Review Detail

What I liked:
A mash-up story of A Little Princess and The Secret Garden are classic tales that have been loved and shared with others for years. The two authors tackled the classic tale to include a character of a Philippian of descent so that people of color and immigrants get shown as more than what historical fiction or history books have shared with us. As a result, we get a fresh take on this history that only Melissa De La Cruz and her co-author could deliver with such a significant flare, well-thought-out detail, and authentic feeling.
Final Verdict:
Sara and Mary are both girls taken from the worlds they know and dropped at England school without a thought about how they will handle this strange new land. Having an author being able to plant her heritage into a character was a delight to read. I love how the authors took Mary, Sara, and Cedric and weaved their stories together. The ending was superb as we glimpse into their futures and how things all played out for these beautiful characters.
Audiobook Review:
Stohl and de la Cruz's prose blends perfectly, making you forget that A Secret Princess is not the work of a lone writer. Instead, a well-thought-out tell that the narrator shares beautifully. I welcomed being swept away in this creative retelling and would love to see these authors' takes on other classic tales.