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Available
Call number
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Collections
Publication
Boston : Graphia, [2009], c2008.
Description
A girl is transformed, through instruction in life at court, determination, and magic, from sullen, pudgy, graceless Ben into Crown Princess Benevolence, a fit ruler of the kindgom of Montagne as it faces war with neighboring Drachensbett.
User reviews
LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
When Princess Benevolence's parents are attacked by unknown assassins, Ben is thrust into a life she never wanted. She's now heir to the throne and must begin preparations for a marriage she doesn't want. The queen is horrible to her and Ben's not taking any of this lying down. She takes her
A departure from her other works (Dairy Queen and The Off Season), Princess Ben is no less delightful. She's a spunky girl who uses her brain and disdains those who would judge her for her beauty (or lack thereof). She really grows throughout the book and can accomplish whatever she sets out to do, whether it's pulling pranks on her dance teacher or saving the kingdom from certain doom.
Hand this one to fans of Gail Carson Levine and Shannon Hale. They won't be disappointed.
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revenge by refusing to bend to the queen's rules and torturing her teachers at every opportunity. And then she discovers the magic...A departure from her other works (Dairy Queen and The Off Season), Princess Ben is no less delightful. She's a spunky girl who uses her brain and disdains those who would judge her for her beauty (or lack thereof). She really grows throughout the book and can accomplish whatever she sets out to do, whether it's pulling pranks on her dance teacher or saving the kingdom from certain doom.
Hand this one to fans of Gail Carson Levine and Shannon Hale. They won't be disappointed.
Show Less
LibraryThing member theepicrat
I love Ella Enchanted, Dealing with Dragons, Ordinary Princess, etc., and I had expected Princess Ben to be cut from the same cloth. Perhaps I was not in the right frame of mind when I read Princess Ben, but I found myself disappointed and annoyed with Ben until Part 4 when she finally grows up and
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things started to get more interesting. Show Less
LibraryThing member katec9999
Princess Ben is not your typical princess. First of all, her name isn’t pretty and feminine – it’s Ben, short for Benevolence. Secondly, she is chubby and graceless. And her life is far from perfect, especially after her parents and her uncle, the king, die on the same day. It is assumed that
The story is told from a future Ben’s point-of-view, as she attempts to set the story straight on the events that made her famous. The voice is authentic and old-fashioned, and beautifully written. All of the major characters are complex and well-drawn – we see the spoiled as well as the mature Ben, the aunt who is both cruel and caring, and the Drachensbett rulers who are both enemy and friend. This book has garnered rave reviews, and will be on many people’s short list for a Newbery honor.
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they were killed by the neighboring Drachensbetts, long the enemy of Ben’s people. Ben goes to live with her widowed aunt, Sophia, who is now serving as the Queen until Ben is old enough to assume the throne. Ben soothes her grief with food and sullenness, causing her aunt to keep her in a tower room until she learns to behave. But this punishment turns into freedom when Ben discovers there is something very special about this room, and the castle as well. The story is told from a future Ben’s point-of-view, as she attempts to set the story straight on the events that made her famous. The voice is authentic and old-fashioned, and beautifully written. All of the major characters are complex and well-drawn – we see the spoiled as well as the mature Ben, the aunt who is both cruel and caring, and the Drachensbett rulers who are both enemy and friend. This book has garnered rave reviews, and will be on many people’s short list for a Newbery honor.
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LibraryThing member cherryblossommj
First off, I must share my favorite line(s) from this book that sent me into fits of giggles: With that, I hurled the slipper at him, not caring if I caused his decapitation. (I did not.) Marshaling what little dignity I yet possessed, I stomped down the corridor -- challenging indeed with one
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shoe -- and around the corner. I lay awake for hours. The prince had no right, not one, to indict me so, and if I had held the slightest hope of the book's assistance, I would have climbed at once to my wizard room for a spell with which to punish him. Death, perhaps, or humiliation. A croaking frog would be nice, particularly a frog that retained Florian's dark eyes. I should keep it in a box and poke it occasionally with a stick; that would be satisfying indeed. [book: Princess Ben] is one of the most well thought-out and intellectually relevant books that I have ever read in today's time! Princess Benevolent has quite a year and must learn how to live up to her name. I earnestly can see where a reader can grow along with Ben, learning some difficult lessons that we especially today wish to ignore. Through this book I can see many a young, teenager, or older girl grow more into herself and what she will someday be. I feel like I learned somethings about myself through this book. All around a fabulous story, with twisting plots and turns I did not expect. The first section was a little droll, and I was waiting for excitement. Well the excitement came! and that build-up had been proper and necessary. I strongly encourage anyone to read this book. Buy it for your tween and teenage gals and let them go on the adventure. Goodness me, go on it yourself! Show Less
LibraryThing member fiveforsilver
This is a nice little Sleeping Beauty retelling. Not my favorite fairy tale-retelling ever, but Ben (Benevolence) is a fun voice to read and there are other interesting characters as well. I would have loved this book when I was younger.
