From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026

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What Members Thought

Carol Royce Owen
Jan 09, 2013 rated it it was amazing
The King, Queen, and Prince of Carthya have been poisoned, a fact that few know, and shortly after an orphan boy named Sage is bought from an orphanage, along with three others, by a Regent named Connor who plans on training the boys so that one of them can step forward as the missing Prince Jarus in a matter of just two weeks. Prince Jarus was a mischievous, badly behaved prince who had been sent away years ago, but was presumed dead when the boat that he was on had been attacked by pirates and ...more
Rachel Seigel
Nov 29, 2012 rated it it was amazing
I absolutely loved this book! It's complex, exciting, and fabulously written. It and it's sequel will definitely appeal to tween boy readers looking for a solid fantasy adventure and an extremely likeable hero. Highly recommended! ...more
Julie Williams
May 11, 2013 rated it it was amazing
Loved it!!!!! This is on the Maine Student Book Award for 2013-2014 and I will be recommending it any chance I get. I thought it was wonderful. Sage and 2 other orphans are "rescued" by Connor to be part of his nefarious (I just wanted to use that word) to take over the kingdom. One pf the orphans will assume the role of Jaron the long lost prince. I don't want to give away any of the plot but the book was really great. Hoping they have the sequel at the Scholastic warehouse sale :)

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Alyson
May 24, 2019 rated it really liked it
Sage and several other boys are picked from various orphanages to try to learn to impersonate the missing prince. They only have two weeks to pull it off. It is hard to decide if Sage is friends or enemies with the other boys. The plot moves quickly.

I started this book a number of years ago and just couldn't get into it. I am so glad that I pushed through a second attempt because I loved how this book came together in the end. Wow!
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Debbie Tanner
I loved this story about an orphan boy who is bought by a nobleman with the intent of passing him off as the prince, who is assumed dead. There's tons of intrigue and plot twists... it's a great one! ...more
Kayla
For some reason I had it in my head that this was a middle grade novel so I was a little put off when some more mature content showed up (nothing major, just a little more violence than I would expect in a book for an 8-12 yo) but once I adjusted my expectations I really enjoyed this. I didn’t see the twist coming, although I can’t decide whether I should have or not. The audio version has an interview with the author at the end of the book that was a lot of fun to listen to. I think I’ll be fin ...more
Marianne
Despite the praise for this title I had a hard time entering into this story. Perhaps I will try again someday but too many other books on my "to be read" pile called out to me. ...more
Beth Robertson
Jan 02, 2013 rated it it was amazing
Wow! The twist took my breath away!
Staciel
Mar 19, 2017 rated it really liked it


My young teen son has read all three of these, but I didn't pick it up until a 5th grader that I know was going on and on about them and told me that he loved the books so much that he immediately started to re-read them.

That is some high praise indeed.

So, I scooped it off of my son's shelf and enjoyed it-- and I will admit that as I got toward the end, I stayed up pretty late to finish because I just had to.
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Sandy
Tried to listen to this on audio, but the narrator was as boring as all get-out. So much monotone that I couldn't continue. This is a shame, because the story actually seemed to be quite intriguing. Even from those first few chapters I can see why this book has been popular. ...more
Kim
Apr 24, 2013 rated it liked it
Shelves: chapter, fantasy
A nobleman brings four orphans to his estate in order to train them to impersonate a King's missing son. The nobleman is seeking the power of the throne and if a orphan is believed to be the king's son then the nobleman will control the kingdom. ...more
Mr. Wojahn
Sep 20, 2012 rated it really liked it
Shelves: mid-school
Stephanie
Oct 07, 2012 rated it it was amazing
Kirsten
Oct 24, 2012 rated it really liked it
Shelves: young-adult
Scot
Nov 03, 2012 rated it liked it
Laura
Dec 01, 2012 rated it really liked it
Maureen Milton
Dec 29, 2012 rated it it was ok
Shelves: listened-to-cd
Heather
Jan 02, 2013 marked it as to-read
Vicki
Mar 09, 2013 marked it as to-read
Ariel
Feb 15, 2014 rated it really liked it
Shelves: fantasy, mg
Kaye
Mar 26, 2014 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: series, favorites
Jen
Jun 30, 2015 rated it liked it
Shelves: middle-and-ya
Diana
May 09, 2016 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: middle-grade, fantasy
Michelle
Feb 20, 2017 rated it really liked it
Shelves: young-people-lit
Nez
Apr 23, 2018 added it
Karyn Lewis
Aug 07, 2018 marked it as to-read
Kimberly
Oct 01, 2019 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: middle-grade-lit
Jeane
Apr 13, 2020 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition