Description

“A delightful tongue in cheek twist on fairy tales and the magic school genre. Mixing the modern with the magical, author Alex London skewers popular fairy-tale tropes with a sharp wit and a loving, lighthearted touch, telling an empowering story where princesses learn to be their own fairy godmothers.” —Soman Chainani, author of The School for Good and Evil

“A slick, sly, and clever love letter to fairy tales. The Princess Protection Program is a celebration of changing the narrative to fit the person you are and not the person people want you to be. It's the fairy tale we need.”—Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of Aru Shah and the End of Time

“A clever and laugh-out-loud tale of friendship, magic, and princesses—and a prince—who learn to rewrite their own stories. Absolutely charming.” —Sarah Mlynowski, New York Times bestselling author of the Whatever After and Best Wishes series

“A fast-paced, fun, and whimsical read about defining your own destiny.” —Claribel A. Ortega, New York Times bestselling author of the Witchlings series

Where can a princess hide if her Ever After isn’t all that Happy? Bestselling author Alex London turns classic fairy tales on their heads in this fast-paced, funny fantasy about embracing change and taking control of your own story. For fans of the School for Good and Evil and the Chronicles of Never After series.

Every fairy tale ends with its characters living happily ever after, right? A valiant prince quests long and hard to reach the castle where the sleeping princess lies. And with a kiss, he awakens her.

But what if the princess does not think a kiss from a stranger is a very pleasant way to wake up? Yuck!

When Rosamund flees her prince, a Door of Opportunity opens, and she steps through it to the Home Educational Academy (the HEA for short). Rosamund has found the Princess Protection Program, where fugitive fairy-tale princesses escape unwanted affections, untimely ends, and all the other perils of their stories.

But the longer Rosamund lives in the real world, the more questions she has. Does anyone ever graduate from the HEA? Why doesn’t anyone seem to remember the former students? Is the kindly fairy headmistress all she appears to be? Is anyone? And the most important question of all: Can Rosamund change her story?

Acclaimed and bestselling author Alex London weaves together several beloved fairy tales in this fast-paced, funny, and slyly subversive adventure about finding your place in the world. 

About the Author

Alex London is the acclaimed author of more than thirty books for children and teens, including the picture book Still Life, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. His middle grade novels include The Princess Protection Program, Search & Rescue, Dog Tags, and two titles in the 39 Clues series. For young adults, he’s the author of the cyberpunk duology Proxy and the epic fantasy series Black Wings Beating, which were both named to numerous best-of-the-year lists. He has been a journalist and human rights researcher reporting from conflict zones and refugee camps, a young adult librarian with the New York Public Library, and a snorkel salesman. He lives with his husband, daughter, and hound dog in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Praise For…

“The Princess Protection Program is a delightful tongue in cheek twist on fairy tales and the magic school genre. Mixing the modern with the magical, author Alex London skewers popular fairy-tale tropes with a sharp wit and a loving, lighthearted touch, telling an empowering story where princesses learn to be their own fairy godmothers. An action-packed fantasy romp that young readers won’t want to put down.” — Soman Chainani, author of The School for Good and Evil

“A slick, sly, and clever love letter to fairytales. London's characters are achingly real and full of hope and yearning in their pursuit of an ending on their own terms. The Princess Protection Program is a celebration of changing the narrative to fit the person you are and not the person people want you to be. It's the fairytale we need.” — Roshani Chokshi, New York Times–bestselling author of Aru Shah and the End of Time

“A clever and laugh-out-loud tale of friendship, magic, and princesses—and a prince—who learn to rewrite their own stories. Absolutely charming.” — Sarah Mlynowski, New York Times–bestselling author of the Whatever After and Best Wishes series

"A unique and exciting take on fairy tales, The Princess Protection Program is a fast-paced, fun, and whimsical read about defining your own destiny." — Claribel A. Ortega, New York Times–bestselling author of the Witchlings series

“Cheeky prose narrates 16-year-old Rosamund’s hasty escape from the overeager prince . . . into an unknown world. . . . When she gets to the Orphans’ Home Educational Academy, which cares for fellow princesses . . . Rosamund soon learns that questions are not welcome, but she can’t silence her curiosity. . . . A lighthearted modern take on the adventures of fairy-tale princesses.” — Kirkus Reviews

“For Rosamund, a kiss from a prince wasn't all it was cracked up to be, and she flees . . . to the modern world. Here, she discovers she isn't the only fairy tale leading character who wanted out. . . . Rosamund and her new friends . . . take control of their own stories once they uncover the truth about the princess protection program. . . . A fresh twist on several classic Western fairy tales.” — Booklist

“When a prince wakes Rosamund from a hundred-year sleep with a kiss (rude), she flees through a Door of Opportunity and finds herself in another world: to be precise, in the Princess Protection Program at an academy for royals fleeing their fairy tales. . . . London’s lively take emphasizes not just individual agency but the effects our choices have on the people around us. . . . A quick, enjoyable read with a gentle intro to some of the ways a princess (or prince) might not fit into their prescribed, often normative Happily Ever After.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Fairy tale–based messages of empowerment come through loud and clear in this fun yet thought-provoking adventure. . . . After waking to a strange prince’s lips on hers, 16-year-old Princess Rosamund, or Sleeping Beauty, arrives at Orphans’ Home Educational Academy, or HEA, with no clue as to how she got there. . . . Rosamund evolves . . . into an inquisitive heroine who uses her voice to question what she’s told. . . . The narrative’s emphasis on the power of embracing change and standing together against adversity provides a solid foundation for an engaging, lighthearted adventure.” — Publishers Weekly