Another spin on princess fairy tales

Most girls can recall the familiar feeling of finishing a Disney princess-themed movie and wondering when our own prince will come and sweep us off our feet, followed by the perfect fitting of a dainty glass slipper or being wakened from a long sleep by true love’s kiss. Yet recently, it might seem as if Disney is projecting a different message to girls. When it comes to how Disney princesses have changed, they seem to have become more independent when we look at recent characters such as Elsa from Frozen and Merida from Brave. And now I have found a book that tells the story of a young woman’s selfdiscovery, independence and confidence.

As a teenage girl who has grown up following the evolving Disney princess, Amanda Lovelace’s book,

The Princess Saves Herself In This One (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2017), immediately caught my eye. This book of poetry is divided into four parts, following the author through self-discovery as she tells her coming-of-age story. It begins with identifying the typical “damsel in distress” and eventually shows how Lovelace learned to transform from a lost princess to the fierce inner queen we all have inside ourselves.

The book captures the struggles of young women and the process of dealing with heartbreak, grief and gaining self-confidence. When we’re innocent and young, our only concerns might be whether the glass slipper fits our foot. However, when we get older, we realize the concern is finding out how to fit into life despite the many challenges thrown at us, and Lovelace describes her journey in doing that. In tackling tough subjects while also putting a realistic twist on the typical fairy tale stories we all heard growing up, Lovelace’s voice likely will come off as real to readers. Her voice offers valuable “girl talk” — the kind you might be having with one of your friends.