FROGKISSER by Garth Nix
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When Princess Anna of Trallonia hears her older sister Morven scream, she isn’t sure whether it is a big deal or not. After all, screaming is one of Morven’s favorite pastimes. It turns out to be sort of a big deal. Anna’s step-step-father, the Evil Duke Rikard, has turned Morven’s latest suitor into a frog. After swearing an oath to change him back, Anna learns that the task may be more complicated than she thought, as it will require a magic lip balm with ingredients such as the blood of a retired druid and freshly plucked cockatrice feathers. More troubling is the news that Duke Rikard plans to have her killed. So Anna and Ardent, the royal dog, set off on their quest for the magic lip balm, collecting a gaggle of transformed creatures along the way.
Hilarious, quirky, yet grounded by relevant social commentary, this fairytale is delightful from beginning to end. I highly recommend it to teen and tween fantasy readers!
Susan the Librarian 