LibraryThing member krau0098
This was a cute book and a fast read. I actually listened to it on audio book and the audio book was well done.
Princess Benevolence is not you typical princess; she is not beautiful and she wants nothing to do with being a princess. When her parents are killed on a journey she is left alone with
More than anything this book is about growing up. Ben is definitely not a likable character in the beginning on the book. There are a number of times when I think she deserved what the Queen dealt out; Ben is selfish and whiny. I kind of wish that a bit less of the book had been spent developing Ben's unsavory character. About a third of the book deals with Ben as she is forced to take on princess responsibilities that she detests. I would have been happier if Ben's character had been established quicker and we had moved on to more interesting parts of the story sooner.
After the first third or so the story picks up the pace. This story is a coming of age story clear and simple. It is not a complicated story and is an appropriate story for children and young adults; I enjoyed the story too. It was nice to read a good story that spans a large age group.
Although not the most wonderful or intricate story; this story is a cute twist on your classic princess and dragon fairy tales. It is simple and sweet story that doesn't tax your brain but still teaches some important life lessons. It was a fun read as Princess Ben has a dry sense of humor people should enjoy. I also enjoyed how Murdock wove some elements from classic fairy tales we all know and love into the story.
I would recommend this book and I look forward to more books by Murdock. If you like fairy tales and stories about princesses; this is the book for you. This isn't a life-changing story but it is a light and enjoyable read that has a good message in it.
Princess Benevolence is not you typical princess; she is not beautiful and she wants nothing to do with being a princess. When her parents are killed on a journey she is left alone with
Show More
only the dreaded Queen as her teacher and guardian. Every time Ben thinks she reached the lowest low in her life things get worse; that is until she stumbles upon a magic room that leads her into an amazing adventure.More than anything this book is about growing up. Ben is definitely not a likable character in the beginning on the book. There are a number of times when I think she deserved what the Queen dealt out; Ben is selfish and whiny. I kind of wish that a bit less of the book had been spent developing Ben's unsavory character. About a third of the book deals with Ben as she is forced to take on princess responsibilities that she detests. I would have been happier if Ben's character had been established quicker and we had moved on to more interesting parts of the story sooner.
After the first third or so the story picks up the pace. This story is a coming of age story clear and simple. It is not a complicated story and is an appropriate story for children and young adults; I enjoyed the story too. It was nice to read a good story that spans a large age group.
Although not the most wonderful or intricate story; this story is a cute twist on your classic princess and dragon fairy tales. It is simple and sweet story that doesn't tax your brain but still teaches some important life lessons. It was a fun read as Princess Ben has a dry sense of humor people should enjoy. I also enjoyed how Murdock wove some elements from classic fairy tales we all know and love into the story.
I would recommend this book and I look forward to more books by Murdock. If you like fairy tales and stories about princesses; this is the book for you. This isn't a life-changing story but it is a light and enjoyable read that has a good message in it.
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LibraryThing member Ilithyia
It wasn't fabulous, but it wasn't horrible. I would put it on the list of things to read someday, but don't feel the need to rush out and get it right now. Pretty classic disenfranchised princess unexpectedly saves the kingdom. I wouldn't mind a sequel if they elaborate on a lot of storylines that
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were left open. Show Less
LibraryThing member cherryblossommj
First off, I must share my favorite line(s) from this book that sent me into fits of giggles: With that, I hurled the slipper at him, not caring if I caused his decapitation. (I did not.) Marshaling what little dignity I yet possessed, I stomped down the corridor -- challenging indeed with one
Show More
shoe -- and around the corner. I lay awake for hours. The prince had no right, not one, to indict me so, and if I had held the slightest hope of the book's assistance, I would have climbed at once to my wizard room for a spell with which to punish him. Death, perhaps, or humiliation. A croaking frog would be nice, particularly a frog that retained Florian's dark eyes. I should keep it in a box and poke it occasionally with a stick; that would be satisfying indeed. [book: Princess Ben] is one of the most well thought-out and intellectually relevant books that I have ever read in today's time! Princess Benevolent has quite a year and must learn how to live up to her name. I earnestly can see where a reader can grow along with Ben, learning some difficult lessons that we especially today wish to ignore. Through this book I can see many a young, teenager, or older girl grow more into herself and what she will someday be. I feel like I learned somethings about myself through this book. All around a fabulous story, with twisting plots and turns I did not expect. The first section was a little droll, and I was waiting for excitement. Well the excitement came! and that build-up had been proper and necessary. I strongly encourage anyone to read this book. Buy it for your tween and teenage gals and let them go on the adventure. Goodness me, go on it yourself! Show Less
LibraryThing member francescadefreitas
Delightful, this fantasy story looked like a fairytale retelling, but actually had some wonderful world building, and some great characters. I especially loved the nasty queen. Such a differnt feel to Dairy Queen, but just as splendid.
