Early Book Review: Princess in Disguise by E.D. Baker

Princess in Disguise is the forth book in the Wide-Awake Princess series by E.D. Baker.  It is currently scheduled for release on March 31 2015. Annie and Liam's wedding day looks as if it's going to be perfect. Then everything starts to go wrong. Liam's father doesn't show up, members of the wedding party come down with strange afflictions, Annie's gown is ruined, a storm floods the castle grounds, and an unknown king lays siege to the castle.  Only Annie and Liam can get past a magical fog to find Moonbeam, but even after they find her, it’s up to them to discover who cast the spells that ruined the wedding, and why the unknown king wants to conquer Treecrest.

Princess in Disguise holds up to the action and adventure of the previous installments of this series. I will admit to feeling like I missed a book or some details from the series when I first started reading, and it is because I did somehow miss reading The Bravest Princess, which was recently released. Even with the gaps in my knowledge, I caught up quickly and really enjoyed the read. Anne and Liam face troubles and step up to solve the problems. Each conflict they face is defeated with wit, grace, and courage rather than brute strength or violence. I find that rare in adventure stories and really like that about this series. Anne's unique power of magic immunity again plays a big role, and I liked that we finally saw what Liam's magical talent was as well. Another great story from Baker to capture the imagination and entertain.

Princess in Disguise is a wonderful middle grade fantasy adventure for fans of E.D. Baker. Anyone that is current with this series will find this another must read. If you have missed previous books in the series I do recommend reading the backlog first, not only so you understand all the players, but also because they are simply good reads.

Authors of Young Adult Fantasy You Need to Read; And Have Your Teens Read, Too

Novels intended for the young adult market are increasing in quantity, subject matters and in some cases quality. Many of the authors writing fantasy in this market are simply a pleasure to read, while still challenging the reader to think and grow. Here are some of the authors that everyone, teens and adults alike, can enjoy.

Tamora Pierce is a prolific young adult fantasy writer that has released a number of related series and is still going. Her first novel was Alana; The First Adventure which was the first book in the Song of the Lioness quartet. This first series was geared towards slightly younger group, nine to twelve year olds. Then came the Immortals quartet, Circle of Magic quartet, Protector of the Small quartet, Circle Opens quartet, the Trickster series (only two books), Will of the Empress, Melting Stones, and finally the Beka Cooper series. All of these books happen in the same universe, the same counties with intersecting storylines, but still each book or series can be enjoyed without having read all of the books.

Pierce's main characters tend to be young women, though there are male main characters in the two Circle quartets. All of her characters are realistic, with doubts and questions about the world, and really come to life as you read. The reader really does care what happens, not just to the main characters, but all the smaller characters and the worlds of the books as a whole. Additionally, most of her books can me found in Full Cast audio format, which is a simply amazing way to get a reluctant reader, or long distance commuter to enjoy her writing. If you read and enjoy her work then I suggest also trying Maria V Snyder, Shannon Hale, and Robin McKinley.

Neil Gaiman is another contemporary writer that is great for both young adults and adults to read. Some of his best works, in my opinion, include Coraline (made into a major motion picture), Graveyard Book (winner of the 2009 Newbury Award), American Gods, Neverwhere (made into a miniseries on BBC), and Mirror Mask (made into a motion picture). He is also know for

the Sandman graphic novels and Stardust (made into a major motion picture). He also collaborated with Terry Pratchett on Good Omens. Gaiman has an imagination that I am both envious of and glad that I don't have on dark, spooky nights. He always makes me very concerned for his characters, and I like that many of the characters are flawed, like real people, even when faced with things well out of the ordinary. For those of the audiobook set, Gaiman narrates his own audio books and he does a phenomenal job with inflections and pauses just where they should be. Authors I'd recommend are Terry Pratchett and Garth Nix.

My third recommendation is Madeleine L'Engle. Most of us have heard about the Newbury Award winning A Wrinkle In Time series, but have you read it? It is a fantastic set of books, and was just a small portion of her work. She wrote at least sixty books before passing away in 2007. Many of her works combine fantasy with some science. Her work was consistently entertainment while touching and easy to connect to for ever person that has ever just not fit in, and isn't that everyone? Other authors you might enjoy include Margaret Mahy, Lois Lowry and Kate DiCamillo.

