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The Birthday Ball
Princess Patricia Priscilla is bored with her royal life and the excitement surrounding her sixteenth birthday ball. Doomed to endure courtship by three grotesquely unappealing noblemen, she escapes her fate—for a week. Disguised as a peasant, she attends the village school as the smart new girl, “Pat,” and attracts friends and the attention of the handsome schoolmaster. Disgusting suitors, lovable peasants, and the clueless king and queen collide at the ball, where Princess Patricia Priscilla calls the shots. What began as a cure for boredom becomes a chance for Princess Patricia Priscilla to break the rules and marry the man she loves.
186 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
28 people are currently reading
927 people want to read
About the author
Lois Lowry
143 books22.8k followersTaken from Lowry's website:
"I’ve always felt that I was fortunate to have been born the middle child of three. My older sister, Helen, was very much like our mother: gentle, family-oriented, eager to please. Little brother Jon was the only boy and had interests that he shared with Dad; together they were always working on electric trains and erector sets; and later, when Jon was older, they always seemed to have their heads under the raised hood of a car. That left me in-between, and exactly where I wanted most to be: on my own. I was a solitary child who lived in the world of books and my own vivid imagination.
Because my father was a career military officer - an Army dentist - I lived all over the world. I was born in Hawaii, moved from there to New York, spent the years of World War II in my mother’s hometown: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and from there went to Tokyo when I was eleven. High school was back in New York City, but by the time I went to college (Brown University in Rhode Island), my family was living in Washington, D.C.
I married young. I had just turned nineteen - just finished my sophomore year in college - when I married a Naval officer and continued the odyssey that military life requires. California. Connecticut (a daughter born there). Florida (a son). South Carolina. Finally Cambridge, Massachusetts, when my husband left the service and entered Harvard Law School (another daughter; another son) and then to Maine - by now with four children under the age of five in tow. My children grew up in Maine. So did I. I returned to college at the University of Southern Maine, got my degree, went to graduate school, and finally began to write professionally, the thing I had dreamed of doing since those childhood years when I had endlessly scribbled stories and poems in notebooks.
After my marriage ended in 1977, when I was forty, I settled into the life I have lived ever since. Today I am back in Cambridge, Massachusetts, living and writing in a house dominated by a very shaggy Tibetan Terrier named Bandit. For a change of scenery Martin and I spend time in Maine, where we have an old (it was built in 1768!) farmhouse on top of a hill. In Maine I garden, feed birds, entertain friends, and read...
My books have varied in content and style. Yet it seems that all of them deal, essentially, with the same general theme: the importance of human connections. A Summer to Die, my first book, was a highly fictionalized retelling of the early death of my sister, and of the effect of such a loss on a family. Number the Stars, set in a different culture and era, tells the same story: that of the role that we humans play in the lives of our fellow beings.
The Giver - and Gathering Blue, and the newest in the trilogy: Messenger - take place against the background of very different cultures and times. Though all three are broader in scope than my earlier books, they nonetheless speak to the same concern: the vital need of people to be aware of their interdependence, not only with each other, but with the world and its environment.
My older son was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. His death in the cockpit of a warplane tore away a piece of my world. But it left me, too, with a wish to honor him by joining the many others trying to find a way to end conflict on this very fragile earth.
I am a grandmother now. For my own grandchildren - and for all those of their generation - I try, through writing, to convey my passionate awareness that we live intertwined on this planet and that our future depends upon our caring more, and doing more, for one another."
"I’ve always felt that I was fortunate to have been born the middle child of three. My older sister, Helen, was very much like our mother: gentle, family-oriented, eager to please. Little brother Jon was the only boy and had interests that he shared with Dad; together they were always working on electric trains and erector sets; and later, when Jon was older, they always seemed to have their heads under the raised hood of a car. That left me in-between, and exactly where I wanted most to be: on my own. I was a solitary child who lived in the world of books and my own vivid imagination.
Because my father was a career military officer - an Army dentist - I lived all over the world. I was born in Hawaii, moved from there to New York, spent the years of World War II in my mother’s hometown: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and from there went to Tokyo when I was eleven. High school was back in New York City, but by the time I went to college (Brown University in Rhode Island), my family was living in Washington, D.C.
I married young. I had just turned nineteen - just finished my sophomore year in college - when I married a Naval officer and continued the odyssey that military life requires. California. Connecticut (a daughter born there). Florida (a son). South Carolina. Finally Cambridge, Massachusetts, when my husband left the service and entered Harvard Law School (another daughter; another son) and then to Maine - by now with four children under the age of five in tow. My children grew up in Maine. So did I. I returned to college at the University of Southern Maine, got my degree, went to graduate school, and finally began to write professionally, the thing I had dreamed of doing since those childhood years when I had endlessly scribbled stories and poems in notebooks.
After my marriage ended in 1977, when I was forty, I settled into the life I have lived ever since. Today I am back in Cambridge, Massachusetts, living and writing in a house dominated by a very shaggy Tibetan Terrier named Bandit. For a change of scenery Martin and I spend time in Maine, where we have an old (it was built in 1768!) farmhouse on top of a hill. In Maine I garden, feed birds, entertain friends, and read...
My books have varied in content and style. Yet it seems that all of them deal, essentially, with the same general theme: the importance of human connections. A Summer to Die, my first book, was a highly fictionalized retelling of the early death of my sister, and of the effect of such a loss on a family. Number the Stars, set in a different culture and era, tells the same story: that of the role that we humans play in the lives of our fellow beings.
The Giver - and Gathering Blue, and the newest in the trilogy: Messenger - take place against the background of very different cultures and times. Though all three are broader in scope than my earlier books, they nonetheless speak to the same concern: the vital need of people to be aware of their interdependence, not only with each other, but with the world and its environment.
My older son was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. His death in the cockpit of a warplane tore away a piece of my world. But it left me, too, with a wish to honor him by joining the many others trying to find a way to end conflict on this very fragile earth.
I am a grandmother now. For my own grandchildren - and for all those of their generation - I try, through writing, to convey my passionate awareness that we live intertwined on this planet and that our future depends upon our caring more, and doing more, for one another."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
December 1, 2024
**A Meh of a Read**
"The Birthday Ball" had potential, but it ultimately fell short of expectations. While the premise of a princess escaping her royal duties for a taste of ordinary life was intriguing, the execution lacked the spark and charm needed to truly captivate readers.
The characters, though somewhat amusing, were rather one-dimensional. Princess Patricia Priscilla, while trying to break free from societal expectations, often felt predictable and lacked depth. The three suitors were caricatures of unpleasantness, but their over-the-top personalities grew tiresome.
The plot, while lighthearted, lacked the necessary tension and surprise to keep readers engaged. The resolution, though satisfying, felt a bit too neat and tidy, lacking the unexpected twists that would elevate the story.
While "The Birthday Ball" may entertain younger readers with its whimsical tone and humorous illustrations, older readers may find it to be a somewhat underwhelming experience.
"The Birthday Ball" had potential, but it ultimately fell short of expectations. While the premise of a princess escaping her royal duties for a taste of ordinary life was intriguing, the execution lacked the spark and charm needed to truly captivate readers.
The characters, though somewhat amusing, were rather one-dimensional. Princess Patricia Priscilla, while trying to break free from societal expectations, often felt predictable and lacked depth. The three suitors were caricatures of unpleasantness, but their over-the-top personalities grew tiresome.
The plot, while lighthearted, lacked the necessary tension and surprise to keep readers engaged. The resolution, though satisfying, felt a bit too neat and tidy, lacking the unexpected twists that would elevate the story.
While "The Birthday Ball" may entertain younger readers with its whimsical tone and humorous illustrations, older readers may find it to be a somewhat underwhelming experience.
April 7, 2018
Although the story's unrealistic even by a fairytale standard, I still enjoyed it very much.
The story starts when princess Patricia Priscilla wakes up one day, just a few days before her 16th birthday, and feels 'bored'. Out of boredom, she decides to disguise herself and attend in the village school. Gradually she begins to see the simple life of the villagers and decides to invite them aĺl in her birthday ball. But with 3 very strange suitors attending the ball, the princess must remain strong and take a firm decision.
The story starts when princess Patricia Priscilla wakes up one day, just a few days before her 16th birthday, and feels 'bored'. Out of boredom, she decides to disguise herself and attend in the village school. Gradually she begins to see the simple life of the villagers and decides to invite them aĺl in her birthday ball. But with 3 very strange suitors attending the ball, the princess must remain strong and take a firm decision.
December 9, 2011
Princess Patricia Priscilla is BORED! It's hard to decide which is worse, having so very little to do at present or knowing that in just a few days her 16th birthday will arrive, bringing with it the Birthday Ball and her suitors, a change but not exactly a welcome one. The princess decides to borrow her maid's clothing and escape into the peasant world for a little while to attend class at the school house for a few days. There, she meets the kindly (no matter how stern he tries to make himself for the role) schoolmaster, who also happens to be rather young and handsome. She also befriends the village school children and begins to understand the hard realities of the peasant life and wonders what she could do to make it a little easier. So, when the Birthday Ball comes around, will it be "Pat" (as she calls herself at the school) or Princess Patricia Priscilla who takes center stage?
I enjoyed many things about this fairytale. I like how the princess takes matters into her own hands, and speaks with her parents about the things she observes and changes she would like to make. I appreciate that one of the main connections she has with the handsome schoolmaster is that of knowledge and of being kind to others. Her maid, Tess, is just so fun and adorable! I love her spunk. And I appreciated how the king was not completely stodgy and bad, and he had done many good things, yet was also just a bit too set in his ways and too self-absorbed to know at first what is best for his daughter, no matter how much he loves her. I also thought the cat was very cute, and liked how the princess always said things that rhymed with the cat's name, "That is very suspicious, Delicious!" ;-)
Yet, I was also uncomfortable with some elements of the story. While I know they were supposed to be humorous, I just didn't find the suitors amusing and found them rather sad, instead. Conjoined twins? A depressed duke? Not exactly something I want to laugh about (though the ending was very sweet). And the neighboring kingdoms' names... Dyspepsia was amusing enough, especially given the suitor's personality. But naming a kingdom after a very worrisome medical condition (Bulimia) just didn't tickle my funny bone.
