Buckle and Squash: The Perilous Princess Plot - by Sarah Courtauld (Paperback)

About the Book

When Lavender, who would give anything to be a pampered princess, manages to get herself kidnapped, it's up to her sister Eliza, who dreams of riding into battle against villains and dragons, to save her.

Book Synopsis

Once upon a time, on the Old Tumbledown Farm, in the Middle of Nowhere, in the Forgotten Corner of the Kingdom, deep in the realm of Squerb, two young girls dream of their destinies. Lavender knows that her destiny is to become a fairy-tale princess and is almost certainly going to feature a handsome prince. Eliza is having none of that-her destiny involves battling dragons and giants, vanquishing monsters, and solving mysteries.

Turns out that they are both right . . . though not quite in the way they imagined. When Lavender, tired of waiting around and arguing with Eliza, sets out to find her own prince, she instead runs into the evil count Mordmont (who is most definitely NOT a handsome prince in disguise) and it's up to Eliza to ride to the rescue on their faithful goat, Gertrude!

This funny fairy-tale adventure from debut author Sarah Courtauld sends two sisters on very different quests to battle dragons and trick villains.

Buckle and Squash: The Perilous Princess Plot was the winner of the Sainsbury's Children's Book Award for Fiction Ages 5-9

Review Quotes

"This cross between a fractured fairy tale and any of Roald Dahl's zany adventures is the first installment in the "Buckle and Squash" series. Witty writing combined with a cast of characters that are as ridiculous as they are memorable-rendered in black-and-white drawings throughout-makes for ... a fun read for chapter book and younger middle grade readers." --School Library Journal

"Absurdity reigns in Courtauld's boisterous, logic-warping fantasy ... Abundant wordplay, sarcastic footnotes, and a slew of out-of-left-field jokes make this book ideal for fans of Dav Pilkey, Andy Griffiths, or Lois Lowry's The Willoughbys." --Publishers Weekly

"This mixed-up fairy tale has everything readers could want, including adventure, danger, and a cantankerous goat....Just right for readers who like their princess stories with a large dose of humor." --Booklist

"This gleefully absurd British import packs both witty wordplay and potty humor.... Fans of Captain Underpants may find that fairy-tale send-ups can be just as giggle-inducing as superhero satire." --BCCB

About the Author

Sarah Courtauld, the author of the BUCKLE AND SQUASH series, is a fresh and funny new voice in children's fiction. She won the Funny Women Comedy Writing Award in 2012 and the BAFTA/Rocliffe New Writing Forum 2012, judged by a panel including Jennifer Saunders and Chris Addison. She also does stand-up and improv, as well as working part-time as a writer for Usborne Children's Books.