There are still several authors of this genre that are just amazing, but to list them all, and tell you anything about them, would take up too much space. However, I can't seem to leave this topic without also recommending Lloyd Alexander, Holly Black, Charles de Lint, Rick Riordan, and Michael Buckley.

Early Book Review with Quiz, Excerpt, and Giveaway: Fairy Tale Reform School: Flunked by Jen Calonita

Fairy Tale Reform School: Flunked by Jen Calonita is the first book in a new young adult series. It is currently scheduled for release on March 3 2015.  The series starts with the premise that Cinderella's wicked stepmother, Flora, has founded the Fairy Tale Reform School with the mission of turning the wicked or criminally mischievous into upstanding members of Enchantasia. Gilly might only be 12, but she has a history of petty theft and she's not too sorry about it because she steals to help support and feed her family. When she lifts a hair clip, she gets tossed in reform school-for at least three months. Fellow students Jax and Kayla help her learn that there is more to this school than its advertised mission. There's a battle brewing and she starts to wonder: can a villain really change?

Fairy Tale Reform School: Flunked is a solid begin to a series that has promise. There are strong characters and many possible follow up story lines to keep people reading. Gilly is a thief with a good heart. She steal to put food on her family's table, and while she resents the wealthy for the way their choices have affected her family, she is not malicious.  When she enters the reform school is expecting the worst, but finds friends and some good intentions as well. Of course there is also a mean girl, because what school related novel can be without one? There is danger, mystery, and many layers of action to keep readers guessing. While some of the twists were not incredibly surprising, it was a fun and entertaining ride. The ending left me satisfied with a conclusion, but it also left enough room and interest for me to be curious enough to be on the lookout for the next book. 

Fairy Tale Reform School: Flunked was a solid middle grade to young adult book. There are many adults that will enjoy the book as well. Anyone that likes books with a hint of magic, twists on characters you think you know from fairy tales and nursery rhymes, and coming of ages stories will find something to interest them here. There is character growth and some fun adventure as well as moments of drama, mystery, and suspense. I look forward to seeing where this series will go from here.

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Jen Calonita is the author of the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series and other books like Sleepaway Girls and Summer State of Mind, but Fairy Tale Reform School is her first middle grade series. She rules Long Island, New York with husband Mike, princes Tyler and Dylan, and Chihuahua Captain Jack Sparrow, but the only castle she’d ever want to live in is Cinderella’s at Disney World. She’d love for you to drop her a line at jencalonitaonline.com or keep the fairy tale going at http://books.sourcebooks.com/enchantasia/

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Excerpt from Flunked: Fairy Tale Reform School-

There’s a boy up there, standing on the crystal chandelier! He has slightly curly blond hair and is wearing a uniform—­a navy sweater vest over a white shirt with khaki pants—­but his boots are muddy. He’s stepping on priceless crystals with cruddy boots? Is he insane?

“Jax! What are you doing up there?” Kayla whispers heatedly.

“I’m cleaning the crystal for Flora,” Jax says and rolls his eyes. “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m making

a break for it.”

Kayla applauds. “Yay! This time I know you can do it.”

I shade my eyes from the light bursting through the stained-­glass window next to the chandelier Jax is perched on. “Busting out? Why?” I ask Kayla. “I thought you said this place was cool.”

Jax laughs loudly and looks at me. I feel slightly stunned. I’ve never seen violet eyes before. “FTRS was fun for a while, but strange things have started happening and I don’t want to be here when something bad goes down.”

Strange things? What kind of strange things? Why does Kayla suddenly look pale?

“He’s exaggerating,” Kayla tells me, but she doesn’t sound convincing.

Drip. Whatever Jax is holding is leaking. Kayla and I move out of the way so we don’t get wet. “Grease,” Jax explains to me. “It lubes the window.” He swings the chandelier, and as it nears the window, he uses a fork to try to pry the window open. “A few more tries and I’ll have it.”

“Then what are you going to do, genius?” I ask. “You’re two stories up.”

