Pass on the Catholic Faith with Stories Inspiring Wonder

Discover Miriam and her tale of hope

Delve into The Secret Princess, a Catholic fantasy novel about blossoming in a time of trial through the power of stories. Infused with devotion to the Eucharist and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this captivating tale from J.C. Prins is masterfully written and beautifully illustrated to fill young hearts and imaginations with goodness, truth, and faith.

Each woman of the Kingdom owns a locket that reflects her heart and spirit. The day ten-year-old Miriam learns that Papa died in the war defending their homeland, she watches in horror as Mama’s locket falls to the ground and shatters. Worse still, the bird that lives inside flies away and, in her heartbreak, Mama stops singing. Miriam’s own locket doesn’t break, but between Papa’s palpable absence, her worries for Mama, and Granny’s incessant snipping, it stops growing. The rosebud inside withers, and Miriam fears it will never bloom but die like Granny’s without a bird. Then a mysterious woman named Leena moves into a nearby cottage. A friend to Mama, Leena nourishes Miriam’s rosebud back to life with food and tales of goodness and beauty until Miriam finds what she most lacks — hope.

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Awards for The Secret Princess

Catholic Media Book Awards 2024
Gold Medal — First Time Author: Novel
Silver Medal — First Time Author: Children’s Book
Bronze Medal — Self-Published Children’s Books
Honorable Mention — Catholic Novel
Honorable Mention — Children’s Book Reader

Distinguished Favorite — 2025 NYC Big Book Award
(Children’s-Religion)

Distinguished Favorite — 2025 Independent Press Award
(Children’s: Religion Fiction)

Catholic Writer’s Guild Seal of Approval

“My three youngest and I loved reading The Secret Princess.”

“The Secret Princess: A Tale of Hope is a captivating Catholic fantasy novel that emphasizes enduring values in times of trial, accompanied by beautiful illustrations that enchant young readers and spark their imaginations. Through its narrative of hope, faith, forgiveness, goodness, truth, and love, the book offers valuable lessons for readers of all ages.”
THE CATHOLIC JOURNALIST

“The Secret Princess by J.C. Prins is an illustrated chapter book that weaves an interesting story of loss and hope, filled with virtue and sacrifice. Prayers, devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and belief in the True Presence in the Eucharist are all woven into the story. I really liked that the characters weren’t all perfect and showed growth throughout the book. The fantasy elements created good allegories for the consequence of sin and the gift of virtue.”
KATHERINE BOGNER | Teacher, blogger, and author of Through the Year with Jesus and All About Advent

“I absolutely love this book. I started reading it on an international flight and thank goodness it was a long one because I couldn’t put the book down! It was like I was a little girl again hiding under the bed covers with a flashlight because I couldn’t bear to stop reading my book. The characters are relatable as are the wounds that inflict each one of them. It heartwarming to see that no matter how deep the wound that there was HOPE. I highly recommend to all grandmothers with preteen or teen granddaughters that they buy this book for them as soon as possible. They will not regret it.”
MARY L. KLARK

“The characters were well developed and the allegorical elements were very well done. The artwork was wonderful as well! I also loved the encouragement of devotion to the Sacred Heart and the resources/prayers in the back of the book. In a world full of less than desirable books for youth, this is a solid choice. Well done!”
CATHOLIC MOM

“I got this book as a gift for my granddaughter’s First Communion and she absolutely loved it! She could not put it down. She is anxiously awaiting the sequel. I know that because she keeps asking me when am I going to send her the second book! Don’t hesitate to buy this book. It makes a great gift for a young girl, teen or adult!”
AMAZON CUSTOMER

“It’s masterfully written and drew us into a world that we wish we could visit. Combining solid Catholic truths with mystical sequences of adventure and mystery, the story engaged our imaginations and brought comfort to our hearts. I’m especially grateful for the book’s emphasis to my daughters that we have a loving God who burns with desire for us to ‘have life and live it to the fullest.’”
ANNE NOLAN | Homeschooling mother of seven

What Readers Will Learn

Infused with devotion to the Eucharist and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this captivating tale from J.C. Prins is masterfully written and beautifully illustrated to fill young hearts and imaginations with goodness, truth, and faith.

Readers will learn:

The important role of forgiveness in living with hope.

The truth of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with an appendix of prayers for First Friday Devotions.

Harness the power of a deeply engaging story that travels effortlessly between fantasy and reality to touch hearts and imaginations with what matters most in life. Pass on the Catholic faith with The Secret Princess!

Thy Olive Tree Marketplace

The Secret Princess is now available through Thy Olive Tree Marketplace, a curated market of beautiful Catholic books, stationery, and paper goods. Only products meeting the highest standards of design, creativity, and Catholic marketability are accepted.

About J.C. Prins

J.C. Prins lives in the Midwest of the United States. Her favorite saints are St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, St. Thérèse the Little Flower, St. Pope John Paul the Great, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and Venerable Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.

She enjoys ice skating, Star Wars, and watching the ducks on the pond outside her window while collecting her thoughts.