Peg Glisson (Children's Literature)
In a time long ago and far away, two peasant children named Pia and Enzio find a pouch in the forest outside the Castle Corona. Although they know the pouch should be returned to the King, the children keep it and try to puzzle out its contents. Finally, they decide to follow the advice of the King’s soldier, who told them to see Senora Ferelli if they should happen upon the pouch. Meanwhile, in the Castle Corona, the King, Queen, two Princes, and the Princess are dissatisfied with their respective lots. Like the peasant children, each member of the royal family wants a great deal more from life. The reader learns this not from any grand pronouncements, but from the characters’ everyday thoughts and actions. The lives of the peasants and the royals become intertwined, leading to transformations for many of them. Creech has created some memorable characters, breaking from traditional molds of strength, wisdom, and honesty. Her use of a wordsmith (storyteller), two hermits, and the village gossip to help move the fairy tale along is effective. Creech subtly draws similarities that break class lines and highlights the imperfections of those in power while examining what it means to live happily ever after. The richly-detailed setting adds depth to the tale, as do Diaz’s glorious full-color illustrations. The book’s design might lead teachers and readers to think this is a tale for younger readers, but the themes are complex and would be appropriate for older elementary children to discuss. 2007, HarperCollins, $18.99. Ages 8 to 12.

Irene Halliday (Childrens Book and Play Review, January/February 2008 (Vol. 28, No. 3))
Long ago, in a kingdom far away, the Castle Corona rested atop a high hill, its reflection sparkling in the waters of the winding Winono River. King Guido, Queen Gabriella, and their three spoiled children live splendidly there, yet without contentment. Across the river, far beneath the great castle, lay the dusty village of peasants. Here lives a stocky, industrious, poor, yet resilient people. Among them are two orphaned children, Pia and Enzio, who manage to feel happy in spite of cruel mistreatment from their merchant and master Panzini. Unbeknownst to them, exciting adventures and intrigues (even a new life in the castle) await them following their discovery of a mysterious leather pouch carrying the king's seal. Objects in the pouch have the power to unlock secrets from the children's past and change their lives forever. It is because of those secrets that the lives of the Royal Family become much more interesting. Creech's new medieval tale emerges chapter-by-chapter as she jumps from life at the castle to life in the village. Readers will follow each member of the royal family and the orphan peasants as their lives become ever more intertwined. Though the plot develops slowly, the persistent reader will be rewarded with a satisfying resolution that leaves plenty of room for imagination. Along the way characters grow in self-understanding and wisdom, and find contentment and direction. The tale is greatly enhanced by the physical presentation of the book, which resembles an illuminated medieval text. The large typography, stylized letters beginning each chapter, full-color illustrations set on intricate filigree gold backgrounds, and unevenly-cut page edges help propel the reader back to the time of castles and kings, even before the first word is read. Gifted "illuminator" Diaz demonstrates the imaginative artistry that won him an earlier Caldecott medal. Though certainly not a page-turner, The Castle Corona is entertaining. A useful enhancement to a social studies medieval history unit, as well as art history studies. Rating: Dependable. Reading Level: Intermediate. Category: Fiction. 2007, HarperCollins, 320 p., $19.89. © 2002, Brigham Young University.

CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices 2008)
When a peasant girl and her brother discover a leather pouch bearing the King’s seal in the woods, Pia and Enzio instinctively choose to hide it, guessing the contents must be important. Eventually the pouch brings them to the Castle Corona, where they take on the post of King’s Tasters and their lives become intertwined with those of the royal family. Pia, Enzio, the King, the Queen, and their three children, along with two wise hermits and a storytelling Wordsmith, weave a magical fable of forgotten promises, hidden identity, and unfulfilling lives on the brink of positive change. Breaking down boundaries between social classes benefits both royalty and commoner in this satisfying, often humorous tale. Deckled pages, illuminated letters, and occasional full-color illustrations lend this new book the air of a vintage volume. CCBC Category: Fiction for Children. 2007, Joanna Cotler Books / HarperCollins, 320 pages, $18.99 and $19.89. Ages 9-12.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 17))
Long ago and far away a royal pouch was dropped in the woods; King Guido became afraid of thieves and poisoners; the peasant children Enzio and Pia became tasters for the king's family; and the contents of the pouch they found revealed their true identities. This lengthy original fairy tale is immensely satisfying both in its telling and its presentation. Each of the three sections begins with a full-page color illustration and each chapter with decorated initial letters and a miniature suggesting the subject. Heavy paper and relatively large, leaded type are two of many sumptuous details that continue throughout. Told in a comforting storyteller's voice (perhaps that of Pia, inspired by the royal family's Wordsmith), the tale unfolds leisurely, with considerable attention to the royal surroundings. Characters are clearly delineated, with the suggestion that all of them, the king and queen, the heir, the spare prince and the spoiled princess, as well as the peasant children, have grown and changed as a result of the events described. A treat for fans of the genre as well as a captivating introduction to it. 2007, Joanna Cotler/HarperCollins, 336p, $18.99. Category: Fiction. Ages 8 to 12. Starred Review. © 2007 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Paula Rohrlick (KLIATT Review, September 2007 (Vol. 41, No. 5))
In the kingdom of Corona live two brave but poor young orphaned peasants, Pia and Enzio, who find a leather pouch with the king’s seal on it--a pouch that changes their lives. They come to live in the royal castle as tasters to the king, who despite his riches isn’t content with his lot. Neither is the queen or their children; everyone has a secret wish, and it takes a wise hermit, a clever old woman, and a Wordsmith, a teller of tales, to arrive at a happy ending for all, a sense of new possibilities. This fairy tale about the dreams each person holds dear, from the author of the Newbery Award-winning Walk Two Moons, is enhanced by full-color illustrations with ornate, medieval-style framing by Caldecott Medal-winner David Diaz. The result is an appealing fantasy for younger YAs, featuring strong female characters and a gentle sense of humor. A charming read. Category: Hardcover Fiction. KLIATT Codes: J--Recommended for junior high school students. 2007, HarperCollins, 336p. illus., $18.99 and (Lib. bdg: $19.89.). Ages 12 to 15.

