Cimorene, princess of Linderwall, is a classic tomboy heroine with classic tomboy strengths--all of which are perceived by those around her as defects: "As for the girl's disposition--well, when people were being polite, they said she was strong-minded. When they were angry or annoyed with her, they said she was as stubborn as a pig." Cimorene, tired of etiquette and embroidery, runs away from home and finds herself in a nest of dragons. Now, in Cimorene's world--a world cleverly built by author Patricia C. Wrede on the shifting sands of myriad fairy tales--princesses are forever being captured by dragons. The difference here is that Cimorene goes willingly. She would rather keep house for the dragon Kazul than be bored in her parents' castle. With her quick wit and her stubborn courage, Cimorene saves the mostly kind dragons from a wicked plot hatched by the local wizards, and worms her way into the hearts of young girls everywhere.

While the characters are sometimes simplistically drawn, adults and children will have fun tracing the sources of the various fairy tales Wrede plunders for her story. Dealing with Dragons is the first book in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, and most young readers will want to devour the entire series. (Ages 10 and older) --Claire Dederer


From School Library Journal
Grade 5-9-- The independent princess has been well established in modern children's books, but there can't be a dandier example than Princess Cimorene. Rangy, curious, energetic, matter-of-fact, she rolls up her sleeves and gets the job done with a happy disregard for the traditions of her role. Although her parents want her to stifle her improper interests in fencing, Latin, and cooking, the princess is not about to be forced into marriage with the vapid prince they have chosen. She throws herself wholeheartedly into a career as a dragon's princess, a respectable role, although not one for which one usually volunteers. As she fends off nosy wizards, helps out hysterical princesses, and turns away determined rescuers, Cimorene makes a firm place for herself in the dragon world. The story is full of excitement, sly references to the staples of fantasy and fairy tales, and good humor. Cimorene is of a sisterhood that includes Menolly, the dragonsinger of Anne McCaffrey's Dragonsong (Atheneum, 1976); and Avi's Morwenna of Bright Shadow (Bradbury, 1985), but Wrede's delightful voice is all her own. Her previous books have generally been played as YA or even adult fiction, but Cimorene is so much fun that once younger readers discover her here, many will want to search outthe earlier titles. One of these, Talking to Dragons (Ace, 1985) is narrated by Cimorene's son and introduces many of this book's main characters. --Sally T. Margolis, Park Ridge Public Library, ILCopyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
Princess Cimorene wants more out of life than to be the wife of a boring, proper prince. Tired of her sedate existence, she takes up fencing, cooking, Latin, even magic. But each endeavor is ended with the admonition that "princesses just don't do that." Faced with marriage, she decides it's time to find some adventures of her own and runs away, ending up as the dragon Kazul's "princess," and finding adventure, danger, and challenges galore. The Words Take Wing cast starts off with stilted, clipped speech--enunciating each and every word--which is good for those reading along but which loses the fluidity of the text for listeners. Gradually, most of the characters relax into their roles and the dialogue flows more smoothly, allowing the listener to get involved in the story. W.L.S. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Review
"A decidedly diverting novel with plenty of action and many slightly skewed
fairy-tale conventions that add to the laugh-out-loud pleasure."-Booklist

"--a truly entertaining listen." -School Library Journal


Book Description
Cimorene, the daughter of a very proper king, runs away and becomes the princess of a very powerful dragon, Kazul. “A decidedly diverting novel with plenty of action and many slightly skewed fairy-tale conventions that add to the laugh-out-loud reading pleasure and give the story a wide appeal.”--Booklist

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Cimorene is everything a princess is not supposed to be: headstrong, tomboyish, smart. . . .And bored. So bored that she runs away to live with a dragon . . . and finds the family and excitement she's been looking for.

FROM THE CRITICS

School Library Journal

Gr 5-9This is a spirited reading of Patricia Wrede's novel (Harcourt, 1990). The story is acted out by a full cast, including Bruce Coville as two characters. This is a nice departure from the single narrator format used by most books on tape. Princess Cimorene, played by Johanna Elliott, is a strong-willed teenager who resents the dull, prissy life of a princess. She leaves home to avoid marrying a dim-witted prince and becomes the willing captive of Kazul, a cranky but good-hearted dragon. All the fairy tale cliches are heredragons, wizards, magic spellsand Wrede makes gentle fun of them while spinning out a delightful adventure. The deliberately anachronistic dialogue flows well, especially the parts of Cimorene and Alianora (played by Lana M. Quintal), who sound like typical 90's teenage girls. This combination of medieval fairy tale themes and modern teenage sarcasm will appeal to listeners of many ages. The wit and flow of the text make Dealing with Dragons a truly entertaining listen.-Peggy J. Latkovich, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library, OH

School Library Journal

Gr 5-9-A feisty princess with a mind of her own shuns regal training and protocol, preferring to volunteer herself as a dragon's servant and companion. It's a spirited, rollicking story with clever fairy tale references subtly tied to elements of magic, wizardry, and the satisfying triumph of good over evil. (Dec. 1990)

AudioFile