Fast Facts:
Book Title: Once Upon a Marigold
Author: Jean Ferris
Genre/Audience: Children’s; fantasy, comedy, satire, fairy tale
Rating: 9/10
Worth the read?: Totally, this is a super cute book
It’s funny, I’ve always said that I’m not a person who enjoys rereading books, but the books I read in 2018 sure seem to call that into question. Of the 54 books I read for the blog last year, 17 of them were books I had read before. Maybe it’s not that I dislike rereading books so much as it is I only enjoy rereading certain books.
Once Upon a Marigold is the kind of book I enjoy rereading. I first read it in eighth grade after my friend told me it was a really sweet and funny fairytale. I never was much into princess stories, but this one is unlike most. The structure of the book is classically fairytale, but the characters are extreme representations of the typical archetypes. Once Upon a Marigold is kind of the SNL of fairytales, but in the best way.
The cover of the book captures the story well, describing it as “part comedy, part love story, part everything-but-the-kitchen-sink.”
Christian ran away from home when he was only six years old and was discovered hiding in the woods by Edric, a kind and politically active troll. Edric adopts Christian, and the duo lives happily into Christian’s teen years. The cave where they live overlooks a terrace across the river, but it isn’t just any terrace—it’s the one belonging to Princess Marigold, the final unwed princess in King Swithbert’s kingdom. Christian begins to send messages to Marigold via pigeon mail, or p-mail, and soon decides he must depart from the cave and take up a job across the river. He finds a job at the castle, but cannot reveal his identity to his best friend for fear of being punished for their relationship. But along the way, Christian uncovers a plot to get rid of Marigold, and an action-packed adventure unfolds to save the future queen.
Doesn’t that sound like fun?! (Also, it’s a fairytale, so of course peasant Christian and Princess Marigold fall in love!)
There is a sequel to the book that I read—maybe even a third book, too—and remember enjoying, though not quite as much as the first installment. Ferris’ writing is grammatically clean, stylistically smooth, and genuinely witty and clever. I often find myself wanting nothing more than to read a children’s book, and I think writers like Jean Ferris are a huge reason why. This is another story that transcends its intended audience, and after spending the year reading countless theological texts, it is the breath of fresh air I needed.
Maybe one day I’ll grow up and stop spending so much time reading books for kids, but I sure hope that doesn’t happen for a long, long time. There is something so refreshing and joyous about reading a book meant for children. Perhaps it’s that kids don’t tend to find it necessary to torture themselves with stories that make you weep. Not that I don’t find value in those books, because I do. But sometimes, you just need to be happy. Once Upon A Marigold is a book that makes you happy.
What is a book that makes you happy? Leave me a comment and let me know! Also, make sure to use the #inspired50 hashtag so we can stay connected on our journey of reading books together!
Meanwhile, don’t forget to check out Noel’s first book review of the year over on Noel Neverlanding!
Happy reading!
Nikki
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