The Cruel Prince

The Cruel Prince

• Genre: Fiction; young adult fantasy
• Originally Published: 2018
• Reading Level/Interest: HL760L; grades 9-12
• Structure/Length: 30 chapters, prologue, and epilogue; approximately 416 pages; approximately 12 hours, 36 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The story follows the character of Jude, a mortal girl living in the High Court of Faerie. She desires to fit in with the fey despite their contempt for humans and dreams of becoming a member of the Court. The central conflict revolves around Jude’s struggle for power, identity, and acceptance within a dangerous and deceptive world.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Violence; murder, including of parents and other family members; manipulation and deceit; betrayal and power struggles; sexual content including sexual exploitation; bullying; enslavement; suicide

Holly Black, Author

• Bio: Born 1971; American writer known for her contemporary fantasy novels for children and young adults; often collaborates with other authors; work is filled with magic, intrigue, and dark themes
• Other Works: The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi; 2003-2009); The Coldest Girl in Coldtown (2013); The Darkest Part of the Forest (2015)
• Awards: Boston Globe Best Book (2018); ALA Children’s Notable List Pick (2019)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Power Dynamics in a Hierarchical Society
• Truth and Lying
• Discovering, Negotiating, and Forming Personal Identity as a Teenager

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the social and historical contexts regarding the Faerie realm that incite Jude’s conflict.
• Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Power Dynamics in a Hierarchical Society; Truth and Lying; and Discovering, Negotiating, and Forming Personal Identity as a Teenager.
• Plan and compose three riddles or omens to predict future events in Elfhame based on novel details.
• Analyze and evaluate the plot and character details to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding death and violence, the setting of the novel, and other topics.