MIHI EVER AFTER Mihi Ever After, Book 1

Fourth grader Mihi Whan Park worries that a Korean American girl like her can't be "the princess type" in this series opener narrated by Triya Leong. When Mihi meets fellow princess lovers Savannah, a timorous white girl, and Reese, a brainy Black girl, her hopes rise--and then soar when the three stumble into a really, truly magical land complete with characters from European fairy tales. This surprisingly sinister fairyland brings both brisk adventure and an empathetic critique of the princess industrial complex to young listeners. Leong's characterizations meet with mixed success. Savannah's exaggeratedly breathy whisper contrasts distractingly with Mihi's perkiness and Reese's steadiness. A character described as shrill is instead squeaky. Vocal unevenness aside, this audiobook offers solid food for thought for princess-obsessed listeners. V.S. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2022]