Bookverdict.com

Gr 5–8—Next to fashionable Delphine and bookish Marianne, English orphan Sophie is easy to overlook. Her clothes are worn and drab, her guardian doesn't want to deal with her, and her school's headmistress is constantly on her case. But on a school trip to St. Petersburg, the girls find themselves abruptly abandoned in a snowy wonderland. Soon, they meet a beautiful and mysterious princess who se...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

On a school trip to Russia, orphan Sophie is stranded at a decaying palace, where Princess Volkonskaya enlists her help searc...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

What begins as a school story about three friends quickly morphs into a fairy-tale-like adventure, with traditional themes including treasure, long-lost family members, loyal servants, royalty, and wolves. The secluded surroundings also add to the sense of fantasy. The drastic change in setting—from a realistic depiction of a British boarding school to a dilapidated castle in the Russian wilderness—combined with an escal...Log In or Sign Up to Read More