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Princess School #5
Princess Charming
Rapunzel's no damsel in distress...but is she cut out to compete as a knight in shining armor?
The Charm School for Boys is holding their annual jousting tournament and Rapunzel's friend Prince Val is a favorite to win the title...thanks to Rapunzel's coaching. Val can out-joust any prince--but can he compete against a prince-ess? Rapunzel knows she has the skills to win, but can she keep her identity a secret throughout the tournament? Can Ella, Snow, and Rose cover for her absence at Princess School? Will her friendship with Val survive the competition? And how will she ever fit her jousting helmet over all of that hair?
The Charm School for Boys is holding their annual jousting tournament and Rapunzel's friend Prince Val is a favorite to win the title...thanks to Rapunzel's coaching. Val can out-joust any prince--but can he compete against a prince-ess? Rapunzel knows she has the skills to win, but can she keep her identity a secret throughout the tournament? Can Ella, Snow, and Rose cover for her absence at Princess School? Will her friendship with Val survive the competition? And how will she ever fit her jousting helmet over all of that hair?
128 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2005
5 people are currently reading
334 people want to read
About the author
Jane B. Mason
125 books102 followers Jane B. Mason grew up in a large family in northern Minnesota. She has written books for kids of all ages under many names and on many subjects, among them ghosts, Jedi, detective duos, princesses, twins, mean girls, and slam books.
Jane has lived in the midwest and on both coasts, but appears to have settled in Oakland, California, and writes almost every day at either a friend's dining room table or a little studio in her back yard, where she has a purple loveseat, a whole lotta books, and an odd selection of trinkets she has unwittingly been collecting since she was a child.
Jane has lived in the midwest and on both coasts, but appears to have settled in Oakland, California, and writes almost every day at either a friend's dining room table or a little studio in her back yard, where she has a purple loveseat, a whole lotta books, and an odd selection of trinkets she has unwittingly been collecting since she was a child.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 16, 2009
This is a book for young readers...like 2nd or 3rd grade but it was fun and the characters were likable. I knew it was a little book going in and so had the right expectations. It was a fun, quick read with straight forward boys versus girls appeal.
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December 4, 2017I loved this funny cute book! Who says a girl cant do what a guy can??
December 3, 2024
Next in my rereading-my-entire-personal-library project is a favorite series from my childhood: The Princess School! These books have such great messages for both young girls and adult women alike, and I found myself quite enjoying diving back into this royal world even if I'm far above the intended reader age now. The first four books (of seven) to me are the most well-written and cohesive, with my favorite being the fourth, Beauty is a Beast, a book that resonates a lot with me as a lifelong perfectionist. My least favorite is probably the sixth, Apple-y Ever After, which to me lacks the heart and sisterhood so present in the others. Overall, it's a cute and fun series perfect for elementary and middle school readers.
September 25, 2024
I actually do remember this book, specifically reading the first page and asking my mom what “jousting” was (every time I came across a word I didn’t know, which was kinda often at the time, I would bother my mom). This book is kinda about girl boss power and sexism. Rapunzel is a tomboy and her best friend, Val, is a top jouster at his school. She has helped him improve on his jousting skills, and insert some lowkey sexism. Both Rapunzel and Val have pride issues. Meanwhile, there’s this whole Jack in the beanstalk thing going on with Snow.
October 21, 2010
So in book 5 of this series about fairy tale princesses going to school together, Rapunzel has decided to show her best friend, Val, that she can joust just as well as him. Or better. Since he's inclined to take it easy on her because she's a princess, and his Charm School of course teaches chivalry and all that sex role rot, the only way for her to compete with him on even footing is to enter the tournament disguised as a male competitor.
The big obstacle is her hair. She does contemplate cutting it off, but not for very long. For such a sporty girl, you'd think she'd realize her unbelievably long hair was holding her back. When you're at the point where you can trip on your own hair, it's too long! (You know.. we never have seen anyone climbing up her hair in these books. I think the witch climbs down once. But mostly she just pops into the tower with her magic witchy powers. Quite pointless.)
So, anyway, the other girls help her. Make her a school uniform, borrow a suit of armor, give her a horse to practice on, help her sneak out of school, etc etc.
I was surprised that so soon after the Let Down Your Hair debacle of a book that we had another story focussing on Rapunzel already. And it would be a theme I like. So far this rivals the book with the games for best of the series.
Sideplot has Snow trading a bag of apples for some magic beans from a kid named Jack. Which plot ends stupidly, but whatever.
Speaking of endings, I find the ending of the jousting tournament plot unbelievable as well. And unnecessary. Let me just say, hopefully without giving away the ending, that she's a first year princess, going up against first, second, third, and fourth years boys (perhaps 13-14 is the oldest, at a guess) who have studied jousting in school. Even with her 'outside the box' thinking on tactics, just how well can she reasonably expect to do?
Anyway, the detail of the jousting is enough to make me think the authors researched a bit there. All I really know about it is you come at each other with long pointy sticks. How accurate that detail is, I don't know, but I'll believe it.
Two books left. Hrm, and unlike the previous books, there's no hint at the end of this one as to what the next one is about. As the title involves apples though, I'm going to assume it's about Snow White. Maybe that giant comes after her. Or she befriends Jack. I hope not. Jack was a real jerk.
The big obstacle is her hair. She does contemplate cutting it off, but not for very long. For such a sporty girl, you'd think she'd realize her unbelievably long hair was holding her back. When you're at the point where you can trip on your own hair, it's too long! (You know.. we never have seen anyone climbing up her hair in these books. I think the witch climbs down once. But mostly she just pops into the tower with her magic witchy powers. Quite pointless.)
So, anyway, the other girls help her. Make her a school uniform, borrow a suit of armor, give her a horse to practice on, help her sneak out of school, etc etc.
I was surprised that so soon after the Let Down Your Hair debacle of a book that we had another story focussing on Rapunzel already. And it would be a theme I like. So far this rivals the book with the games for best of the series.
Sideplot has Snow trading a bag of apples for some magic beans from a kid named Jack. Which plot ends stupidly, but whatever.
Speaking of endings, I find the ending of the jousting tournament plot unbelievable as well. And unnecessary. Let me just say, hopefully without giving away the ending, that she's a first year princess, going up against first, second, third, and fourth years boys (perhaps 13-14 is the oldest, at a guess) who have studied jousting in school. Even with her 'outside the box' thinking on tactics, just how well can she reasonably expect to do?
Anyway, the detail of the jousting is enough to make me think the authors researched a bit there. All I really know about it is you come at each other with long pointy sticks. How accurate that detail is, I don't know, but I'll believe it.
Two books left. Hrm, and unlike the previous books, there's no hint at the end of this one as to what the next one is about. As the title involves apples though, I'm going to assume it's about Snow White. Maybe that giant comes after her. Or she befriends Jack. I hope not. Jack was a real jerk.
August 30, 2009
My favorite. Proof that girls ARE better than boys. Ha!
August 9, 2011
I can't remember
August 5, 2011
Ella. Snow. Rapunzel. Rose. Four friends who wait for no prince. (Why didn't I read this 10 years ago with Alicia? It's adorable!)
July 2, 2013
Although this novel is mainly written for people much younger than I am, I really enjoyed it. It was quite filled with intrigue.
August 12, 2013
My little girls loved this series of books. Great for 4-10 year olds.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews