My Faire Lady

April 21, 2014
Rowena Duncan is nursing a broken heart—she caught her boyfriend, Kyle, cheating. She’s also an artist, and to avoid running into him over the summer, she gets a job painting faces at a Renaissance Faire located deep in the woods; living there is part of the gig. There are too many knights in shining armor to resist, quite literally, since everyone is required to dress, speak, and interact as though it really is the Renaissance. Rowena almost kisses Christian, the hottest knight around, even as sweet, friendly Will is hanging on her every word; she also has trouble getting away from Kyle and his new girlfriend. Wettersten provides a playful, fresh setting for her YA debut, and summer fun abounds amid the jousting, mead-drinking, and evidence that chivalry is indeed not dead. Rowena’s kind heart, good sense of humor, and efforts to fit into this unfamiliar new world of Faire folk will endear her to readers. Though the novel’s romantic triangle is predictable, Wettersten’s light touch and solid characterizations make it a satisfying read. Ages 12–up.

May 1, 2014
To avoid running into her ex-boyfriend, a teenage girl leaves town to work the summer at a Renaissance fair.All of Rowena Duncan's summer plans went kaput when she discovered her boyfriend was two-timing her. Hanging with her friends at the beach and working at the local tiki-themed restaurant was no longer an option-those are places she would assuredly see him. Landing a job she finds online, she winds up as a face painter at a Renaissance fair, far from civilization and reliable cellphone reception. Her deep desire is to pursue art, so she's thrilled to be painting-even if it's only on the cherubic faces of young fairgoers-but what's more, the place is rich with artists and performers. Her high-powered parents, however, want her to follow in their white-collar footsteps and only view the job as a topic for a standout college essay. Rowena settles into the fair life quickly thanks to Will, a witty, whip-cracking magician who shows her the ropes and is sweetly and perpetually attentive. But it's the heart-stopping, black-haired, blue-eyed knight Christian who keeps Rowena's adrenaline pumping-and soon she finds herself wrestling with Cupid all over again. Sharp, funny dialogue is mixed with thoughtful resolutions of relevant teenage topics-love and lust, admitting fault, the mettle it takes to pursue a passion. The rich backdrop of the fair, with its vivid description and appealing characters, is icing on the cake.Verily, fine fare. (Fiction. 12 & up)

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May 1, 2014

Gr 8 Up-Rowena Duncan has plans for the summer before her junior year, but then her longtime boyfriend cheats on her, and she makes an impulsive decision: to take a job as a face painter/serving wench at an out-of-town Renaissance Faire. She jumps at the chance to be elsewhere, even if it means leaving her friends behind to live in a tent and wear corsets. She quickly settles in to life at the Faire, making friends with her tent-mate Suze and Will the whip-cracker, and pining after Christian, an actual knight in shining armor. As the summer progresses, she comes to realize how art is changing her view of the world. She gains the courage to challenge her practical parents' expectations of her, and she learns to look beyond others' exteriors to see who her true friends are. Wettersten offers a whimsical setting, engaging characters, and plenty of summer romance, making this an easy sell for teens.-Laurie Slagenwhite Walters, Brighton District Library, Brighton, MI

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2014
Heartbroken after her boyfriend cheats on her, high school student Rowena Duncan takes a summer job as a face painter and "serving wench" at a Renaissance festival. There she finds herself torn between a good-looking but roguish knight and a kindhearted performer. Illuminating tidbits about life at the "faire" as well as an engaging cast of well-drawn characters warm up this fun if formulaic love story.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)