Summary
Join New York Times bestselling author Stuart Gibbs in this first book in a hilarious, highly illustrated new middle grade series about a peasant boy who wants to be a knight, perfect for fans of Max & the Midknights.
Tim is just a peasant, but he dreams big. He wants more out of life than to grow up to be a woodsman like his father. Unfortunately, the only route to success in the kingdom of Wyld is to be born a prince. Still, Tim is determined. He is brave and clever and always tries to do the right thing--even though he rarely gets the credit for it.
Then news spreads that Princess Grace of the neighboring kingdom has been abducted by the evil Stinx and Prince Ruprecht needs a legion of knights to join him on his quest to rescue her. Tim finally has the lucky break he's been waiting for, the opportunity to change his station in life. And even though he doesn't know how to ride a horse or wield anything more deadly than a water bucket, he's going to do whatever it takes to make sure his dream becomes a reality.
Author Notes
Stuart Gibbs is a writer for the FunJungle, Moon Base Alpha, and the New York Times bestselling Spy School series.
(Bowker Author Biography)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--5--A quest to save a princess turns out to be nothing like the fairy tales suggest. Narrated by Tim, a peasant boy with a surprisingly rich vocabulary and complete knowledge of all the things that don't exist in his world, this romp follows Tim and his best friend Belinda, who seize the opportunity to join Prince Ruprecht and Court Magician Nerlim as they head off to rescue Princess Grace (who, it turns out, doesn't actually need to be rescued). Along for the adventure are Ferkle the Village Idiot (only pretending because it's the family business) and Rover, Tim's Fr-dog (an enormous frog who was once a dog… oh, it's a long story). The prince isn't brave, the magician can only do card tricks, and the monster isn't so very monstrous. Along with the enhanced vocabulary and extreme silliness, there is discussion of societal expectations. All characters are cued as white. VERDICT Will kids understand all of the references? Possibly not, but the humor, enhanced by Quentin Blake-esque illustrations, will definitely find an audience with kids looking for a quick, funny read.--Mara Alpert
Publisher's Weekly Review
Diverting from anything seen at the Round Table, Gibbs (the Spy School series) brings his lighthearted touch to medieval times in this energetic series starter. When a nefarious monster absconds with Princess Grace of a neighboring kingdom, cowardly Prince Ruprecht seeks knights to join him on his rescue. Since, according to self-described peasant Tim, "the worst part of being a peasant isn't really what we don't have. It's what we can't do," he and his best friend Belinda sign up for tryouts, hoping to change their fates. In doing so, they enter into a dastardly plan concocted by Ruprecht and court advisor Nerlim, who aren't actually seeking knights (the kingdom can't afford them following a bad investment) but "people who they could fool into thinking that they were knights." A comic quest follows, with scares and laughs abundantly on offer. Sketch-style b&w art by Curtis (Penguin and Moose Brave the Night) visualizes the paper white--skinned cast's hijinks. Tim's chatty, entertaining narration, which includes ample potty humor and the occasional vocabulary "IQ booster," also touches on lessons about stereotypes and unconscious bias throughout the chatty, madcap adventure. Ages 7--10. (Mar.)
Excerpts
Chapter One: Who I AmCHAPTER ONEWho I Am ONCE UPON A TIME... There was a prince who was revered throughout the land for being exceptionally brave... who was known far and wide for his cool and calm presence in the face of grave danger... and who was beloved and adored by all the people of his kingdom. This is not his story. It's mine. I'm Tim. Come in a little closer so you can have a better look at me. You know how, whenever you see a movie or read a story set in olden times, it's almost always about a dashing prince or a beautiful princess, and you're supposed to get all wrapped up in their troubles? Well, there are lots of other people who aren't princes or princesses, and trust me: we have way more problems than the rich folks do. We're called peasants. And being a peasant stinks . To start with, we're all really, really poor. See those clothes I'm wearing? Those are the only clothes I own. I've been wearing the same outfit for two years--and it was a hand-me-down from a cousin who wore it for two years before me . All the princes and princesses live in castles with hundreds of rooms. I live in a hut . See? You might be thinking to yourself, Gosh, that's awfully small, but it looks pretty cozy. Well, it's not. For example, look at the windows.... Oh, that's right. You can't. Because there aren't any windows. Peasants can't afford fancy stuff like glass. Which means that any animal that wants to get into your house can do it: flies, lice, raccoons, muskrats, wild boars, the occasional dragon... While I'm on the subject, here are a few other things we don't have: Air-conditioning. Heaters. Refrigerators. Televisions. Internet. Bathrooms. Yes, you heard that right. We don't have bathrooms. No showers. No sinks. No toilets . (All right, I'll admit, the princes and princesses don't have flush toilets either, but they at least have separate rooms to do their business and professional wipers to clean them afterward.) But the worst part of being a peasant isn't really what we don't have. It's what we can't do . See, there's only one way to become a prince or princess: you're born into it. That's it. No one can apply for a job as a royal family member. If you're a peasant boy, like me, you basically have one option: Peasant. My parents are peasants. So were their parents. And their parents before them. And so on and so on and so on, going all the way back as far as anyone can remember. (Which, given that there aren't any history books readily available, is about seventy years.) There's nothing you can do about it. Almost. It turns out, there is one way a peasant can change his lot in life. It isn't easy, though. In fact, it's extremely dangerous. Ridiculously, terribly, insanely dangerous. But if you're smart, brave, confident, trustworthy, honest--and if you don't die in the process--then you might be able to pull it off. I was willing to give it a shot. Because, like I said, being a peasant stinks. (Okay, I'll admit, some people are content with peasantry. Like my parents. And all my uncles and aunts. And all my distant cousins. And most of my neighbors. But it just wasn't for me.) So... this is the story of how I took that shot. And how it led to the greatest adventure of my young life--along with plenty of danger and peril and treachery and doom. It's a good story, though. I promise. And there are some awesome pictures, too. So settle down, get cozy, maybe make a quick stop to use the bathroom (with your flush toilet, you lucky duck), and I'll tell it to you. Right now. Excerpted from Once upon a Tim by Stuart Gibbs All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