Jax’s eyes gleam. “I’ve jumped from higher spots before.”

“It’s true,” Kayla says to me. “Jax once jumped from the gym to the dining hall turret. That was three stories up. We call him the Escape Artist. One time he even managed to break into Azalea and Dahlia’s rooms and borrowed their keys to the indoor pool so the whole dorm could take a midnight swim.”

“Impressive,” I tell him. “And I thought I was good at tricking obnoxious royals.”

“She stole a dragon’s tooth clip from one this morning,” Kayla fills him in.

“Nice,” Jax says. “Your first pull?”

“No, I’ve been doing it for a while,” I brag.

“Me too,” Jax says. “My father is a farmer. You can only get so far trading vegetables. I needed to kick things up a notch.”

For some reason, I don’t think any of us are going to make the transformation Headmistress Flora is looking for. “Why do you want to break out so bad?”

“I’ve got places to see, and Enchantasia isn’t one of them.” Jax swings the chandelier so hard the crystals clang together. The window latch pops open, and I watch Jax leap from the chandelier to the tiny window ledge. I’m in awe. Jax looks down at us smugly before pushing open the window. “Are you sure you two don’t want to join me?”

“There’s no time for us,” Kayla says. “Get out of here. Wait!” Her eyes widen. “You deactivated the alarm on the window, right?”

“There isn’t one,” Jax insists. “If there was, I wouldn’t be able to do this.” But when Jax lifts the window, we hear:

EEEEEE! EEEE! EEEE! Unauthorized exit! Unauthorized exit!

The shrieking sound is so intense that Kayla and I cover our ears. Within seconds, Flora is out of her office and running toward us.

Swoosh!

I feel something brush past me and I whirl around. When I look up at Jax again, a large, muscular man with a long mane of hair is hanging on to the window ledge, his furry hands pulling Jax back by his shirt. How did the man get up there without a ladder?

“Mr. Jax,” the man says in a low growl, “we really must stop meeting like this.”

Fairy Tale Reform School Quiz Link: Fairy Tale Reform School Quiz

If you get sentenced to Fairy Tale Reform School, it will help to have an ally. Take the quiz and find out who your mentor would be.

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Book Review: The Emperor, His Bride and the Dragon Robe by Lisa Sankar-Zhu

The Emperor, His Bride and the Dragon Robe by Lisa Sankar-Zhu is a wonderful fairy tale set in ancient China. It is the story of a honorable emperor and the two beautiful women that hope to be his bride. One is greedy and resorts to trickery in her attempts, while the other is kind and gracious even when it is detrimental to her cause. There are unexpected challenges and a grand battle to determine the outcome.

The Emperor, His Bride and the Dragon Robe is a fairy tale that feels just like the classic tales from ancient China. The theme is heavy in the tradition of honor and kindness, perfectly executed and illustrated to continue the tone and feel. The challenges of the potential brides flowed well, and the outcome was expected (because good should always win in a fairy tale) but the climactic battle was interesting and added an extra oomph to the tale.  I really enjoyed the illustrations and story. 

The Emperor, His Bride and the Dragon Robe would be a stunning and valuable addition to every school library.  It tells a classic story of good overcoming evil, and does it with charm. While I would class it as an older picturebook, I think many age groups could enoy it in the right setting.

The author was inspired by her two sons, who were born in China, to write the story. She also credits writing the book to having lived in China for many years and being warmly embraced by the Chinese people who have willingly shared their rich culture with her. 

Best Young Adult Novels Retelling Fairy Tales New Perspectives and Life Given to Classic Stories

There are some stories we all know very well, from books or movies. Some authors have taken a chance and added new twists to classic fairy tales. Here are some that surpassed expectation.

Beastly by Alex Flinn is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Kyle Kingsbury was a golden boy. He had everything a high school boy could want; good looks, popularity, good grades and money. When he behaves beastly toward a classmate, she appears in his bedroom and makes that adjective true in looks as well as deed. His superficial world falls apart and he has to transform himself inside to earn the love that can transform his exterior. This is a fun, entertaining read that dos not become trite or corny which is always a danger in this kind of story. Finn has also written his take on Sleeping Beauty titled A Kiss in Time, and many other tales since. 