LibraryThing member JRlibrary
Let me start by saying I loved this story!
Princess Benevolence's parents are lost to assassins and she becomes the responsibility of Queen Sophia, her dead uncle's wife. Sophia intends to marry Ben to Prince Florian, but Ben wants no part of that plan!
I loved the strength of Ben's character, I
Great girl book, for those who like books about princesses with a little bit of magic thrown in. I highly recommend the reading of this story, but be sure you have time to finish, because once you start, you won't want to stop.
Princess Benevolence's parents are lost to assassins and she becomes the responsibility of Queen Sophia, her dead uncle's wife. Sophia intends to marry Ben to Prince Florian, but Ben wants no part of that plan!
I loved the strength of Ben's character, I
Show More
loved the skillful use of vocabulary throughout the book, and I especially loved that it's the princess that kisses the prince to make things work out "happily ever after."Great girl book, for those who like books about princesses with a little bit of magic thrown in. I highly recommend the reading of this story, but be sure you have time to finish, because once you start, you won't want to stop.
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LibraryThing member bunnyjadwiga
A nice little young adult fantasy, combining the misfit princess and the misbehaved princess genres. Strong female heroine, with a not-completely-horrible treatment of weight. I liked it, and liked the main character. The writing was good with flashes of impressiveness and just the sort of
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treatment of day-to-day things and multifaceted characters I like to see. Show Less
LibraryThing member SunnySD
At just barely 15, Princess Benevolence is a more than slightly spoiled, slightly plump, pampered... well, princess, when tragedy strikes. Her mother and her uncle the king are murdered, and her father disappears. Without warning, Princess Ben becomes the charge of her Aunt Sophia, the Queen
Told in retrospect, with a few traditional fairytale interjections - you'll know them when you run across them - Princess Ben is a charming coming of age story with more than a few unexpected twists. Worth picking up.
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Regent. Expected to dress, act, and eat the part of a royal, Ben rebels and finds herself locked in a tower. What happens next may be the salvation of the kingdom.Told in retrospect, with a few traditional fairytale interjections - you'll know them when you run across them - Princess Ben is a charming coming of age story with more than a few unexpected twists. Worth picking up.
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LibraryThing member selkie_girl
Princess Benevolance is not your ordinary princess. She's not willowy, blonde or graceful. She has no manners to speak of and is a bit spoiled. When her parents die mysteriously, she is put under the care of her Aunt Sophia. Sophia starts shaping Ben to become a proper princess which Ben is sure
A nice combination of fairy tales. Sort of reminded me of Ella Enchanted but Ben wasn't nearly as likable as Ella until more towards the end. Good read. It could've used a bit more magic, I thought. I wish Murdock had left it open for a sequal.
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that all she is doing is torturing her. To make matters worse, she gets locked into a small tower. The tower, however, holds a mysterious workroom where Ben learns how to do magic. Slowly, she finds herself as well as the killer of her parents. A nice combination of fairy tales. Sort of reminded me of Ella Enchanted but Ben wasn't nearly as likable as Ella until more towards the end. Good read. It could've used a bit more magic, I thought. I wish Murdock had left it open for a sequal.
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LibraryThing member dalmador95
It has many implausible moments, but it's a fairy tale, so I guess you can't hold that against it. It's a fun story.
LibraryThing member knielsen83
A bit of an untraditional fairy tale, where the girl is chubby and gluttonous and has to learn to become a princess and a queen quickly in order to survive war. It had a charming blend of different fairy tales with some cameos of other fairy tales randomly snuck in. The book was written in a witty
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narrative tone that fit it all too well. Show Less
LibraryThing member dragonimp
A charming story with a very human protagonist.
LibraryThing member librariankristin
In this delightful, fractured fairy tale version of Sleeping Beauty, Princess Benevolence must grow into her role as crown princess when her kingdom is thrown into crisis. A wonderful read for fans of Ella Enchanted and its ilk.
LibraryThing member anokaberry
I didn't want to read it -- the cover! But the story is a TREAT! a FEAST! Her Royal Highness tells the story - her Life! - with aplomb and wisdom. The language demands a dictionary and shows respect for the reader. The elements - invasion, treachery, assassination, castles, dragons,
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doppelschlaferin!, birthrights....*****wow, excellent! five stars! Thank you Catherine Murdock Show Less
LibraryThing member Senfaye
Title: Princess Ben Author: Catherine Murdock Publisher:HMCo Number Of Pages: 344
Summary from inside jacket flap : My gown suited me well as well as I could ever hope,though I could not envy the young ladies who would attract the honest compliments of of the night. My bodice did not plunge as
Review: Princess Ben started off really slow and I found myself not wanting to read it. But I wanted to finish it anyway. As I progressed through the book it got better and better. By the end of the book I wished it was longer. The main character Princess Ben is witty and I found it funny how much she ate. Overall this book was really great!
