Of Two Minds

Rebelling against the order that forbids her to use her special powers, which enable her to make her thoughts real, Princess Lenora runs away from an unwanted marriage and falls prey to the fierce tyrant Hevak.

Grade 5-8-This collaboration begins with elements borrowed from traditional fairy tales, then offers an original, unpredictable twist; fresh, well-rounded characters; and an ambiguous, thought-provoking ending. The complex plot follows the adventures of Lenora, a headstrong princess with the power to make anything she imagines real, and Coren, the shy prince chosen by her parents to be her husband. Trapped in a strange land and stripped of their powers (Coren had been able to read the thoughts not only of humans, but also of animals and objects), the two must work together to overthrow the tyrannical Hevak, restore harmony to the country, and return home safely. Their triumph is particularly impressive and meaningful because it involves learning self-mastery (Lenora) and self-confidence (Coren) rather than simply overcoming an outside challenge through brute force. That the happy ending comes with no guarantees (and no imminent wedding bells) makes it even more believable and satisfying. The story moves swiftly and the writing is consistently smooth, with sophisticated vocabulary and challenging concepts. Matas and Nodelman have themselves done a heroic job of melding their two voices to create a kaleidoscope of character, cultures, and events that offers both entertainment and enrichment to young readers.
Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
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