Marabel and the Book of Fate

From the Publishers:

Free-spirited Marabel must defy expectations to rescue her brother--and their kingdom--in this charming, action-packed, and magical story perfect for fans of Ella Enchanted and Dealing with Dragons.

In Magikos, life is dictated by the Book of Fate's ancient predictions, including the birth of a royal Chosen One who will save the realm. Princess Marabel has grown up in the shadow of her twin brother, Marco, who everyone assumes is the true Chosen One. While Marco is adored and given every opportunity, Marabel is overlooked and has to practice her sword fighting in secret.

But on the night of their thirteenth birthday, Marco is kidnapped by an evil queen, and Marabel runs to his rescue. Outside the castle walls for the first time, accompanied by her best friend and a very smug unicorn, Marabel embarks on a daring mission that brings her face-to-face with fairies, trolls, giants--and the possibility that all is not as it seems in Magikos.

My thoughts:

Although I normally read books for middle schoolers, sometimes tween books are just as engaging. Most tweens want to read about a character that is older than they are, so the fact that Marabel and Marco have just turned 13 is perfect for the tween female reader (4-5th grade). Like Ella Enchanted, Marabel is independent and fiesty, even if she is also misunderstood and mostly forgotten by her parents. 

I don't think this will appeal to the males of this age because although there is adventure and humor, there is not enough of the gross factor. The main appeal of this book is that her twin brother Marco, the golden child is one of the characters who really sees her and believes in her strength and intelligence. He does not need to grow throughout the book to see her value to him and to others. He sees it from the beginning, even when she does not see any value in herself. 

The one negative is that the title just did not grab me. I understand the whole Book of Fate connection, but I did not see this as a strong enough theme or connection to put in the title. I almost wanted the title to be just about Marabel or the three of them like Marabel of Magikos, Shadow Princess, something more intriguing. I don't know if I want to read a book with the word book in it, especially if the cover looks so young and non-mysterious. With the title and the picture together, it could be about a girl who fantasizes that the is a princess in this "Book of Fate" when in reality she is a sad, lonely girl who reads to escape and the adventures are in her mind, like a story about a girl who is reading a "choose your own adventure" tale.