I recommend this book if you like fairytales, princesses, romance, magic, adventure, and young adult novels.
Summary from inside jacket flap : My gown suited me well as well as I could ever hope,though I could not envy the young ladies who would attract the honest compliments of of the night. My bodice did not plunge as
Show More
dramatically as some, and no man- no man I would ever want to meet, surely- could fit his hands round my waist. What I lacked in beauty I would simply have to earn with charm..... Benevolence is not your typical princess- and Princess Ben is certainly not your typical fairy tale. With her parents lost to assassins, Princess Ben ends up under the thumb of the conniving Queen Sophia. Starved and miserable, locked in the castle's highest tower, Ben stumbles upon a mysterious enchanted room. So begins her secret education in the magical arts: mastering an obstinate flying broomstick, furtively emptying the castle pantries, setting her hair on fire.... But Ben's private adventures are soon overwhelmed by a mortal threat to her kingdom. Can Ben save the country and herself from foul tyranny?Review: Princess Ben started off really slow and I found myself not wanting to read it. But I wanted to finish it anyway. As I progressed through the book it got better and better. By the end of the book I wished it was longer. The main character Princess Ben is witty and I found it funny how much she ate. Overall this book was really great!
I recommend this book if you like fairytales, princesses, romance, magic, adventure, and young adult novels.
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LibraryThing member patricia_poland
A chubby princess, spoiled & childish but not without heart finds pluck (which she always had), magic (which turns out to be harder than it looks), and why good manners do matter. All leads to her heart's desire though it takes most of the book for her to figure that out. Good writing, good read!
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Hated to get to the end. Show Less
LibraryThing member 2017ckinde
Ben, a medieval princess is so sad since the man she hated once is dead, she realizes she is completely in love with him. What made this story good was the suspense that Ben went through because so much happened to her that you never know if she will get caught and the story will end right there
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and then but it never does! Show Less
LibraryThing member PatienceFortitude
Fun little fantasy- discovered while I was searching the NYPL for something else.
All the good ingredients- outspoken, unladylike princess, stubborn and wonderful and smart. Being stifled by her aunt, the Queen. Magic. Fairy tales-- a nice cross between being grounded in Medieval history and
And not bad to read as an adult, if I do say so myself.
All the good ingredients- outspoken, unladylike princess, stubborn and wonderful and smart. Being stifled by her aunt, the Queen. Magic. Fairy tales-- a nice cross between being grounded in Medieval history and
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culture, and referencing fairy tales. Princess Ben learns and grows into herself, but neither in a preachy nor forced way. This is pretty much a gift-wrapped sweet of a book for any tween reader who loved the movie "Brave." And not bad to read as an adult, if I do say so myself.
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LibraryThing member PatienceFortitude
Fun little fantasy- discovered while I was searching the NYPL for something else.
All the good ingredients- outspoken, unladylike princess, stubborn and wonderful and smart. Being stifled by her aunt, the Queen. Magic. Fairy tales-- a nice cross between being grounded in Medieval history and
And not bad to read as an adult, if I do say so myself.
All the good ingredients- outspoken, unladylike princess, stubborn and wonderful and smart. Being stifled by her aunt, the Queen. Magic. Fairy tales-- a nice cross between being grounded in Medieval history and
Show More
culture, and referencing fairy tales. Princess Ben learns and grows into herself, but neither in a preachy nor forced way. This is pretty much a gift-wrapped sweet of a book for any tween reader who loved the movie "Brave." And not bad to read as an adult, if I do say so myself.
Show Less
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
This fairytale mixes references to well-known fairy tales with an original story of a spoiled and willful child that finds herself having to grow up and into the serious role of a princess of state. The romance proceeds much as romances do - hidden identities, prejudicial first impressions, near
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misses. Still there is a satisfying conclusion in the story as Ben learns to see the world as more complex than just black and white. Show Less
LibraryThing member ktgris
By twisting and turning familiar fairytales, Murdock gives us a refreshingly-human hero's journey. Princess Ben deals with the tragic death of her parents by burying her hurt beneath raisin buns. She resists every effort of the Queen Regent to transform her into a suitable future monarch until she
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discovers that her continued petulance will leave her people at the mercy of the kingdom that has coveted her own for generations. Show Less
Awards
South Carolina Book Awards (Nominee — Young Adult Book Award — 2011)
CCBC Choices (2009)
Language
Original publication date
2008-03-18
Physical description
344 p.; 21 cm
ISBN
9780547223254
DDC/MDS
| Fic Childrens Murdock |