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George is the retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. Here the story is set in nineteen-century Europe. Rose and her younger sisters are trapped by their mother's bargain to dance every night until their dancing slippers are worn. Galen is a soldier with a knitting hobby and a personality that has him being polite and kind to the elderly. What I really love about this retelling is that the princesses are feisty with minds and plans of their own; they are not simply waiting around for rescue. While the romance aspect seems a little thin, there is a sequel to the book, which follows Rose on to the next stage of her life. Again the author has done many more fairy tale related books since. 

Robin McKinley has retold a few fairy tales, and done all of them very well. Spindle's End is her version of the Sleeping Beauty story. Everyone knows the basics, infant cursed to die on a birthday after sticking her finger on a spindle. While tat stays the same, in McKinley's version our heroine is raised by a peasant fairy and grows up wild, preferring pants to skirts and able to communicate with animals. Twists to the original tale have her stronger and more capable than one might expect in this story, and it reads extremely well. Surprises make the read so much more intriguing and entertaining. . If you have not read any of McKinley's novels I strongly suggest exploring her work, she has never disappointed me.

Magic Circle by Donna Jo Napoli is the unique retelling of Hansel and Gretel from the witch's point of view. She was tricked and forced to live as a witch, alone until she takes in two lost children. She fights the evil that has invaded her life. The book is intriguing, beautiful, surprising and disturbing on several levels. It was a great read and one of many reimaginings of fairy tales by this author that I have found to be fantastic.

Before Midnight by Cameron Dokey and Mahlon F. Craft is a retelling of Cinderella, and part of the Once Upon a Time series of fairy tale reimaginings. This retelling is full of strong women and matters of family, loyalty and courage. While most of the basic elements of the known story are here, the characters do not blindly slide into their usual molds. No one in inherently evil or doormats to be mistreated and abused. The changes and twists inn this version of the classic tale captivate and entertain.

Book Review: Princess Patty Meets Her Match by Charise Mericle Harper

Princess Patty Meets Her Match by Charise Mericle Harper is a picturebook about a princess taking matters into her own hands. Patty has always been told that one day her prince will come, but she is tired of waiting.  So with Miss Loverpuff (her pet starfish) in tow, Patty sets off to find her own happily-ever-after. Along the way, she meets a prince who places leftover peas under the bed, and another who can't tell the difference between catching dragons and dragonflies! Can she find a prince that she wants to spend time with?

Princess Patty Meets Her Match is a book about a girl taking charge of her own life. she goes out in search of something she has been told will find her. I like that patty is a strong and smart girl. She teaches those she comes in contact with quite a bit, but she is still kind and never rude even when those she runs across seem less than bright. I think a princess taking charge while still being a good person is an important story to share. Too often when princesses (or girls in general) and taking charge in books they come off as mean rather or a know it all. Patty knows what she wants, but is still a gracious girl and while sweet also not a push over. The illustrations  do a good job of bringing the story to life with some additional information and funny moments. 

I would highly recommend Princess Patty Meets Her Match to any readers that love princess and make believe. I think readers stuck on the idea that a princess needs saving, and that a prince needs to do all the work, will gain something from this fun and sweet picturebook.

Book Review: Grimm Memories by Janna Jennings

Grimm Memories by Janna Jennings is the second book in the Grimm Tales series. This young adult series is best read in order, jumping in here might work for some, but I think knowing the background is key to fully enjoying this book. It has been six months since Quinn and her friends returned home after barely escaping Elorium in A Grimm Legacy. However, not a day has gone by where they haven’t thought about returning to save Jack. Even their dreams are urging them to return to the strange world. Falling back into the fairy tale world, they find the situation even more dire than the way they left it. Jack has disappeared, and he’s not the only one. Elorium’s citizens are near panic as characters are missing and rumors are spreading about massive creatures roaming the sky. A rising darkness is enslaving the dreamers, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to discover who is an ally. 

