Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Ben has been raised near the royal castle, but not as part of it, thanks to her mother.   When she is ill and unable to attend the ceremony by her grandfather’s tomb, she awakens to find her entire world changed.  Her mother’s body is brought back as is her uncle’s, the king.  And her father is missing along with the guard who had attended them.  Taken into the royal castle by her aunt, Queen Sophia, Ben is looked upon as a girl who needs to be taught how to be a princess from the ground up.  Her wardrobe is changed, her waistline scrutinized, her meals cut back, and her every move watched.  As Ben fights to not be broken by the Queen, her real adventure begins when she discovers a hidden passage in her room that works only for her.  It leads to a room where a magical book shows her the powers that are part of her royal lineage.  But what good are minor magical powers when Ben is about to be auctioned off as a bride to local princes? 

Murdock is the author of one of my favorite series that began with Dairy Queen.  She has an ear for dialogue, especially the internal dialogue of teen girls.  In Ben, she has created a princess worth cheering for, a young woman who is rarely daunted, unless it is by dieting.  Though this is a fantasy, Ben is a character who vibrates with truth, a remarkably strong female character.  Murdock has also masterfully moved to a new genre with this novel, which reads as though she has only ever written fantasy fiction.  Her pacing is well done, and her storytelling powerful and interesting.

Highly recommended for lovers of fantasy.   Murdock has created a readable fantasy that will appeal to readers of Tamora Pierce.  Appropriate for ages 10-14.