By: Zayden Dale
Once upon a time, fairy tales often depicted a princess who needed saving. A prince or brave knight, often in shining armor, would battle dragons or lift curses, while the princess waited for rescue.
Author Amy Hawk has reimagined these roles to create a vibrant, heartfelt adventure for young readers with her debut novel, The Tales of Rumpus. In this story, princess Caitlin rejects the traditional damsel role. Instead, she becomes the leader, fighter, and voice her kingdom requires.
A Story Inspired by Love and Change
Amy Hawk grew up on classic fairy tales where women were often cast in passive roles, waiting to be chosen or guided by someone else. Over time, she realized that, while these stories were beloved, they also influenced how generations of girls saw themselves: as passengers in their own lives rather than drivers of their destinies.
By placing a strong, determined princess at the heart of The Tales of Rumpus, Hawk provides something many young readers can benefit from. Seeing women in powerful, active roles can inspire and, in some cases, reshape how readers view themselves. For young girls, it emphasizes that their courage matters, their voice counts, and they can take charge. For young boys, it encourages respect for female strength and promotes the idea of teamwork over traditional heroism.
“These stories show girls that they don’t need someone to save them, guide them, or tell them who to be,” Hawk explains. “I wanted them to understand that they can shape their own lives and relate to powerful girls doing powerful things.”
These stories don’t discard tradition but instead build upon it. They offer children a broader view of who can be brave, who can be wise, and who can wear the crown. By doing so, they open up space for every reader to imagine themselves, regardless of gender, as the hero of their own story.
Amy Hawk grew up in Missouri, and today, she wears many hats: a master’s-educated family nurse practitioner, an emergency room clinician, and a small practice owner in sunny Florida. But long before she was saving lives in scrubs, she dreamed of saving stories on paper. At just five years old, she wrote down that she wanted to be a novelist.
The spark that became The Tales of Rumpus ignited when her niece was born in 1998. Remembering the old fairy tales she had read as a child, Hawk felt inspired to craft something different — a story where young girls didn’t wait for someone to tell them who to be. Instead, they could be “strong and ferocious,” shaping their own destinies and showing young readers that leadership, courage, and compassion aren’t confined by tradition.
The Adventure of Princess Caitlin
Amy Hawk’s The Tales of Rumpus follows Princess Caitlin, who isn’t content to sit quietly on the throne waiting for a man to prove her worth. Determined to show that she is ready to rule, Caitlin embarks on “the coming,” a rite of passage no girl has dared attempt. With her friend Kat — a worldly traveler — she leaves the safety of the kingdom for the unknown realms beyond.
Through enchanted forests, talking animals, and magical allies like Bryce and Daniel the dragon, Caitlin discovers not only new lands but new truths about herself. She learns that courage isn’t about never being afraid — it’s about moving forward despite fear, relying on friendship, and trusting her instincts.
By the time she encounters Queen Riley in the final realm, Caitlin has grown into the leader she always hoped to be—someone who doesn’t aim to destroy tradition but to build upon it.
A Tale for the Whole Family
What makes The Tales of Rumpus stand out isn’t just its spirited heroine. Hawk’s writing gently blends comedy, adventure, and coming-of-age themes that resonate with readers of all ages. Parents may see reflections of the age-old struggle between generations — balancing respect for tradition with the need to let children find their own way. Children will see a princess who isn’t waiting to be rescued, but who rescues herself and her people through kindness, courage, and teamwork.
Family, as Hawk reminds us, isn’t confined to blood. It’s the village that supports us, gives us strength to be bold, and offers a safety net when we fall. Friendships, too, come in unexpected forms, including dragons, travelers, and the people we meet along life’s winding path.
Hawk wrote, rewrote, and refined the book over the years, letting her own life experiences shape the story’s depth. Her experiences as an adoptee, a nurse, a traveler, and someone who believes strongly in hard work are woven into every chapter. The result is a fairy tale grounded in real emotions: joy, anticipation, doubt, love, and pride.
Readers of all ages have embraced it warmly. Some of Hawk’s favorite moments came when seeing pictures of children cuddled up, completely immersed in her book. The heartfelt feedback from parents, who share that the story sparked meaningful conversations and deep reflections, shows that a book can be both enjoyable and significant.
In a world filled with knight-and-damsel stories, The Tales of Rumpus rewrites the script, demonstrating that bravery isn’t exclusive to princes and leadership isn’t inherited. Instead, it’s earned through courage, compassion, and stepping into the unknown.
And in doing so, Amy Hawk reminds all of us: sometimes, the knight in shining armor is the princess herself.
Follow Amy Hawk for more stories and updates:
- Instagram: @authoramyhawk
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoramyhawk/
- X (formerly Twitter): @Rumpustales
