The wolf princess

Title:

The wolf princess

Author:

Summary:

Sophie Smith is a teenage orphan stuck in a boarding school in London, but at night she dreams of Russia and wolves--then, on a class trip to St. Petersburg, she finds herself and her two friends deliberately separated from the group and whisked off into the silver forest of her dreams, where a mystery awaits.

General Note:

Originally published: Frome, England : Chicken House, 2012.

Edition:

1st American ed.

Physical Description:

309 pages ; 22 cm

Genre:

Fantasy fiction.

Subject Term:

Wolves -- Juvenile fiction.

Princesses -- Juvenile fiction.

Orphans -- Juvenile fiction.

Boarding schools -- Juvenile fiction.

Geographic Term:

Russia (Federation) -- Juvenile fiction.

Publisher:

Chicken House,

Publication Date:

2013

ISBN:

9780545528399

9780545528412

9780545622721

Publication Information:

New York, N.Y. : Chicken House, 2013.

Call Number:

J CONSTAB

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003173617	Juvenile Fiction	CONSTAB	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

A captivating, atmospheric mystery set in the crystalline winterland of Russia.

Abandoned in a blinding blizzard in the wintry wilds of Russia, Sophie Smith fears for her life. But just like in a fairy tale, a princess comes to her rescue: the beautiful, exotic Anna Volkonskaya. Over a river of ice in a horse-drawn sleigh, she brings Sophie and her friends to a magnificent, if weathered, winter palace.

At first, Sophie is enchanted by Princess Anna's stories of long-ago royalty, of white wolves and gray diamonds. But when the princess takes a particular interest in her, Sophie grows concerned. What is her place in the sinister mystery that surrounds her? Even as the wind and wolves howl outside, is she more in danger now, a prisoner of the palace, than she ever was lost in the snow?

Author Notes

CATHRYN CONSTABLE is a former journalist whose articles have appeared in TATLER and THE SUNDAY TIMES of London among other publications. THE WOLF PRINCESS is her first novel. She is married with three children and lives in London, England.

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 5-8-Next to fashionable Delphine and bookish Marianne, English orphan Sophie is easy to overlook. Her clothes are worn and drab, her guardian doesn't want to deal with her, and her school's headmistress is constantly on her case. But on a school trip to St. Petersburg, the girls find themselves abruptly abandoned in a snowy wonderland. Soon, they meet a beautiful and mysterious princess who seems especially taken with Sophie. Swept away to her icy palace, the three are pampered and entertained until they begin to suspect that the princess has ulterior motives. The breathtaking, wintry setting brings this old-fashioned fairy tale to life. Readers can practically hear the howling winds, the cry of the wolves, and the silent beauty of moonlit snowfall. The story moves slowly at times, but patient readers will enjoy the Russian history and wonder what Princess Anna is hiding. Savvy readers will likely guess Sophie's true identity long before Sophie does, but the predictable plot doesn't detract from the story. The Wolf Princess will appeal most to strong female readers looking to curl up with a dark tale on a cold, wintry night.-Leigh Collazo, Ed Willkie Middle School, Fort Worth, TX (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

Constable's fantasy debut depicts a fiercely romantic Russia, "a world made out of winter." Sophie Smith is a bored student and neglected orphan who attends the New Bloomsbury College for Young Ladies in England. Perpetually self-conscious about her impoverished roots and low social standing, Sophie is baffled when a wealthy and mysterious visitor from St. Petersburg is drawn to her, whisking Sophie (and her two friends) away on a trip to Russia-ostensibly to draw new students to enroll at New Bloomsbury. But the girls are abandoned at a hut in the Russian countryside and saved by Princess Anna Feodorovna Volkonskaya, who invites them to her winter palace where there are far more questions than answers. Why aren't they allowed to speak to the servants? What are the princess's motives for lavishing Sophie with attention? And, most importantly, are they guests or hostages? Constable's lyrical storytelling creates a hypnotic realm of ice, and from this mythical setting emerges a message about rising above one's circumstances and discovering a sense of belonging. Ages 10-14. Agent: Hilary Delamere, the Agency (U.K.). (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Excerpts

From The Wolf Princess Sophie felt a rush of excitement. For once, something extraordinary was happening to her: She had been invited to stay with a Russian princess! Princess Anna Feodorovna Volkonskaya played with the gray diamond rings, then slipped one off and slid it onto Sophie's middle finger. "I can't!" Sophie said. "I can't possibly accept anything so valuable!" She felt panicky. What would her friends think? They knew she had nothing of value to her name. They might think . . . oh, it would be horrid . . . that she had stolen the ring. No. Better not to take such things. "It was a gift to me. And now I am giving it to you. Is this not what friends do?" The princess's gray eyes looked cold. "You would make me feel unhappy if you don't accept it." "But "One day you will give me something in return," the princess said. She sounded very certain. Excerpted from The Wolf Princess by Cathryn Constable 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.