66 pages • 2 hours read
Holly BlackThe Cruel Prince
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Introduction
Teacher Introduction
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
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