← All Books fantasy Chapter Book Fully Reviewed

The Princess in Black

Name: The Princess in Black
Rating: 5.9 (3 reviews)
Author: Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
ISBN: 9780763665104

by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale · The Princess in Black #1

A princess with a secret: she fights monsters for fun — and she's very good at it.

Kid

Parent

Teacher

Best fit: ages 5-8 Still works: ages 5-9 Lexile 500L

The story

Princess Magnolia looks perfectly prim in her pink dress, but when the monster alarm sounds, she transforms into the Princess in Black — a brave, capable superhero who protects the kingdom's goats from colorful creatures. Her only problem: keeping her double life secret from a very suspicious neighbor. Full of humor, action, and a fresh take on the princess story, this is an early chapter book that makes both girls and boys want to read.

Age verdict

Ideal for ages 5-8 — perfectly calibrated for the emerging reader who can handle short chapters but still relies on illustrations to carry part of the story.

Our take

A near-perfectly accessible early chapter book — kids love the action and humor slightly more than parents or teachers, with all three agreeing on its gateway and stereotype-breaking strengths.

What stands out

Each audience's top 3 dimensions. Out of 30 scored per book.

👦

Kids love

Mental movie Strong

magic portal, monster realm, castle interiors, magical horse all rendered in detail. Reader visualizes without gaps.
First-chapter grab Strong

both establish mystery and stakes within opening paragraphs through action rather than exposition. Hook is strong but not as psychologically immersive as extremes.

👩

Parents love

Stereotype-breaker Exceptional

prim princess IS brave superhero (not in need of rescue), frightening monster IS harmless/helpful (not evil). Stereotype-breaking is structural engine, not incidental message. Parent sees unusually thorough model of appearance-vs-reality.
Reading gateway Strong

Comparable to A Bear Called Paddington — illustrations on every page, short chapters (15 total, 6 pages avg), Lexile 500L, accessible but engaging premise. Format feels non-condescending. Humor and adventure provide genuine reasons to keep reading. Outstanding gateway for emerging readers.

🍎

Teachers love

Read-aloud power Strong

Comparable to The Golem's Eye — prose reads naturally aloud with good rhythm and clear dialogue marking. 90 pages, 2,079 words can be read in two sessions. Short chapters provide natural pause points. Humor lands verbally. Heavy illustration dependency means some visual impact lost in audio.
Reluctant reader rescue Strong

Comparable to Babymouse #20 (T9=8, anchored at 7) — illustration on every page, Lexile 500L, short chapters, genuinely funny adventure. Student resisting chapter books can succeed independently, building confidence. One of stronger reluctant-reader texts for early primary.

✓ Perfect for

• Children ages 5-8 who are ready for their first chapter books but still love lots of pictures; fans of superhero stories who want their hero to also wear a sparkly tiara.

Not ideal for

Readers who have already moved past early chapter books and want more text and complexity.

At a glance

Pages: 90
Chapters: 15
Words: 2k
Lexile: 500L
Difficulty: Easy
POV: Third Person Limited
Illustration: Fully Illustrated
Published: 2014
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
ISBN: 9780763665104

Mood & style

Tone: Adventurous Pacing: Rapid Fire Weight: Light Tension: Physical Danger Humor: Situational

You'll know it worked when…

Very likely to finish — at 90 pages and 2,079 words, most 5-8 year olds complete this in 1-2 sittings. The short chapters and constant forward motion eliminate natural stopping points.

If your kid loved "The Princess in Black"

Matched across 30 dimensions — interest hooks, character appeal, tone, pacing, emotional core. Not by what other people bought. By what fits the same reader profile.