Grimm Memories started off slowly, which worked for me. It gives readers a chance to remember the details about the characters and their connections as they fall back into the world of the series. I really enjoyed that the characters continued to grow, and that we get to know Andi, Quinn, Frederick, and Dylan all over again. The changes in Elorium are more drastic than one might expect after a six month absence, but with Andi and Dylan having horrible nightmares they are not surprised that things are not all sunshine and roses. Others are having nightmares, and people are vanishing. When they start trying to solve the mystery behind the missing people they are drawn into a conflict that is as unexpected as it is vast. The secrets behind Elorium’s origins and the true horrors of Herrchen’s schemes come to light. While all of this is going on, Andi and Dylan continue in their teasing ways, Fredrick and Quinn continue to be adorable in their awkwardness. They all hit some series growth, and the female characters (including newly met side characters) are all strong and determined women. 

Grimm Memories continues the series with strong characters, high action, and surprises. I greatly enjoyed the book and think that young adults and adults alike can enjoy this series. 

Book Review: The Fairy-Tale Matchmaker by E.D. Baker

The Fairy-Tale Matchmaker is another fractured fairy tale win by E.D. Baker. Cory is a young tooth fairy in training who wants to be anything but. However her mother has been pushing her onto this path forever, and  there is no way the Tooth Fairy Guild or her mother will let that happen. When Cory quits after a horrible night on the job to find ways to help others, like babysitting Humpty Dumpty, helping Suzy organize seashells by the seashore, and trying to rid Marjorie Muffet’s house of spiders. It isn't until Marjorie asks Cory to play matchmaker that Cory taps into a power she never knew she had. As she tries to understand her new-found romantic visions, will Cory finally discover her own true path?

The Fairy-Tale Matchmaker is a fun and heart warming story about Cory facing off against other people’s expectations for her with her own happiness. She wants to do anything to help other people, rather than the task of collecting teeth. Her mother and the majority of the fairy land’s population thinks she is silly for wanting to leave a powerful guild- but she knows that she will not be happy dealing with teeth. I loved that her intelligence and creative solutions where what got her out of the majority of tough spots. It is her kindness and unknown power that get her out of the rest. Some great friends, determination, wit, and a bit of good fortune will see Cory to her happy ending. 

The Fairy-Tale Matchmaker  was a great read. While it is written for children, I think the coming of age and fractured fairy tail aspects will make this story resinate with older children, teens, and adults as well.

Book Review: Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire

Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire is a middle grade fantasy novel. Elena Rudina lives in the impoverished Russian countryside. Her father has been dead for years, and her mother lies dying as her brothers have left home. One brother was taken into the Tsar’s army and the other taken as a servant in the house of the local landowner. There is no food, and very little hope. Then a train arrives in the village carrying a noble family destined to visit the Tsar in Saint Petersburg—a family that includes Ekaterina, a girl of Elena’s age. Lives collide and an adventure is set in motion, an escapade that includes mistaken identity, a monk locked in a tower, and Baba Yaga complete with her house perched on chicken legs.

Egg and Spoon is a book that takes the prince and the pauper along with classic tales of Russian folklore and turns them on their heads. Elena is our pauper, she has nothing- no food and a dwindling family- but she does have innocence and a few people that care for her deeply. Ekaterina has so much food that she refuses to eat everything on her plate in fear of gaining weight, but has only a great aunt that cares for her. When their lives intertwine everything changes, for everyone. Baba Yaga, the firebird, and the ice dragon all have their roles to play- as does a legendary Faberge Egg and a visit to the Tsar. I found the story itself to be delightful, and I loved the twists to folklore and the preconceived notions that everyone had about themselves and each other. What I did find distracting was the pacing. I felt like it took me forever to read this book, but I wanted to found out how things came together enough to finish the book. It just seemed to plod along. 

Gregory Maguire is a name you might recognize as the author of Wicked and it's sequels. So it is no surprise to readers that know this to find the take on Baba Yaga is not what you might expect in Egg and Spoon. If you have not ventured into Maguire's adult fiction, then his thorough descriptions and attention to detail might have caught you unaware. The same could be said for his unusual take on mythology and the struggles of class. 

