He lives by his wits. He speaks his mind, follows his own convictions, relies on himself in every possible situation and slowly we begin to understand that he is one step ahead of everyone he meets, even those in the highest power positions. Yet, he wakes to find himself bumping along bruised and wounded in a rough wagon with his hands tied behind his back. Meet Sage, an orphan who has been chosen along with two other orphan boys, Roden and Tobias to compete for an incredible opportunity.
Bevin Conner, nobleman, has arrived at Sage's orphanage to find candidates he can pass off as the prince of the realm. News has reached him secretly that the king, queen and heir to the throne have been murdered and Conner fears war is imminent if their land, Carthya, is perceived as in a state of weakness. But there was another prince. This prince was killed at sea by pirates though no body has ever been found. It is Conner's plan to spend the next two weeks grooming these three boys and the one boy who rises above the others in swordplay, etiquette, horsemanship and book learning will be the new prince. What will happen to the other two? Conner has no plan to leave anyone standing who might betray him so the three boys understand that this competition is a battle for life and death.
This story is a journey by wagon in the direction of the castle and the announcement that the long lost prince has been discovered. This story is also a journey of a thief and a liar that opens to new possibilities as we watch Sage in action. Left-handed, clumsy, inept and a lacking student, he nonetheless climbs out his window to explore the grounds at night and is willing to withstand torture before revealing the whereabouts of his precious but small lump of gold. It's a battle of iron wills.
It's a great blend of challenges, injustices, adventures, hope, revelations and creates a fascinating combination of characters and a compelling quest.
342 pages 978-0545284141 Ages 9-14
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
ALSC Tween Recommended Reads https://www.ala.org/alsc/sites/ala.org.alsc/files/content/Tween13_RecReadsList.pdf
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New York Times bestseller The False Prince thrills with wild twists and turns, danger and deceit, and the revelation of hidden identities that will have readers rushing breathlessly to the end.
In a discontented kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats.---from the publisher
