Fairy tales retold
I love love love fairy tales. I love classic fairy tales, I love the squeaky-clean Disney versions of fairy tales, I love modern fairy tales, I love fractured fairy tales, and I love twists on the old classics.
So, of course, my summer reading has included a few fairy tales. I've read three so far: The Poison Apples, about three girls with wicked stepmothers, The Frog Princess, about a girl who kisses a frog, and Beastly, a retelling of Beauty and the Beast in New York City.
The Poison Apples tells the stories of three teenage girls who all gain pretty horrible stepmothers. The author explains how each girl loses her mother and gains a stepmother. Each girl is then sent off to boarding school: two are forced and one chooses to go. They meet at boarding school and bond over their circumstances.
I thought this was a very cute young adult novel. Alice, Reena, and Molly are all totally likeable, and their situations are only mildly far-fetched. No magic is involved, and I guess calling it a modern fairy tale isn't exactly accurate. The three girls are well-characterized, and when they suffer from miscommunication, it is so incredibly true to life. Some of the subplots hint at a sequel, so I wouldn't be surprised if this turned into a series. This is the only book Lily Archer has published, so then again, maybe not.
I have very high standards for buying a book, especially since even paperbacks can run $15+ these days. Check this out at a library first and then decide for yourself if you want to buy it. If buying as a gift, it would make a nice addition to the bookshelf of a 12-16 year old girl.
The Frog Princess is the first in a trilogy, which I was kinda bummed to discover because I hate reading just one book in a series. It tells the story of an unlikely princess, Esmeralda, who kisses a frog prince. Instead of the frog turning back into a prince, however, she turns into a frog. Most of the book is their escapades in trying to turn back into humans.
It was cute, but definitely not my favorite. In fact, it's probably the worst retold fairy tale I've ever read. Of course, the retold fairy tales I've read are really really good (try Zel by Donna Zo Napoli or Beauty by Robin McKinley), so just because it's the worst doesn't mean it's bad. The characters are perfectly imperfect royalty, if that makes any sense. Their adventures in trying to be humans again take a little too long. Some of the dialogue is a little forced. Overall it was a fun, fluffy book, but not one I plan to ever reread.
Beastly was my favorite by far. Kyle is this popular, spoiled, attractive rich kid in high school who picks on the weird, ugly, or unpopular kids. He plays a prank on the wrong person and gets turned into a beast. He then has two years to find a girl who loves him...and whom he loves in return.
This book is awesome. Everyone should go read it now. Kyle is a total jerk, but as he changes, you can't help starting to like him and sympathize with his plight. The witch who puts a spell on him is one of the coolest and most likeable witches I've read in a book. Kyle's tutor is a great guy too. And the girl...well, she's something special. Of course, the fact that Kyle and the girl read all the time is a bonus. I love characters who read as much as I do. The modern setting doesn't detract from the magic of the fairy tale at all. In fact, I think Alex Flinn does an excellent job incorporating modern elements into the classic fairy tale, like her use of the internet, Halloween, and the subway. I highly recommend this book.
So those are all the fairy tales I've read thus far. I've also read several fantasy works and some realistic fiction. I'm in the middle of a historical fiction novel that I just started this evening. More recs and reviews to come. :)
So, of course, my summer reading has included a few fairy tales. I've read three so far: The Poison Apples, about three girls with wicked stepmothers, The Frog Princess, about a girl who kisses a frog, and Beastly, a retelling of Beauty and the Beast in New York City.
The Poison Apples tells the stories of three teenage girls who all gain pretty horrible stepmothers. The author explains how each girl loses her mother and gains a stepmother. Each girl is then sent off to boarding school: two are forced and one chooses to go. They meet at boarding school and bond over their circumstances.
I thought this was a very cute young adult novel. Alice, Reena, and Molly are all totally likeable, and their situations are only mildly far-fetched. No magic is involved, and I guess calling it a modern fairy tale isn't exactly accurate. The three girls are well-characterized, and when they suffer from miscommunication, it is so incredibly true to life. Some of the subplots hint at a sequel, so I wouldn't be surprised if this turned into a series. This is the only book Lily Archer has published, so then again, maybe not.
I have very high standards for buying a book, especially since even paperbacks can run $15+ these days. Check this out at a library first and then decide for yourself if you want to buy it. If buying as a gift, it would make a nice addition to the bookshelf of a 12-16 year old girl.
The Frog Princess is the first in a trilogy, which I was kinda bummed to discover because I hate reading just one book in a series. It tells the story of an unlikely princess, Esmeralda, who kisses a frog prince. Instead of the frog turning back into a prince, however, she turns into a frog. Most of the book is their escapades in trying to turn back into humans.
It was cute, but definitely not my favorite. In fact, it's probably the worst retold fairy tale I've ever read. Of course, the retold fairy tales I've read are really really good (try Zel by Donna Zo Napoli or Beauty by Robin McKinley), so just because it's the worst doesn't mean it's bad. The characters are perfectly imperfect royalty, if that makes any sense. Their adventures in trying to be humans again take a little too long. Some of the dialogue is a little forced. Overall it was a fun, fluffy book, but not one I plan to ever reread.
Beastly was my favorite by far. Kyle is this popular, spoiled, attractive rich kid in high school who picks on the weird, ugly, or unpopular kids. He plays a prank on the wrong person and gets turned into a beast. He then has two years to find a girl who loves him...and whom he loves in return.
This book is awesome. Everyone should go read it now. Kyle is a total jerk, but as he changes, you can't help starting to like him and sympathize with his plight. The witch who puts a spell on him is one of the coolest and most likeable witches I've read in a book. Kyle's tutor is a great guy too. And the girl...well, she's something special. Of course, the fact that Kyle and the girl read all the time is a bonus. I love characters who read as much as I do. The modern setting doesn't detract from the magic of the fairy tale at all. In fact, I think Alex Flinn does an excellent job incorporating modern elements into the classic fairy tale, like her use of the internet, Halloween, and the subway. I highly recommend this book.
So those are all the fairy tales I've read thus far. I've also read several fantasy works and some realistic fiction. I'm in the middle of a historical fiction novel that I just started this evening. More recs and reviews to come. :)