The Lost Prince: A Tale of Courage and Kindness

INTRODUCTION FROM REVIEWER, KATE LUNDEEN

Today I am introducing The Barbary Chronicles: The Lost Prince by Bobbi Miller. This middle grade adventure takes place in San Francisco in the 1870’s.

Here is the publisher’s description: 

Eleven-year-old Jack London holds her own among rascals, ruffians, and thieves in this rollicking adventure story set in 1870s San Francisco.

Oliver Twist meets Deadwood in this action-packed novel for ages 9 to 12 set against the backdrop of San Francisco’s notorious Barbary Coast.

REVIEW

In this action-packed book for readers from 9-12, the reader meets Jack London and her gang of misfit orphans. They pilfer stuff from wealthy people to make a living and turn in their trinkets to crime bosses. Without the crime boss’s protection, the orphans would be left at the mercy of whatever might befall them on the streets. 

One day, London spies a particularly good watch that belongs to the Hearst family, one of San Francisco’s wealthiest. She is worried for the health of one of the orphans and thinks that such a valuable find could help pay for medical care. She nabs the watch, but the theft sets off a powder keg of criminal activity including the kidnapping of the Hearst son, William Randolph prince to a fortune. 

London must return William and the watch before things get deadly between the criminals and the police. At the same time will the sickly orphan receive medical attention or succumb to illness? Jack’s conscience feels torn in two. Will she have the courage to make everything right or will her actions sow more conflict? The Lost Prince tale holds the answers!

Jack London may be a criminal, but I appreciate that she is full of kindness and courage. She does not steal the fancy watch for herself but rather to preserve the life of a fellow orphan. She saves a stray dog, that she affectionately names Alaska, from bullies and even helps William escape from the clutches of criminals instead of turning him in. As the fighting between criminal gangs and police heats up, London cleverly devises multiple plans to stop the fighting. Whether those plans work out or not is up to the reader’s discovery! 

The Lost Prince made me wonder if the criminals we see on the news and on the streets are really all bad. Perhaps some have good motivations–if we just take the time to listen to their stories or lend a helping hand. 

PRE-ORDER NOW!

This is the first book in what is intended to be a series. It hits bookstores on October 6 2026, but remember what you’ve read here many times—pre-orders help authors! 

GIVEAWAY

Charlesbridge is giving away a copy (U.S. addresses only) of The Lost Prince. Please leave a comment by August 19 and I’ll be happy to enter your name.

GUEST BLOGGER

Kate Lundeen is a frequent book reviewer. She last shared her thoughts about A Year Without Home. She writes, “The Lord’s hand of watchful care and protection blessed my life from my start as a tiny premature infant. Doctors diagnosed me with cerebral palsy from birth complications which mainly affected my legs and motor skills.  I also have a learning disability that does not allow me to write down or process thoughts as fast as other people.  I am a former homeschooler and obtained an Associate in Arts degree from a North Carolina community college after five years of hard work! I discovered and developed a love for writing in college. Now I pen articles for my local church newsletter and write book reviews. I enjoy my current job as a part-time library assistant in a Christian library in Matthews, NC. I have a servant’s heart and a willing attitude to grow in old skills and develop new ones along whatever path the Lord chooses to take me.”

Recently, a fellow Monarch author, told me that she had reposted one of Kate’s reviews on her blog. A reader commented,

Oh Katie!!! What a special post to have found and to see you thriving!! I was your primary care nurse in the NICU and we stayed in touch with your family for many years.  Love seeing you review this book!!! Brenda

I love seeing these connections!

MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY

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