“This nameless princess is a fabulously different kind of hero. I rooted for her triumph with every page turn.”
—Deborah Halverson, award-winning author, editor
Gail Carson Levine’s classic ELLA ENCHANTED meets THE KING’S SPEECH.
A Story About the Magic of Speaking Up:
It’s her 14th try at getting a name, and the nameless princess of Cochem can’t get a word in edgewise.
Until she finally grabs her royal parents’ attention. *cough* (500 goldfish, long story.)
Christening invitations flutter off to the Seven Kingdoms—only ten years late. But then the Blackfly Queen strides into the feasting hall . . .
. . . just as the oh-so-tasty parsnip fries run out. Arrows fly. Tempers flare. Another christening goes up in smoke!
Only this time, her fairy godmother makes everything worse. The princess has 15 days to make a name for herself at the Speech Tournament. Or she’ll be invisible for life!
For ages 9 to 12, this Seven Kingdoms Fairy Tale will appeal to fans of Jean Ferris’ ONCE UPON A MARIGOLD, Jacqueline Davies’ THE LEMONADE WARS, and E.G. Foley’s THE GRYPHON CHRONICLES.
Why read Seven Kingdoms Fairy Tales?
Everyone knows the leaders of tomorrow will need lots of skills. Each Seven Kingdoms Fairy Tale takes on a BIGGIE.
Also available via Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Mackin, Odilo, and Gardners.
If ebooks aren’t your thing, you can get TROUBLE WITH PARSNIPS in paperback (266 pages, 6″ x 9″) or hardcover:

Also available via Ingram
TROUBLE WITH PARSNIPS is also at your local library! Overdrive has it right here as an ebook. You can Recommend it if your library has Overdrive but doesn’t carry it. Yet. 🙂 You have the power! Use it for good!
Teachers and librarians, please request your review copy here. This book is also on Biblioboard.
If you’d like to leave a review at your favorite online bookstore, feel free to use the links above. 🙂
The people of the Seven Kingdoms thank you! (Except Queen Ash. She never thanks anyone. But you knew that already.)
Editorial Reviews
“Kids will love every quirky thing about it!” –Kristi Wientge, author, KARMA KHULLAR’S MUSTACHE
“I love the premise of hiding in plain sight. The concept that a kid could go through childhood – and life – without feeling they are being heard or seen is such an important topic . . . I know a lot of kids will be drawn to this!” –Halli Gomez, contributing author, BRAVE NEW GIRLS: TALES OF HEROINES WHO HACK
“Emotionally engaging. I feel much sympathy for [the nameless princess], yet at the same time her parents and all their inadequacies are so endearing.” –Michelle Leonard, contributing author, BRAVE NEW GIRLS: STORIES OF GIRLS WHO SCIENCE AND SCHEME, Young Adult (Sci-Fi Anthology for ages 12+)
“I love all the rich details like the Blackflies, the goldfish in the moat, the sluices carrying the desserts . . .” –Karin Lefranc, author, I WANT TO EAT YOUR BOOKS
Click Here for More Reviews
Interviews
The Winged Pen (blog): “Laurel Decher talks Trouble With Parsnips and Self-Publishing” (26 Sept 2018)
Book Echoes (podcast): “Laurel Decher on writing middle grade and the value of speaking up” (24 April 2019)
Awesome Gang (blog): “Trouble With Parsnips by Laurel Decher” (17 Oct 2019)
Book trailer with first edition cover
Can a magically-disguised princess make herself heard
when it really matters?
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© Laurel Decher, 2020.