All in all, this was an enjoyable story. I wasn't sure at first if the princess was supposed to be spoiled (perhaps that is just the way the audiobook narrator read her, though) but as it progressed, I liked her more and more. I appreciated that the ending wasn't completely implausible, maintaining some semblance of what was expected by the royal laws but also allowing for the (long-forseen) happy ending. And, of course, younger readers might not guess all the "surprises" along the way like I did ;-)
ETA: One of my friends said that the illustrations really enhance this story, so I missed out on that with the audiobook narration (though I thought the narrator did a good job) and will try to check out the book from the library to see the illustrations.
I enjoyed many things about this fairytale. I like how the princess takes matters into her own hands, and speaks with her parents about the things she observes and changes she would like to make. I appreciate that one of the main connections she has with the handsome schoolmaster is that of knowledge and of being kind to others. Her maid, Tess, is just so fun and adorable! I love her spunk. And I appreciated how the king was not completely stodgy and bad, and he had done many good things, yet was also just a bit too set in his ways and too self-absorbed to know at first what is best for his daughter, no matter how much he loves her. I also thought the cat was very cute, and liked how the princess always said things that rhymed with the cat's name, "That is very suspicious, Delicious!" ;-)
Yet, I was also uncomfortable with some elements of the story. While I know they were supposed to be humorous, I just didn't find the suitors amusing and found them rather sad, instead. Conjoined twins? A depressed duke? Not exactly something I want to laugh about (though the ending was very sweet). And the neighboring kingdoms' names... Dyspepsia was amusing enough, especially given the suitor's personality. But naming a kingdom after a very worrisome medical condition (Bulimia) just didn't tickle my funny bone.
All in all, this was an enjoyable story. I wasn't sure at first if the princess was supposed to be spoiled (perhaps that is just the way the audiobook narrator read her, though) but as it progressed, I liked her more and more. I appreciated that the ending wasn't completely implausible, maintaining some semblance of what was expected by the royal laws but also allowing for the (long-forseen) happy ending. And, of course, younger readers might not guess all the "surprises" along the way like I did ;-)
ETA: One of my friends said that the illustrations really enhance this story, so I missed out on that with the audiobook narration (though I thought the narrator did a good job) and will try to check out the book from the library to see the illustrations.
August 18, 2017
I’ve enjoyed many of Lois Lowry's books and have been enchanted by Jules Feiffer's drawings, so these two pairing up was exciting for me; I was eagerly anticipating this book. Lowry is so eclectic in the types of books she writes.
So, I found this young reader novel length fairy tale to be amusing and sweet and although not a very original story, it had some unique touches. It was predictable but more than adequately entertaining. And, while the ending was certainly not in question, the exact means of getting there was a lot of fun, with some unexpected twists at the end.
Something on almost every page made me smile.
I’m not sure whether adults or children will get more out of this story; I think it can be enjoyed by both, but it’s one of those books readers will look at differently at age 8, 12, 20, 50, etc. There is humor aplenty for everyone. I could have done without some of the crass jokes but I imagine boys 7-11 will enjoy them, and they were okay because there was so much else.
The illustrations might not be Feffer’s very finest, but they were excellent and I really enjoyed them.
The story is well written, and it aims to be clever and I think it succeeds at that, and it probably deserves a wittier and more astute review. The amount of alliteration at the beginning, especially with regards to the Princess’s cat, had me feeling at tad weary but it became less frequent and I also grew fond of the play with words.
In some tangential ways, it reminded of of books such as The Phantom Tollbooth and The Willoughbys.
I suspect most of my children’s literature loving Goodreads friends might not appreciate this book as much as I did, but I really loved it so I hope that I’m wrong. A very fast read too; no wonder I could read so many books so quickly when I was a child.
And I love books about orphans and I loved what Lowry did with orphaned and quasi-orphaned characters here. I felt so tickled whenever Liz spoke up.
So, I found this young reader novel length fairy tale to be amusing and sweet and although not a very original story, it had some unique touches. It was predictable but more than adequately entertaining. And, while the ending was certainly not in question, the exact means of getting there was a lot of fun, with some unexpected twists at the end.
Something on almost every page made me smile.
I’m not sure whether adults or children will get more out of this story; I think it can be enjoyed by both, but it’s one of those books readers will look at differently at age 8, 12, 20, 50, etc. There is humor aplenty for everyone. I could have done without some of the crass jokes but I imagine boys 7-11 will enjoy them, and they were okay because there was so much else.
