The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
Hi! My name is Madeline, I am in 9th grade and live in Hailey Idaho. I love politics, philosophy, writing, and playing the violin. I could talk about these topics all day. I also love reading, my favorite books are The Lord of The Rings, anything written by Tolkien, and Fahrenheit 451.
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain is a humorous historical fiction story that will keep you glued to its pages.
Nine-year-old pauper Tom Canty and Prince Edward look exactly alike. By chance, they meet each other, and they decide to switch places for fun. But, in an unexpected turn of events, they are stuck in each other’s places. Prince Edward, who is accustomed to servants and finery, is cast out into the streets and treated like an outcast. Tom, who is used to beatings and rags, is suddenly waited on by hundreds of servants and is the second most powerful person in England.
The boys are both miserable in their switched roles and try to find some way to switch back. Edward and Tom try to tell people that they have traded places, but everyone thinks they are mad. A few days after their switch, the old King dies, and Tom becomes King. He has no idea what to do and feels overwhelmed. Edward learns his father has died and tries to get back to the palace to reclaim his throne. Finally, on the day of the coronation, Edward manages to get back to the palace, but the royal family won’t believe him. The only way they will believe his story is if he brings the royal seal. The trouble is, he has lost it.
This is one of the best books I have read, and I recommend it for 7th grade and up.
