by Louis Sachar
First published 2009
Marvin Redpost stares in the mirror and sees the truth. He looks nothing like his parents or siblings. The evidence becomes clear to him. He must be adopted. But not just any adoption. Marvin believes he is actually Robert, the kidnapped prince of the faraway kingdom of Shampoon. His real royal family must be searching for him right now. The more Marvin thinks about it, the more sense it makes. Every detail of his ordinary life suddenly points to his secret royal identity. He starts planning his return to claim his rightful throne. But what happens when fantasy meets reality? Marvin must face the gap between what he wishes were true and what actually is. This story captures the universal childhood experience of feeling different from your family and wondering if you truly belong.
Genres: family-life, contemporary, adoption
Vibes: emotional, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, identity-crisis
Setting: Shampoon
68 pages · Library Binding