? What will become of Meryl? You'll have to read the book to find out! I recommend this book to children ages 9 and up. I rate it five stars because it's the best book in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Levine returns!, April 1, 2001

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Two Princesses of Bamarre (Hardcover)

Gail Levine returns to the terrain that she does best, strong and intelligent princesses -- only here she expands her terrain. After the so-so outing of "The Wish" and the delightful but all-too-short Princess stories, fans of "Ella Enchanted" will not be disappointed!

The bubonic plague of Bamarre is the Gray Death, killing anyone it touches. While shy Princess Addie merely wishes to remain where she is, brave Princess Meryl is determined to save Bamarre from the Gray Death. Though the sisters are as different as day and night, they love each other a great deal.

But as hard as Meryl tries to save Bamarre, she falls ill with the dread disease. Addie must set off on a quest to save their kingdom -- and her beloved sister. Her innate shyness and retiring nature must be overcome before the exciting end of the adventure. Her characterizations are spot-on, especially Addie. She manages to portray a quiet, retiring young girl in a sympathetic light, without making her seem pathetic or weak. The male lead, Rhys, is strong but not overbearing, kind and very, very cool.

Levine's evocative writing style has matured further from "Ella Enchanted," becoming more flowing and poetic in the dialogue and descriptions. But, like "Ella," we are given very human kingdoms mixed with otherworldly beasts and creatures, dragons and spectors and griffins and so forth.

If you are one of the many girls (women, men, boys...) who cheer for strong heroines, then pick up this book immediately!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Impressive fantasy, June 30, 2001

By 

Nancy E. "Nancy" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Two Princesses of Bamarre (Hardcover)

In the country of Bamarre there live two Princesses, as different as night and day. One of them Addie is timid and shy but loves no one more than her sister Meryl. Her sister Meryl is strong, stubborn and brave. Meryl's life mission is to one day find the cure for the grey death, a plague that kills people very quickly. Addie only wishes to stay safe inside her palace but her wish is not granted. When her sister is sticken with the grey death she knows she has to do something. But when this something turns out to be leaving her home and finding the cure, facing specters and dragons she finds it hard to deal. Even with the help of a sorceror. Can she save her sister? Or will she be too timid to follow through.

I found this book to be very impressive. It was entertaining to see Addie's transfomration through the book from timid little sister, to something more. I reccomend it to fans of Levine's 1st book Ella Enchanted. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. The only complaint I has was some parts where a tad bit predictable. Other than that it was great. Enjoy!