Pat Koontz (Kutztown Book Review, Spring 2008)
In the Castle Corona, there lives a rich, royal, and spoiled family, including the King, the Queen, a Princess, and two Princes. Down in the village live two peasant children, Enzio and Pia. They are orphans who are forced to live with a mean taskmaster who makes them work for their keep. The orphans discover a mysterious pouch in the woods, which ends up guiding the two children to the Castle Corona where their lives are changed forever. This is Sharon Creech’s first attempt at fantasy. The story is interesting and it is written well. The beautiful color illustrations by David Diaz add to the beauty of this book. I felt the story was interesting and fun but it seemed to take forever to get to the end. I was waiting for a big Sharon Creech surprise at the end, but it never really occurred. I have a group of students in Grades 5-6 who will love this book because they love fantasy, but I was expecting more from one of my favorite authors. Yes, it is still hard to find something as good as her Newbery Award-winning book Walk Two Moons. Category: Fantasy. 2007, HarperCollins, $19.89. Ages 8 to 13.

Stephanie Bange (Library Media Connection, February 2008)
This title has a charm all its own. Newbery Award winner Sharon Creech cleverly weaves this tale of a king, his self-absorbed family, and two well-intended orphans. King Guido and his family roam the castle and the countryside looking to fulfill their purpose in life. Orphans Pia and Enzio discover a pouch filled with mysterious objects stolen from the castle and unsuccessfully try to return the pouch. They are abducted by the King's Men and taken to the Castle Corona. All mysteries and intrigue are resolved in the story told by the Wordsmith, with the help of a wise old woman and the king's hermit. Chapters alternate between the Castle Corona and the poverty-stricken town below. The reader is treated to the thoughts of the different characters as their lives are transformed through the surprising discoveries each makes. Chapters open with an illustration and border by Caldecott Award winner David Diaz. Diaz's signature dark outlines of brightly colored objects truly illuminate the story, leaving the reader to wonder what secrets they hold. Short chapters, smooth transitions, and liberal use of borders and white space make this a quick read, excellent for reluctant readers. This tale holds great magic for school and public libraries! Highly Recommended. 2007, HarperCollins, 336pp., $18.99 hc.. Ages 9 to 12.

Karen Coats (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, November 2007 (Vol. 61, No. 3))
Orphans Pia and Enzio assume that it is just chance, and maybe not happy chance at that, that lands a mysterious pouch at their feet, dropped by a “thief” pursued by the King’s Men. Intrigued, they keep their find to themselves. Meanwhile, the king is particularly agitated; a thief is a wholly new thing in his peaceable kingdom, and he is not quite sure what to do about it. Guided by his hermit and a storyteller who is friendly with the hermit, the king takes no decisive action regarding the thief, but he does employ the services of Pia and Enzio as tasters, for if there be thieves, there may be murderers afoot as well. Thus, through an admixture of suggestion and clever maneuvering, the hermit manages to reunite his family and place them in plummy positions in the royal household, using the evidence in the pouch to prove that Pia and Enzio are in fact his long-lost grandchildren. Not only that, he joins with the queen’s hermit to introduce a sense of unease in the king and queen and to get them to consider their position vis-à-vis their subjects, since the absence of evident conflict does not mean that the people are being treated fairly and well. Creech combines traditional fairy-tale elements and expectations with a decidedly light touch to create her subtle political fable. The story is breezy and light despite the book’s length; the author’s graceful language conjures a serene vision of life in her imagined kingdom while gently sending up fairy-tale stereotypes. Diaz’s static illustrations take the form of decorative illuminations at the start of chapters, enhancing the faintly medieval, Italianate atmosphere of the setting. With its leisurely pace, subtle humor, and slightly wry tone, this will be an easy sell to readers who enjoyed Ferris’ Once upon a Marigold (BCCB 2/03) Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2007, Cotler/HarperCollins, 336p.; Reviewed from galleys, $19.89 and $18.99. Grades 5-7.

Christine Sanderson (VOYA, December 2007 (Vol. 30, No. 5))
Enzio and Pia, orphaned servants to the foul-tempered Pangini, survive on daydreams of life in the nearby castle. One day, they find a pouch marked with the King's seal. As talk of a thief fills the village, the children decide to turn the pouch over to the wise old woman, Ferrelli. Before they can do so, the children and Ferrelli are taken away by the King's Men. Bored with her life, the Queen has brought Ferrelli to the castle to help her find meaning. Afraid of the thief, the King commandeers the children as food tasters to prevent his being poisoned. The peasants' behavior causes the royal family to question life in the castle. Ultimately it is revealed that Pia and Enzio are the grandchildren of the King's hermit and that the Queen was once a peasant herself. The story concludes with possibilities: "The King and Queen lay awake wondering if the castle gates could be opened to the villagers÷ From its "Once there was a Castle" opening to its stereotypical royalty-"a Prince who loved poetry, a Princess who loved herself, and a Spare Prince who loved his sword"-this book is clearly a fairy tale. But its convergence of parallel plots and its questioning of wealth and of poverty make it more complex than most. There is also enough silliness to make the reader laugh. With its engaging story line and beautiful illustrations, this book should captivate most middle school readers. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P M J (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2007, Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins, 336p., $18.99 and PLB $19.89. Ages 11 to 15.