The illustrations might not be Feffer’s very finest, but they were excellent and I really enjoyed them.
The story is well written, and it aims to be clever and I think it succeeds at that, and it probably deserves a wittier and more astute review. The amount of alliteration at the beginning, especially with regards to the Princess’s cat, had me feeling at tad weary but it became less frequent and I also grew fond of the play with words.
In some tangential ways, it reminded of of books such as The Phantom Tollbooth and The Willoughbys.
I suspect most of my children’s literature loving Goodreads friends might not appreciate this book as much as I did, but I really loved it so I hope that I’m wrong. A very fast read too; no wonder I could read so many books so quickly when I was a child.
And I love books about orphans and I loved what Lowry did with orphaned and quasi-orphaned characters here. I felt so tickled whenever Liz spoke up.
October 18, 2018
Patricia Priscilla is a humble Princess who is really bored with her customary royal life. One regular morning, just a few days before her 16th birthday, she wakes up with boredom and decided to escape her fate by disguising herself as a poor peasant girl named “Pat”. She attends village school and meets a kind and handsome schoolmaster. She also befriends with village children and invites them all to her birthday ball. According to the Law of the Domain princess must choose a suitor during her 16th birthday. So when the birthday ball comes whom Princess Patricia Priscilla would choose as her suitor from three weird noble men??
The Birthday Ball was a light and funny read. However, there're a few details with which I'm uncomfortable. Conjoined twins or depressed duke isn't something that I would laugh about. Yes, I loved the fact how the princess takes matters into her own hands and speaks with her parents about the changes she would like to make.
I had a very high expectation from The Birthday Ball since Lois Lowry has won my heart by her WWII fiction Number the stars! So with some disappointment only three stars for this book!
The Birthday Ball was a light and funny read. However, there're a few details with which I'm uncomfortable. Conjoined twins or depressed duke isn't something that I would laugh about. Yes, I loved the fact how the princess takes matters into her own hands and speaks with her parents about the changes she would like to make.
I had a very high expectation from The Birthday Ball since Lois Lowry has won my heart by her WWII fiction Number the stars! So with some disappointment only three stars for this book!
January 13, 2022
Princess Patricia Priscilla is perfectly predictable, but pleasant and pleasurable.
September 29, 2023
Funny, quirky, engaging story - I would have loved this as a kid and probably would have read it over and over. I can see revisiting this every year on my birthday just for some fun!! A fun book from Lois Lowry!
January 7, 2018
There are things about this book that cute and fun, but I found it insensitive to those suffering hearing loss. It also paints a bad picture of conjoined twins. I found some of the body (balls) humor tiring as well. The pictures are fun, but overall, I don't recommend this book.
March 11, 2021
Last night, I had a good laugh while reading this amusing children's book. This is different from the world of The Giver and Number the Stars. The theme is lighthearted and humorous. What I love about the book is the vivid and unique description of the supporting characters, especially the 3 (and a half?) suitors of Princess Patricia Priscilla. I highly recommend it to those who love to read princess stories where the princess got bored and explored the outside world.
May 12, 2012
The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry is a lighthearted fairy tale, designed for pure entertainment. About to turn sixteen, Princess Patricia Priscilla must select a husband from the most dreadful assembly of suitors. The princess disguises herself as a peasant girl named “Pat” (because all peasants must have short names) and attends several days of school in the village. With her goes her cat named Delicious, who is always vicious, malicious, avaricious, suspicious, or at the very least in need of something nutritious. The princess’s options expand when she persuades her royal parents to invite all of the villagers to her birthday ball.
Lowry fills each page with funny plays on words, puns, and alliteration. One suitor, Duke Desmond of Dyspepsia, has a warthog-like countenance that only an orphan could love. Black of heart and attire, Prince Percival of Pustula believes he and Princess Patricia Priscilla would make a perfect pair, but each time the prince pronounces the letter p, a glob of saliva accompanies the sound. The third suitor is a pair of Siamese twins, the coarse and crude Counts Colin and Cuthbert of Coagulatia.
Jules Feiffer’s whimsical pen and ink illustrations suit the story perfectly. Although the amusing farce bears no resemblance to Lowry’s Newbery-Award-winning books The Giver and Number the Stars, her dedication to diversion is consistently clever and often hilarious. Even so, Lowry spins several genuine teenage issues into her yarn for her regal protagonist to address. The bored princess seeks adventure and gains an entirely new perspective on herself and the people in her Domain when she temporarily trades her silk gown for a plain brown dress. Those who are simply not in the mood for fun would do well to pass on this charming novel. Everyone else, enjoy!
Laurie A. Gray
Reprinted from the Christian Library Journal (Vol. XIV, No. 5, October 2010); used with permission.
Lowry fills each page with funny plays on words, puns, and alliteration. One suitor, Duke Desmond of Dyspepsia, has a warthog-like countenance that only an orphan could love. Black of heart and attire, Prince Percival of Pustula believes he and Princess Patricia Priscilla would make a perfect pair, but each time the prince pronounces the letter p, a glob of saliva accompanies the sound. The third suitor is a pair of Siamese twins, the coarse and crude Counts Colin and Cuthbert of Coagulatia.
