Author: Cornelia Funke
Illustrator: Kerstin Meyer
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Fairytale, Fiction
Theme: Gender differences, Determination
Primary/Secondary Characters: Princess Violetta, The Brothers, King Wilfred
Date of Publication: Year 2001
Publishing Company: Scholastic Inc., The Chicken House
Summary: Princess Violetta was teased by her brothers ever since she was a small girl that she would always be little and girlie to them. They always bullied her saying they would always be stronger, and that she could never joust as well as they could. When Violetta turned 16, her father, King Wilfred, held a competition to see who could win the jousting event, and whomever did was to take her hand in marriage. Violetta did not like this idea, and dressed up as one of the men in the competition and ended up winning it all. Her father gave her a beautiful black horse for her accomplishment, and she ended up marrying the rose gardener's son.
This could be useful in a classroom as many girls are told that they are inferior to boys, and that they cannot do the things that boys can. It will aid them in knowing that they have someone to relate to, as Princess Violetta overcame this stereotype. This will also inform boys that girls can do the things that they can, and that bullying them saying that they are inferior is hurtful. Violetta was determined to be better than her brothers, and practiced and practiced until she accomplished her goal. This book teaches determination, and to fight for something you believe in, not just to believe stereotypes.
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