Mirrored

By: Alex Flinn

Genre: Teen Retold Fairy Tale

Pages: 384

Published: 2015

Told in: First Person

Series: Kendra Chronicles, #3

(Can be read as a stand-alone)

Compare to:

My Fair Godmother, Janette Rallison

Saving Juliet, Suzanne Selfors

Rapunzel Untangled, Cindy C. Bennett

In a nutshell:

Violet grew up believing beauty was the key to happiness and power, so when she learns she’s a witch she makes herself beautiful. Celine hates being beautiful, especially because her step-mother, Violet, is jealous and cruel because of it. A modern retelling of “Snow White.”

What you may enjoy:

This book gives a view into the mind of the evil step-mother, helping the reader see both sides. The writing is fresh and the dialogue is realistic. Each character has a voice you can almost hear.  

What you may NOT enjoy:

Morally questionable, glossing over Violet’s violent tendencies. The focus on beauty is overbearing. The attitudes and actions of characters are often exaggerated. Predictable ending.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Boy kills bird; boys beat up a girl; birds attack boys; cat gets run over; dog mauls a girl; monkey attacks a woman, killing her; man dies in a car accident; woman holds a severed finger.

Sex and Nudity:

Boy and girl kiss (3 separate times); Man and woman kiss (at least 6 times); Mentions French Kissing; boy slaps girl’s bum; man touches wife’s bum

Language and Profanity:

B*tch (8 times); Omig*d (7 times); Bad*ss; batsh*t; G*d (9 times); *sshole (5 times); sh*t (7 times); d*mn; d*mmit; @ss (2 times)

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Water Song:

The Retelling of "The Frog Prince"

By: Suzanne Weyn

Genre: Retold Fairy Tale/Historical Fiction

Pages: 194

Published: 2006

Told in: Third Person

Series: Once upon a Time

In a nutshell:

Belgium was supposed to be a safe place for Emma and her mother, but when WWI is brought right to their doorstep Emma finds herself alone. Everything changes when she finds a wounded American soldier, Jack, seeking refuge in her well the same day a German army decides to camp on her estate. Now Emma is a prisoner pretending to be married to this strange frog-like man.

What you may enjoy:

This is a fun, light read. It has a unique twist and great ideas on the original “Frog Prince” story. The story has so much diversity with characters from very different cultural and racial backgrounds. Jack, the “frog prince” is an entertaining, lovable protagonist and Emma’s personality rounds out the story.

What you may NOT enjoy:

At times the dialogue and inner monologue is forced. It’s a good idea that could have been executed better. There are slow and disappointing moments that Weyn could have done a lot more with. Also, many find Jack’s consistent request for a kiss annoying and uncalled for.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Woman dies in an explosion, bleeding mentioned; bombed dropped in a field; shooting can be “heard” throughout the book; people screaming in pain; men in pain from poisonous gas; boy thrown from the impact of a bomb; possibility of being tanged in barbed wire, mentioned; poisonous gas burns man’s skin; man trips and is knocked unconscious; man’s eyes swollen shut; man’s skin is peeling off; ship blown up by a torpedo; girl threatened to be shot several different times; girl almost drowns; boy shot through the shoulder, mentioned; boy and two men tortured, mentioned; boy shot and pushed into a pond; two men killed, mentioned; girl shot in the arm; bullet grazes a girls head.

Sex and Nudity:

Girl and guy kiss; guy kisses girl; girl “showers” guy in kisses

Language and profanity:

Mentions cursing in French, G*d, G*d

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For Biddle's Sake

By: Gail Carson Levine

Genre: Children’s/Young Reader Fantasy

Pages: 104

Published: 2002

Told in: Third Person

In a nutshell:

Parsley is taken to live with the evil fairy, Bombina after her father is caught stealing parsley out of the fairy’s garden for her. Bombina’s specialty is turning things into toads. When she sees Parsley smiling at a young prince, Tansy, she grows jealous and decides to turn him into a toad, but instead the curse falls on Parsley. Now Parsley must discover how to become human again, while Tansy goes on several quests to earn the right to the throne.

What you may enjoy:

A light, fun read, this book is great for beginning readers. It’s not too long and has several pictures throughout it. It is silly and simple, a book that is not meant to be taken too seriously.

What you may NOT enjoy:

This book is predictable. It’s silly. Some things don’t connect or make logical sense. In some ways the story feels rushed and the characters are not fully developed.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Several people turned into toads, mildly graphic and mentioned; toad thrown, non-graphic; boys wrestle, non-graphic; flea bites king, non-graphic.

Sex and Nudity:

Girl kisses a toad twice, non-graphic

Language and profanity:

None

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