The Princess in the Pigpen

by Jane Resh Thomas

After tossing feverishly on her sick-bed in seventeenth-century England, Elizabeth, daughter of the Duke of Umberland, awakens to find herself mysteriously transported to a farm in twentieth-century Iowa.

Genres: Fantasy, Time Travel, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, British Literature

144 pages, Hardcover

First published October 23, 1989

About the author

Jane Resh Thomas has written more than a dozen fiction and nonfiction books for young readers, including the highly praised Behind the Mask for Clarion. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Reviews

[Jaina Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not eight. But I liked this book anyway.
This is one of those books that is short enough and easy enough for younger children, but still has some meat on it and some history thrown in, without being preachy. I'm starting to detest all those little fairy books and unicorn books, so this books came as a breath of fresh air, and some hope for my sister's reading diet (which consists of almost entirely fairy stories). Not that all fairy stories are bad, because I've read some that are very good, but the books with a reused plot line and predictable characters, all show and no tell, just make me cringe. This is a book about a girl from the Elizabethan era who is mysteriously transported to the present, and her struggle to get back home. Nothing heavy, just an intersting, fun read that actually raises a few (chewable for children) questions about the way history books perceive facts, and the benefits and problems with knowing your own future.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

My preteen self who had a deep love for both the Elizabethan era and Raggedy Ann would’ve gotten a huge kick out of this book!

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth and her mother are very sick with fever and confined to bed. While Elizabeth listens to her music box, a shaft of sunlight comes through a break in the curtains and momentarily blinds her. When she can see again, she finds herself in a pigpen in Iowa. The McCormicks are puzzled by Elizabeth's dress and her claim to be the daughter of Michael, Duke of Umberland, advisor to Queen Elizabeth I of 17th-century England. Joe and Kathy McCormick ignore her clothing and attribute her other claims to fever-induced delirium. They take Elizabeth to the doctor and ask the sheriff to look for her parents. Meanwhile, Elizabeth sticks to her story and tries to cope with vehicles that move without horses, lights that light without fire, and peasants that speak almost unrecognizable English and are too familiar in their ways. She’s very grateful for medicine that makes her feel better in one short day. Ann McCormick, Joe and Kathy's daughter, begins to believe Elizabeth. Ann looks up the Lord and Lady Umberland in the encyclopedia and finds a picture of a fourteen year-old girl who closely resembles Elizabeth. In the picture is Elizabeth's music box. Ann decides to help Elizabeth get back home with medicine to heal her mother. I can still remember my daughter’s enjoyment of this book, and how I read it on her recommendation. It’s a delightful time-travel book that teaches its readers a little bit about Elizabethan history.

[Juliet Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A girl from seventeenth century England goes to modern day Iowa in order to obtain medicine to save her mother the queen. I discovered this book in the library one day and read it straight though, a wonderful chapter book for fluent readers.

[Silver Swan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable book...recommended for fans of the Elizabethean era, time travel, and just princesses and friendship in general! I read this first when I was younger...and continued to re-read it. I recently picked it up again and still found it to be delightful.

[Red · Rating 4 out of 5]

For kids of a young age, likely eight and up, this book is an interesting whimsical read. It was written before the 1990s and holds a great deal of history within it, how accurate it all might be is unknown to me, but it seems to be fairly correct.

Elizabeth falls ill with a fever, wakes in a pig pen, and has to adapt to modern day devices like cars and airplanes and women having proper jobs. Through this she grows a bit more, develops a deeper understanding, and speaks a lot of the old English tongue while also holding those outdated beliefs instilled into her.

A harmless read full of pleasant little phrases and loads of lines you can read to another in fun voices, this book's pretty good. Easy to pass by though, the cover is dull and most library copies are very worn and faded on the outside.

[Synn Kol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long long time ago, a small girl started a summertime tradition of rereading this book until sometime in her teen years it suddenly stopped. Now as an adult, the girl picked up the book once more.

That girl was me and this was exactly how I remembered it! A short lovely read for young children with enough history sprinkled in that it's not overbearing. This is perfect for children who are learning to read or just learned how to read!

[Sara Tiede · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a long long time since I read this, way back in probably 4th or 5th grade, but it's always been a story that stuck with me. If I ever find the book again, it's one I would really enjoy reading to my own daughter. I have such fun memories of this book.

[Hello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as cute as I remembered! Excellent writing and an engaging story. Funny I never tried finding anything else by this author. May need to now. :)

[Jeni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lol fun time travel book with the girls.

[Gil-or (readingbooksinisrael) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, how did I not review this book already? This book is perfect.

A nine-year-old girl from a noble family in 17th century England wakes up after going to bed in a family's pig pen in 20th century Iowa.

Elizabeth isn't too snotty and the added history is amazing, especially for the 10-year-old history geek that I was (to clarify: I'm still a history geek, just not 10-years-old anymore).

Anyways, it's been a bunch of time since I last read it and every time I think about it I start fangirling, so PLEASE, for your own good, go read it.

[Yaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

After tossing feverishly on her sick-bed in seventeenth-century England, Elizabeth, daughter of the Duke of Umberland, awakens to find herself mysteriously transported to a farm in twentieth-century Iowa. She meets a family that she grows to love and discovers the most ordinary features of 20th-century life (cars, television, penicillin) which strike her as strange and wonderful.

I really liked this book and it had a great ending.

[Kimberly]

I love this book!! I was instantly drawn to it from the first page! So when my mom gave it away, I was pretty upset...

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a clever little book about a princess who travels through time from the 1600s to the 1980s. It would be a good one to read with my 7 year old.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best for giving children a look at all the wonders of our century from a different viewpoint.

[Deedee]

Lexile 790L
IL: MG - BL: 4.9 - AR Pts: 4.0

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like time travel, I like Elizabethan England, I like rural settings. There was nothing deeply wonderful about this book, but I just liked it!

[Sarah Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that took me down the path of wonder and created a joy for reading.

[Jennifer Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little story. A great way to work in a history lesson for young readers.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember this as being fun and I always enjoyed a time-travel