I would recommend Egg and Spoon to Maguire fans, and those that enjoy highly descriptive fiction. There is fantasy, and the struggles of young people trying to find their way. However, I think adults will be the ones most likely to enjoy the book, as its slow pace might lose younger readers along the way.

Book Review: Ninja Red Riding Hood by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Dan Santat

Ninja Red Riding Hood is a picturebook written by Corey Rosen Schwartz  and illustrated by Dan Santat. It is a companion to the hit The Three Ninja Pigs, another fractured fairy tale and sure-fire storytime hit.  Ever since the three little pigs started teaching everyone Ninja skills Wolf just can’t catch a break!, huffing and puffing just hasn’t been enough to scare up a good meal. His craving for meat sends Wolf to classes at the dojo, and soon he thinks that he is ready to try out his new moves. A little girl and her tiny granny should be easy targets, right?

Ninja Red Riding Hood is another great twist on classic fairy tales for the picturebook set. This story is told from the wolf's point of view, and he is very frustrated. Since so many of his fairy tale foes have started studying martial arts he has had a hard time finding food. He thinks that Little Red and her grandmother will be easier targets than the ninja pigs, especially as he spends some time training as well. Unfortunately for him, Little Red is no slouch when it comes to martial arts herself. A fun story, with the message that anyone can be strong and capable, regardless of age, gender, or even species.

I would highly recommend Ninja Red Riding Hood to all picturebook fans. Readers involved in martial arts, fairy tale fans, and those that loved The Three Ninja Pigs will all really enjoy the art and story.

Book Review: The Silver Rings by Samuel Valentino

The Silver Rings by Samuel Valentino is a fun book for middle grade readers.  Celia and Alice are twin sisters whose bid for freedom from their evil stepmother leads them on a journey through a world of fantasy and imagination. They encounter a sarcastic fairy godmother, giants, charming princes, an overly dramatic fox, and more along the way. Bits of familiar tales are woven through the story, along with some lesser known stories. However, each tale is given a humorous twist. 

The Silver Rings is a fun twist on fairy tales for the younger set. There are many recognizable fairy tales that are heavily woven into the story, which makes the reading feel more inclusive to those that feel like they know more about the story than what the author is initially telling them. at the same time, there are less known stories and many unique twists that will keep even some of the most jaded readers on their toes.The characters are well developed, and while often times the reading is easy, there is a sardonic twist and a feeling of sarcastic humor that would made this book great for middle grade readers, particularly reluctant readers. I really enjoyed the common thread through the whole book that it is not being royalty, or pretty, or anything so shallow that gets a happy ending, it is resilience, planning, and creative thinking that will help you come out ahead. 

I really enjoyed The Silver Rings, and  think that it will have a wide fan base once word gets out about the story. It is clever and fun, with a feel that is somehow both familiar and unique. the best of both worlds.

Book Review: Alice in Tumblr-land: And Other Fairy Tales for a New Generation by Tim Manley

Alice in Tumblr-land: And Other Fairy Tales for a New Generation by Tim Manley is a quirky and sardonic look at what would happen after the stories we know ended, but set in the era of social media. This book is a funny look at how princesses and their princes, the Ugly Duckling, the Frog Prince, Alice, Peter Pan and more might have continued their tales in the age of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, OkCupid and more. Peter Pan deals with an internet addiction, Red Riding hood deals with a different kind of wolf, the Tortoise and the Hare stalk each other via Facebook, and much more. The book is formatted in short paragraphs and pictures, much like the social media sites that the book uses in the stories.

Alice in Tumblr-land is a quick read that will have middle grade, young adult, and adult readers chuckling as they recognize behavior that seems most prevalent on social media. Fairy tale characters losing themselves in Facebook and dealing with the social issues we all struggle with makes the little bursts of stories that much more relatable and humorous. The illustrations are a perfect pairing to the tiny tales, adding some humor and insight to the stories. I will admit that  expected some of the stories to come together, but the book still really worked for me.

Alice in Tumblr-land is an entertaining and quick read. It is perfect for light reading outside or where you might need to occasionally put the book down to take a swim to beat the heat. It was funny, and sometimes surprisingly insightful. I really enjoyed the read, and finished it off in a single sitting.