Once upon a time, on an island far, far away, lived the lovely Princess Soraia. Her mother had died years earlier and her father Netuno, the King and a mighty man of the sea, is away most of the time. For company, Soraia has only her aging lady-in-waiting and a compassionate jester. As the days continue to flow, one into the next, Soraia becomes increasingly restless with her protected life of confinement. She wants more than anything to enjoy an adventure of her own. Her caretakers want only what is best for the girl, and her wellbeing isn’t well at all while she remains locked up. With permission, Soraia leaves the castle and finally gets to explore the land and have her own adventure.
Soraia, Child of the Sea is the third book in a series of playful tales, each telling stories of the season. Summer, my personal favorite time of year, is the backdrop of Soraia’s fanciful tale. The story has a calm, predictable pace that will be easy for middle grade readers to settle into. And the classic plot of an adventure-seeking princess who feels hemmed in by her birthright evokes all sorts of fun imagery, even before Soraia’s story begins. For the pre-teen who enjoys a character driver story but isn’t quite ready to handle a ton of action, Leen Lefebre has created a timeless tale blanketed in a serene sylvan setting. With a stunning landscape and lots of room for young readers to let their imaginations roam free, Soraia, Child of the Sea is a nice stepping-stone novel.
