The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison

Prince George possesses the gift of animal magic, which in the Kingdom of Kendel is extremely misunderstood and feared. People who have been seen talking to animals or believed to be in possession of animal magic are frequently burned to death. At a young age, George learns to keep his abilities a secret and after the death of his mother, he goes so far as to attempt to deny they exist until he becomes physically ill. As George gets older, he throws himself into fulfilling the duties of a Prince of Kendel, particularly as his father becomes ill. When neighboring King Helm of Sarrey, a long time enemy of Kendel, offers his only child’s hand in marriage, George accepts the betrothal to extend the uneasy truce between the two kingdoms. As Prince George prepares to travel to Sarrey to meet his betrothed, his father encourages George to marry for love, as he had, not for a sense of duty. When George meets the Princess Beatrice and her hound Marit, he wonders if he had found a kindred spirit. While Beatrice does not have animal magic, she and her hound have an unusual bond and appear to communicate. George soon discovers that there is more to Marit and Beatrice than meets the eye and soon their fate and the life of his father rests in George’s hand.

The Princess and the Hound is an interest blend of fantasy with a fairy tale feel, romance, and coming of age. The perspective of the prince as opposed to the distressed princess help the story stand out. George is a likeable character- strong and brave but at the same time sensitive to the feelings of those around him. George desperately wants to do the right thing, but he not always sure how to do that. As he grows and matures, he develops a confidence and courage to finally reveal his true self to his kingdom. Harrison has created a well-defined world with its own folklore that is incorporated into the story.
This is a tale that is sure to appeal to middle school readers, especially those looking for more than the traditional prince rescues princess tale. It is a bit disappointing that the book has been titled and packaged to gear specifically toward female readers. The male narrator, fantasy elements, and a great coming of age story would appeal to certain male readers who would be unlikely to pick up this novel packaged as such.