The Princess in Black and the Science Fair Scare (The Princess in Black #6) by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale
Series: Princess in Black
Published by Candlewick Press on September 25th 2018
ISBN: 0763688274
Pages: 96
Goodreads

Another entertaining, action-packed offering from the team of Shannon and Dean Hale for your emerging readers, BOY OR GIRL! Princess Magnolia is off to her first Science Fair with her project in hand and, thanks to Goat Avenger, a day off from monster fighting. The other projects at the fair are impressive and well-executed, leaving Magnolia feeling a little rattled at the simplicity of her poster about how a seed grows. Luckily for her (?!), a goo monster has found a home in the project of Tommy Wigtower, a volcano that just won’t blow. Princess Magnolia realizes that when the monster does show itself, the crowd is going to need some help wrangling it, so she quickly ducks under a table, emerging seconds later as her alter-ego the Princess in Black. Princess Sneezewort does the same, appearing as the Princess in Blankets (introduced in book 5 “The Mysterious Playdate”). With some encouragement from the monster-fighting Princess duo, and some help from the chemical reaction of baking soda and vinegar, the monster is unleashed. Pham’s vibrant, expressive illustrations gleefully capture the exploding, gooey monster and the smash-and-crash action of the attempts to restrain it. Turns out, that monster is just looking for a home and what better place to escort it than the goat pasture? Filled with wonderful strong girls who capably get the job done and exciting action hero lingo, book six in the series does not disappoint. The message that girls excel at science and that there is always room to push yourself to do better next time (Magnolia’s poster becomes a snack for the maw of the goo monster before she can present it and she vows that next year, she will come up with an even better project) at the same time supporting other girls in their success is fantastic (Magnolia cheers the loudest for the winner of the Science Fair and her cleverly-designed project). With the promise of more princess superheroes on the last page, book seven will be eagerly anticipated!

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth