Catherine Gilbert Murdock lives in Philadelphia with her husband and two children. Wisdom's Kiss is her fifth novel.
"Packed with double entendres, humorous dialogue and situations, and a black cat that will capture the reader's imagination, this is a joyful, timeless fantasy that teens will savor." --Booklist, starred review "Readers who enjoy fairy-tale romance and intrigue with multiple strong heroines, an enigmatic cat, and a bit of reading challenge will adore this, and those who are already acquainted with Princess Ben will be glad to see her again."--Bulletin, starred review "Richly developed characters, humor, exciting plot twists, and, of course, magic combine to craft a most enjoyable read. Fans of Gail Carson Levine will be charmed by this witty, whimsical fantasy. Exceptional!"--School Library Journal, starred review --
Gr 6-10-The classic story of Puss in Boots is re-imagined in Catherine Gilbert Murdock's delightfully whimsical tale (Houghton Mifflin, 2011) of romance, magic, and adventure. The Kingdom of Montagne is in peril. The Duchess of Farina has devised a diabolical plot to dispose of Queen Temperance and claim the throne. Matters are further complicated when Princess Wisdom (known as Dizzy), betrothed to the Duke of Farina, falls for Tips, a traveling circus performer who just happens to be the childhood beau of Trudy, her lady-in-waiting. To foil the Duchess's evil scheme and save the kingdom, these unlikely allies must put aside personal differences and work together. But it will take a bit of magic, and the help of a very special cat, before they can discover their own happily ever afters. The story's eight viewpoints are woven together from diary pages, correspondence, encyclopedia entries, and a theatrical script. Although this unique format works splendidly for the print version, it doesn't translate as well into audio, making for a somewhat choppy listening experience. However, the narration is superb. Anne Flosnik aptly conveys the Queen Mother's regal demeanor and, in the next breath, brings to life Dizzy's youthful and adventurous spirit. Michael Page expertly voices the male characters. The tale's strong female characters make it an ideal choice for girls. Still, libraries might find that the print version is sufficient.-Alissa LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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