Jules Feiffer’s whimsical pen and ink illustrations suit the story perfectly. Although the amusing farce bears no resemblance to Lowry’s Newbery-Award-winning books The Giver and Number the Stars, her dedication to diversion is consistently clever and often hilarious. Even so, Lowry spins several genuine teenage issues into her yarn for her regal protagonist to address. The bored princess seeks adventure and gains an entirely new perspective on herself and the people in her Domain when she temporarily trades her silk gown for a plain brown dress. Those who are simply not in the mood for fun would do well to pass on this charming novel. Everyone else, enjoy!
Laurie A. Gray
Reprinted from the Christian Library Journal (Vol. XIV, No. 5, October 2010); used with permission.
May 4, 2012
The Birthday Ball is a cute farce of a fairy tale, with sketches by Jules Feiffer (you may recognize his distinctive style from The Phantom Tollbooth) throughout. It’s patently ridiculous, with exaggerated characters—there’s no attempt at realism. Although in most ways it’s a fairly standard princess-story setting, there are throw away lines about spandex and plastic, and the names of all the kingdoms are based on unpleasant medical conditions, so you can’t even quite make solid assumptions about the world.
Princess Patricia Priscilla, four days from her 16th birthday when she will have to choose a suitor, is bored. She decides to dress as a peasant and go to school with the children she can see from her window. The plot is actually rather complex, as we meet the schoolmaster, the princess’ chambermaid, and the three appalling suitors. The story follows each of these threads until you can see them converging toward an explosion at the Birthday Ball. Part of the fun is that the reader can see it coming long before the characters do, so you can giggle in anticipation and wonder how on earth it’s all going to work out. And the threads all get fairly neatly tied off, with more character growth and development in the last chapter than there had been through the rest of the book.
You can read the whole review at http://reads4tweens.com/the-birthday-... (caution: spoilers!)
Princess Patricia Priscilla, four days from her 16th birthday when she will have to choose a suitor, is bored. She decides to dress as a peasant and go to school with the children she can see from her window. The plot is actually rather complex, as we meet the schoolmaster, the princess’ chambermaid, and the three appalling suitors. The story follows each of these threads until you can see them converging toward an explosion at the Birthday Ball. Part of the fun is that the reader can see it coming long before the characters do, so you can giggle in anticipation and wonder how on earth it’s all going to work out. And the threads all get fairly neatly tied off, with more character growth and development in the last chapter than there had been through the rest of the book.
You can read the whole review at http://reads4tweens.com/the-birthday-... (caution: spoilers!)
September 7, 2013
Title / Author / Publication Date: The Birthday Ball/Lois Lowry/2010
Genre: Fiction
Format: Hardcover
Plot summary: Princess Patricia Priscilla is bored with her royal life and the excitement surrounding her sixteenth birthday ball. Doomed to endure courtship by three grotesquely unappealing noblemen, she escapes her fate—for a week. Disguised as a peasant, she attends the village school as the smart new girl, "Pat” and attracts friends and the attention of the handsome schoolmaster. Disgusting suitors, lovable peasants, and the clueless king and queen collide at the ball, where Princess Patricia Priscilla calls the shots. What began as a cure for boredom becomes a chance for Princess Patricia Priscilla to break the rules and marry the man she loves. (GoodReads)
Considerations or precautions for readers advisory: Lois Lowry's writing is similar to that of Roald Dahl's - filled with colorful characters.
Review citation: Diorio, G. (2010). The Birthday Ball (Book Review). School Library Journal, 56(3), 162.
Section source used to find the material: Children's Core Collection, Most Highly Recommended
Recommended age: 8 and up
Genre: Fiction
Format: Hardcover
Plot summary: Princess Patricia Priscilla is bored with her royal life and the excitement surrounding her sixteenth birthday ball. Doomed to endure courtship by three grotesquely unappealing noblemen, she escapes her fate—for a week. Disguised as a peasant, she attends the village school as the smart new girl, "Pat” and attracts friends and the attention of the handsome schoolmaster. Disgusting suitors, lovable peasants, and the clueless king and queen collide at the ball, where Princess Patricia Priscilla calls the shots. What began as a cure for boredom becomes a chance for Princess Patricia Priscilla to break the rules and marry the man she loves. (GoodReads)
Considerations or precautions for readers advisory: Lois Lowry's writing is similar to that of Roald Dahl's - filled with colorful characters.
Review citation: Diorio, G. (2010). The Birthday Ball (Book Review). School Library Journal, 56(3), 162.
