Will entertain all, while thoughtfully touching on important modern-day topics.
Most young girls dream of becoming a princess. For sixteen-year-old Devina, she has no need to dream, for she was born into such a privileged role. Despite everything that she seems to have going for her, Devina finds every day to be a struggle. Though the people and doctors of her time don’t understand how to diagnose it, Devina suffers from something akin to major depressive disorder. Desperate to find a cure for his daughter’s prolonged sadness, the king decrees that whomever can make the princess smile may marry her. As the king’s strategy begins to fail, his daughter finds friendship in the most unlikely of places, a peasant kitchen worker named Yasmin. The connection between the depressed princess and the lively Yasmin may be just what Devina needs to guide her back to a life of happiness.
The first-person voice of The King’s Decree, alternating from both Devina and Yasmin’s point of view, perfectly conveys the emotions of the characters in the story. Anyone who has ever experienced a bout with sadness or a more serious period of depression will relate to Devina’s feelings, and this makes her a protagonist that is easy to root for. The relationship between the two primary characters throughout the story is touching, and by the time that the book ends, you are left wishing you could continue following them into a sequel. The author’s descriptions are simple, but effectively tell the story, which is perfect for a chapter book with a teen or pre-teen audience. Whether you personally struggle with depression or wish to be more empathetic to peers that suffer from it, The King’s Decree sheds light on an underrepresented disorder, which is so prevalent nowadays. Torina Kingsley’s beautiful retelling of the fable The Princess Who Never Smiled will entertain all, while thoughtfully touching on important modern-day topics in a relevant and sympathetic manner.
