Disenchanted is a wonderful Cinderella retelling talking about a very important subject. Unlike its predecessor, Grounded, the novel focuses on multiple POVs and really makes us care about each character. Ella is a wonderful character and a strong person struggling through the death of her beloved mother and her father's remarriage. Her father only finally succeeded after the death of her mother and the fact her mother isn’t around to see it is devastating for her.
In this prequel to the popular series The Land of Stories, we take the view of Brystal Evergreen, a girl in an oppressive society where all magic is considered witchcraft and forbidden. When Brystal finds out she might be a fairy and is caught, things take a turn for the worse. She’s taken to a correctional facility to get ‘fixed’, but she is taken apprentice by a magical woman to live in a school for magical children.
The Land of Stories The Enchantress Returns is the second book in the Land of Stories series. It once again follows Alex and Conner Bailey as they try to stop the evil enchantress, the one who cursed Sleeping Beauty, before it’s too late. I like how this book brought back all the same characters from the first book. My favorite part is when Alex and Conner meet Mother Goose and my favorite characters are Mother Goose and Froggy. I really enjoyed the ending of this book.
The Land of Stories follows Alex and Conner Bailey as they travel through the fairy tale world after they unexpectedly arrive there. They must work together to find their way out before it’s too late. This book is really great because it’s full of adventure and great characters. I really like how this book plays into some classic fairy tales like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. My favorite part is when they first enter the fairy tale world and my favorite character is Froggy.
The Magic Fish is a heartwarming graphic novel that showcases beautiful parallels between the fairytales Tien reads with his parents and Tien’s own story of trying to tell his family that he’s gay. There’s a lot of difficulties in communicating with parents that don’t speak English well, and wanting to them something so important as being gay. As this young boy navigates through his own struggling Vietnamese, this book shows us that happiness can be reached even through the language barrier.
Soman Chainani’s Quests for Glory is the fourth book in The School for Good and Evil series; however, it begins a new trilogy. Students of the School for Good and Evil are on their required fourth-year quests, Sophie is the acting Dean of Evil, and Agatha and Tedros are trying to return Camelot to its former glory. As the reader revisits some of their favorite characters, Chainani introduces a new cast, including a villain who tries to take Tedros’ throne.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, written by Grace Lin, is a fantasy novel inspired by Chinese mythology and folklore. The book follows Minli, a young girl who lives in the Village of Fruitless Mountain, working hard and farming despite the terrible land of the Fruitless Mountain. Her father tells her stories and she wishes to have an adventure of her own. One day, she uses her money to buy a goldfish, and it turns out that the goldfish can talk.
Poisoned brings an interesting alternative plot line to the classic fairytale Snow White. Sophie is both compassionate and the heir to her father’s throne. Her stepmother shares different ideas when it comes to ruling. She orders for the hunter to bring back Sophie’s heart. Unlike the traditional tale, the hunter accomplishes his task. Sophie is thankfully saved by many mysterious strangers that she meets along the way. She of course has also saved many creatures of sorts, and many of them return the favor.