Section source used to find the material: Children's Core Collection, Most Highly Recommended
Recommended age: 8 and up
May 20, 2012
Princess Patricia Priscilla is about to turn 16 and have her birthday ball – the one where she must choose a suitor. She’s trying not to think too much about this, but there’s little else for a princess (in her kingdom, anyway) to do. After talking to her maid, the princess decides to sneak out of the castle and attend classes at the villagers’ school – impersonating an impoverished peasant girl. She introduces herself to the rather handsome teacher as “Pat,” and soon discovers that she has a passion for learning and for helping others. Meanwhile, preparations for the ball continue apace and we are introduced to the princess’ truly ghastly suitors. There doesn’t seem to be much she can do to get out of marrying one of them (or in the case of the conjoined twins, TWO), but, circumstances work in her favor and everyone lives happily ever after (except maybe Prince Percival – a vain fellow who accidentally burns off all of his hair). A quick, breezy, fun (and funny) fairytale.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2010
I was really disappointed by this book. Lois Lowry is such a great author, but this book was a jumbled mess. The story had such great potential and may have been much better had it been fleshed out instead of these few pages.
I think she may have been going for a Miyazaki approach to character and plot development, but it just didn't work. There was only one character who I was emotionally invested in and she was a minor minor character.
Also, I don't understand why some authors feel the need to inject a romance if they really don't want to develop it or the plot doesn't call for it, which both seemed to be the case in this story.
I've read (or not finished, really) much worse and as a parent I would be totally fine with my kid reading this for the messages and the silly characters, but this is never going to be a classic.
I think she may have been going for a Miyazaki approach to character and plot development, but it just didn't work. There was only one character who I was emotionally invested in and she was a minor minor character.
Also, I don't understand why some authors feel the need to inject a romance if they really don't want to develop it or the plot doesn't call for it, which both seemed to be the case in this story.
I've read (or not finished, really) much worse and as a parent I would be totally fine with my kid reading this for the messages and the silly characters, but this is never going to be a classic.
June 9, 2010
Meh. Am I holding this to too high a standard because it's Lois Lowry? Probably. LOIS LOWRY, people! The Giver and Number the Stars are BOTH on my "10 best middle grade novels of all time" list! So I am sad to report that I found The Birthday Ball formulaic and tired -- perfectly pleasant, utterly forgettable. Lowry had to be sleepwalking (sleepwriting?). Nothing feels new or witty (though there are some scatological jokes my kids found high-larious...and I love a good testicles joke as much as the next gal, but you know -- balls, yeah, whatevs.) I guess what's important is that my girls (5 and 8) were delighted with it as a bedtime book, so who cares what I think. But let it be said for the record that from a writer with such an astonishing track record, I'd hoped for more.
September 22, 2010
Obviously, I'm going to like this. It's a fun, funny, totally enjoyable, quick-read about a princess who sneaks out of her castle to go to school, invites all the peasants to her birthday ball, and finds a way to get out of marrying one of three (or four, technically) nasty (really gross-nasty) suitors.
My favorite parts:
1. So many things rhyme with delicious!
2. The norphan
3. The disgusting Duke of Dyspepsia, Prince of Pustula, and Conjoint Counts
4. An overall satisfying mixture of cute and gross
5. Just a smidge of feminism tucked in
6. Jules Feiffer's illustrations enhance it's Roald Dahl-ian smelly charm.
My favorite parts:
1. So many things rhyme with delicious!
2. The norphan
3. The disgusting Duke of Dyspepsia, Prince of Pustula, and Conjoint Counts
4. An overall satisfying mixture of cute and gross
5. Just a smidge of feminism tucked in
6. Jules Feiffer's illustrations enhance it's Roald Dahl-ian smelly charm.
April 15, 2010
Lois Lowry must have had a "ball" writing this light, charming story. Her word play makes it especially delightful. The many rhymes Princess Patricia Priscilla makes when addressing her cat Delicious ("...nutritious, Delicious," "...surreptitious, Delicious," "...malicious, Delicious") add an extra layer of fun.
August 5, 2016
This cute, if disjointed, story tells of the days leading up to Princess Patricia Priscilla’s 16th birthday (and the accompanying birthday ball). Girls who like princesses (and have an odd sense of humor) will likely enjoy this, though I could see some girls who prefer more traditional princess tales being a bit disenchanted with this quirky story. Quasi-recommended.
February 6, 2010
Cute, but I'd hoped for a little more.
September 19, 2012
aww... used to love this book! read it in 2nd or third grade!
