THE LITTLE PRINCE by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, 1943

Moral allegory and spiritual autobiography, The Little Prince is the most translated book in the French language. With a timeless charm it tells the story of a little boy who leaves the safety of his own tiny planet to travel the universe, learning the vagaries of adult behaviour through a series of extraordinary encounters. His personal odyssey culminates in a voyage to Earth and further adventures. (Goodreads)

Reviewed by Karina - student, writer, and full-time reader

When I got THE LITTLE PRINCE in my English Academy Class, I expected this book to be like every other book an English Teacher has assigned me to read; dull and uneventful. Mrs. Lefler reassured me it’s a classic and I would adore it. She said that The Little Prince was the book she most looked forward to read and discuss every year. I thought she was just trying to get me to start the assignment. I had no idea that The Little Prince would end up being one of the best books I have ever read.

           

Part of the assignment was to put a sticky note on a page whenever we found a passage we liked. My copy was covered in sticky notes! Almost every page had a sticky note attach to it. Not only is The Little Prince a cute, fun book to read, but it is a book that makes an impact on your life. If you are looking for a little inspiration, I would definitely recommend this book.

           

To put simply, The Little Prince is about a boy who has left home to discover the shameful ways of adulthood. Not your body growing old, but your spirit. Between encounters with a king, a drunkard, a lamp lighter, and other strange adults the Little Prince learns a lesson or two on life. After quarreling with a flower, taming a fox and meeting a Pilot who dreams of meeting someone who can finally understand his drawing, the Little Prince finally understand what life is really all about.

           

I’m in love with this book. More importantly, I’m in love with the characters. I felt a connection with the Little Prince and the Narrator. Though their situation was unrealistic, their emotions and thoughts were real. I could easily relate to the Little Prince’s sadness and frustration. What I thought was unique about this book is that I could also relate to his happiness. I feel most authors tend to focus more on trials and tragedy. Yes, that is very important to have in your book. However, people don’t just mope around all day. We feel happiness as well.

           

My suggestion is to read this book as soon as you can. The writing is amazing, the characters are lovable, The Little Prince is definitely a must read.

Market: Childrens

Language: None

Sensuality: None

Violence: None

Mature Themes: Loss, Death