November 6, 2019
The Birthday Ball, by Lowis Lowry, is a fun and whimsical fairy tale about a bored Princess Patricia Priscilla. She is a princess who has everything she could ever want, except excitement. She's a young woman of the age 15, and will soon be part of a suitor's ball that will end with her becoming married to one of the three young men who are interested. Of the three, two are extremely unsightly and one (or perhaps two) is a conjoined twin! Princess Patricia decides that she wants much much more out of life. She escapes the castle and attempts life with the commoners for a few days. Her cat is a grumpy thing, but seems willing to accompany her on her excursion. While in the town, Pat (Princess Patricia's new, identity hiding name) enrolls herself into a school house and introduces herself to her school teacher, who she begins to fancy, and several of her classmates. When the big ball comes, Pat transitions once again into Princess Patricia Priscilla and takes control of the situation when all of the individuals from both of her lives begin to mingle at the party. Despite all odds, Princess Pat is able to fight the old laws and marry the man she believes she loves, her school room teacher. All is well, and ends happily. This book was very jumbled in my opinion. Although the summary seems to focus around the love affairs mentioned, the main plot is centered around the princess becoming more of her own person, and discovering who she is. This being said, neither aspect is well developed. I feel as though the book would be wildly successful if Ms. Lowry had focused on one plot development and really put all of her thoughts into developing one aspect of the story. This book does an alright job providing entertainment to students in this transitioning age, but pretty much stops there. I would have this book in my classroom for older students, but would not include it in my personal collection.
December 1, 2017
The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry is a cute fairytale. Published in the United States by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children in 2010. Princess Patricia Priscilla’s 16th birthday is about to arrive at which she has to choose a suitor to marry. But the princess is bored and decides to disguise herself as a peasant, by the name of Pat, who attends village school for a week. She loves being at school because she’s not thinking about the ball and is learning many new things that she didn’t know before. With her goes a cat named Delicious who is always vicious. As the ball arrives, she has to quickly give up being a peasant and decide on who she is going to marry.
I enjoyed this book because the storyline was amusing and sweet and the plot wasn’t predictable. The princess took matters into her own hands and speaks to her parents about the things she observes and changes she would like to make. The story would best fit ages 8 to 10 but might have some difficult vocabulary for young children or transitional readers. Throughout the story there was also childlike illustrations that enhanced the story’s emotions. Lowry fills each page with alliteration and constant rhyming. There is plenty of humor throughout the story for all ages to understand. There was character growth and development more towards the end of the story than there was throughout the beginning.
I enjoyed this book because the storyline was amusing and sweet and the plot wasn’t predictable. The princess took matters into her own hands and speaks to her parents about the things she observes and changes she would like to make. The story would best fit ages 8 to 10 but might have some difficult vocabulary for young children or transitional readers. Throughout the story there was also childlike illustrations that enhanced the story’s emotions. Lowry fills each page with alliteration and constant rhyming. There is plenty of humor throughout the story for all ages to understand. There was character growth and development more towards the end of the story than there was throughout the beginning.
November 22, 2017
Princess Patricia Priscilla has become bored of her royal life because all that is going on in her life is everyone getting ready for her birthday ball. The birthday ball is where the princess has to chose a suitor to marry and have kids with. She doesn't want to think about the ball so, she disguises herself as a peasant girl and starts school with the other peasants. She loves being at school because she gets to learn so many different things that she didn't know before. As the ball approaches, she has to give up being a peasant and has to instead, decide on who she would rather marry. Her options are rather crappy: one is full of himself and has to look at himself all the time, another is ugly but a nice guy, while the last option are conjoined twins who can hardly ever agree on anything and frequently fight and argue. I really enjoyed this book because it wasn't the traditional book with a princess, whereby her life is perfect nothing else matters. In this book, the princess is a relatable character due to her love for all the peasants she meets. She forms a really good friendship with one of her maids named Liz. I also enjoyed the book because the plot of the book wasn't predictable, I had no idea what the ending would be. The front cover of the book is a sketch of a blond, happy princess. The front cover goes perfectly with how the princess is with people she is around, with everyone she loves and adores she is joyful and happy. The front cover however, gives no hint to how the story is going to turn out. The only thing that I would change about the book would be to not have the ball towards the end of the book. I would use this book for 3rd or 4th grade for independent reading due to the more difficult vocabulary used and the complexity of the plot of the book. Also, since not everyone is going to like the book, it is better suited for independent reading whereby the students get to pick what they will be reading.
April 25, 2022
Uggggh— it wasn’t fair for this book to have such a charming ending.
The Birthday Ball is incredibly reminiscent of Roald Dahl books (down to the illustrations), but it comes with some insensitivities that I don’t love being written into something published in 2010 by an author who wrote such examinations of the human condition as Number the Stars, The Giver, and Gathering Blue.
I mean, how does the author of Gathering Blue write four villains whose appearances and health problems are described as being inherently involved in their villainy? How? How is a neighboring kingdom called Bulimia? How???
I’d say it’s aimed at a younger audience than perhaps done of Lowry’s other books, and I disagree with the reviews that say the language is too difficult or the potty humor too vulgar. Overall, the story and writing are engaging and the end was charming, nearly redeeming it for me to three stars instead of two. But at the end of the day, I don’t think I’d keep this in my shelf for kids to read because characters are made out to be unlivable not just because they are insufferable, but because they aren’t conventionally attractive and struggle with various health maladies. It really rubs the wrong way— just does not hit right.
The Birthday Ball is incredibly reminiscent of Roald Dahl books (down to the illustrations), but it comes with some insensitivities that I don’t love being written into something published in 2010 by an author who wrote such examinations of the human condition as Number the Stars, The Giver, and Gathering Blue.
I mean, how does the author of Gathering Blue write four villains whose appearances and health problems are described as being inherently involved in their villainy? How? How is a neighboring kingdom called Bulimia? How???
I’d say it’s aimed at a younger audience than perhaps done of Lowry’s other books, and I disagree with the reviews that say the language is too difficult or the potty humor too vulgar. Overall, the story and writing are engaging and the end was charming, nearly redeeming it for me to three stars instead of two. But at the end of the day, I don’t think I’d keep this in my shelf for kids to read because characters are made out to be unlivable not just because they are insufferable, but because they aren’t conventionally attractive and struggle with various health maladies. It really rubs the wrong way— just does not hit right.
August 30, 2019
It’s amazing to me that the same author that wrote The Giver wrote the book I'm reviewing today because they couldn’t be more different. The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry is a nontraditional fairytale about a princess who’d rather live among the people than follow any ridiculous royal decrees. (Roman Holiday, anyone?) Now that she’s turning 16 years old, Princess Patricia Priscilla's expected to marry one of the three suitors who are courting for her hand. Each man is more ghastly than the last. A lot of time is spent describing these hateful men (and the illustrations by Jules Feiffer really drive it home how disgusting and despicable her choices truly are. As in much of middle grade fiction, her parents are blind to her discomfort and unhappiness as they are caught up in their own lives and interests. (Dad is obsessed with butterflies and Mom is preoccupied with her wardrobe and appearance.) So neither takes any notice of her switching places with her maid and escaping out into the village to go to the local school. Dark humor coupled with the somewhat realistic portrayal of what it's like to be a village peasant plus the fantastic illustrations make this a quick, fun read. 7/10
December 6, 2017
This is a great transitional book for young girls. It's funny, witty, and easily relatable to young girls who need a transitional book from picture books to novels. Princess Patricia Priscilla is bored with her royal life and the excitement surrounding her sixteenth birthday ball. Doomed to endure courtship by three grotesquely unappealing noblemen, she escapes her fate for a week. Disguised as a peasant, she attends the village school as the smart new girl, "Pat," and attracts friends and the attention of the handsome school master. Disgusting suitors, loveable peasants, and the clueless King and Queen collide at the ball, where Princess Patricia Pricilla calls the shots. What began as a cure for boredom, becomes a chance for Princess Patricia Priscilla to break the rules and marry the man she loves. The words are in a good font and spaced out nicely so its not too overwhelming. There are little doodles spaced out in the book that are very cute and help readers picture whats going on the emotions of the characters involved in the scene depicted.
December 12, 2019
The Birthday Ball is an adorable book about a young princess who finds herself bored by palace and royal life. To escape, she disgises herself as a common peasant and rebrands herself as Pat. Amongst common folks she is making friends and loving all the attention. What I enjoy most is this is a story that I feel we've seen and heard, but you're still interested because of how likable Pat is. The book is a great transitional book that doesn't feel too heavy. There isn't too much text on the pages and the illustrator does a great job providing pictures to breakup some of the text. She also does a great job of drawing images that look and feel much like pencil-sketch. I get the sense that any student in the class could drawn them and I like when book have them. I'd recommend this book for any 4th or 5th grader as they transition to novels. It would seem that this book is for young women, but I could also see some young men who might find it interesting as well.
November 26, 2017
My first comment is that this is a cute book. Even though it isn’t the type of story that I would normally read it was still interesting. The main character in this story is Princess Patricia Priscilla, and she is very excited for her 16th birthday. During this birthday ball the princess is supposed to get married, but every guy she meets are disgusting in their own ways. Patricia decides to take an adventure into the town disguised as a commoner. On her way, she meets a schoolmaster named Rafe who is on his own journey for love. This book can be used as a book to read during free time, and can teach students that it is okay to break out from the social norm. Even though any reader could enjoy this book I would recommend this for younger readers.
January 17, 2023
this book is so damn funny! lowry is a very clever writer and i love all the snarky worldbuilding elements. princess pat is pretty wretchedly selfish and snooty, even more so than i fully realized as a child; i actually had to put down this book for a second at several points. not sure if i'd read this to my kids, because i don't like royalty or stories that use ugliness as a shorthand for wickedness, but definitely enjoyable to reread a childhood fave.
July 29, 2025
I wanted something light and silly, and this fit the bill. It was kind of a weird fairy tale about a princess who was about to turn 16 and required to select a nobleman to be her husband. So that premise was kind of icky, but kind of classic fairy tale stuff. The princess herself was ridiculous and clueless, but still likable. The story teetered between classic fairy tale and fairy tale with modern sensibility, but it didn’t go far enough in either direction. I would have liked it better if the princess was either entirely modern, with everyone agreeing that 16 was way too young to be choosing a husband, or classic fairy tale princess. She had some horrible options of suitors, and her final choice was not that great- just the best option immediately at hand.
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