The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold by Francesca Lia Block

Francesca Lia Block

The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold

2007

A collection of fairytales retold with a “funky edge”. No longer are the fairytale Princesses waiting for a Prince to come save them from monsters and death. Though Block stays true to the idea of the fairytales she rewrites, they have a new twist that shows them in modern situations that teens find themselves in today, and provide options for them to get themselves out (some are realistic while others we hope will not be used). Filled with lovely, lyrical text, this is a quick read, not graphic or full of detail that readers might become impatient with. These are strange fairytales that inform the reader that, whatever their trial is, they can get through it.

Pgs 240

Fantasy

Young Adult

Interest Level 12+

-Simple fast read

-For readers who enjoy fairytales in their short versions and are twisted into stranger tales.

-Some language, some disturbing content: rape, porn, drugs etc…

-Shows hope for those who think they are stuck in an awful situation they cannot get out of. Though challenged, this book has heroines that readers can look to.

Good Masters Sweet Ladies! By Laura Amy Schlitz

Laura Amy Schlitz
Good Masters Sweet Ladies!
2007

Short tales of maids, monks, and other young people that belong to the medieval times. Good Masters Sweet Ladies is a collection of short stories about children, and are cleverly linked. There is the lord’s nephew, forced to prove himself by hunting a wild boar; Nelly, a girl who supports her family by selling living eels; Mogg, the peasant’s daughter who discovers how to hide a good cow from a greedy landlord. These are only a few of the delightful and real characters that are introduced in this short collection of portraits, and are written with lyrical text audiences will want to hear out loud. They are filled with beautiful images that aid the witty stories, and with great historical links, readers will learn things of history without ever knowing it.

Pgs 96
Fantasy
9-12
Interest Level 9-12

-I’m torn on whether I like this one or not. I do like it, but the fact none of the stories have conclusions is disappointing, though also serves a purpose.
-Easily read in an hour, fast and interesting with some good points about history.

Becoming Naomi León by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Pam Muñoz Ryan

Becoming Naomi León

2005

Naomi and Owen live pleasant lives with their grandmother in California until one day their mother, Skyla as she now likes to be called, comes back after seven years. Her arrival causes her children to ask many questions. It is not until they come back from one of Owen’s regular checkups that their mother becomes angry and tries to force Naomi to go with her and Clive (Skyla’s current boy friend) to Las Vegas. Naomi believes that the only reason Skyla and Clive want her to come is so that Clive can have a babysitter for his eleven year old daughter who he renamed Sapphire. Naomi doesn’t believe she is anything special, but Gram is determined to fight for her and Owen and gain rightful guardianship. Following the confrontation with Skyla, Gram takes the kids on a crazy journey, accompanied by their neighbors to the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. Naomi is determined to find her father there, whom she and her brother have not seen in many years. In the end Naomi finds her father, Gram is granted guardianship and life returns to what it was before, but now, Naomi knows who she is.

Pgs 246

Children’s Novel

Reading Level: 9 - 12

Interest Level 9-12

-Good for young adults who feel they need another young person to look up to

-Has a good message, helps readers understand that they are more then they seem

-Good story, fast read

Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley

Robin McKinley
Rose Daughter
1997

Following the original tale of Beauty and the Beast Robin McKinley weaves the tale with her own thread of ideas. Here, roses are only grown by great sorcerers, or with pure love, making them rare. When the Merchant and his daughters are left penniless Beauty finds a will left to them by an unknown relative giving them a place called Rose Cottage. In the town they go to there is a curse that includes three sisters, but because Beauty’s older sister Lionheart has disguised herself as a boy, the villagers do not know that the prophecy is about to come true. When Beauty returns to the Beast and declares her love to him she is given two choices. Her first option is to return the Beast to his Human form, which would restore his riches to him; the second is to keep him as a Beast forever.

Pgs 320
Fantasy Novel
Reading Level: Young Adult
Interest Level 12+

-I am not fond of McKinley’s writing style, though this is the second of her books I have purchased.
-Good story, sticks well with the original fairytale. Throws in some interesting plot twists that is new and entertaining to the reader.
-Lacks imaginative content. This could have been epic.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman

Coraline

2002

Coraline’s parents move their family into a Queen Anne style house that has been divided into three flats. With her parents always working Coraline gets little to no attention from them. Isolated Coraline often goes exploring. She meets the other residents, Ms. Spink and Ms. Forcible, two elderly women retired from the stage, and an even older man, Mr. Bobo who trains mice to play music. Along with these unusual people Coraline encounters a haughty black cat that she also runs into in another world. When Coraline finds a locked door in the drawing room she has her mom take the key and open it, but it’s bricked up. Coraline goes to it the day after seeing the brick wall, but this time it opens to a dark corridor, which Coraline assumes leads to another apartment. Upon entering it she finds it is close to exactly like her own. And then she meets the other mother and other father. Coraline doesn’t like these people at once. With the help of the black cat and some ghost children, Coraline battles the other mother in a game of exploration, but even if she wins—will she be able to escape?

Pgs 163

Fantasy, Horror

Reading level: Age

Interest level 9-12

-A simple read, good for young adults who want an interesting and near creepy story with simple language.

-I didn’t really like it myself, the language was lacking in depth, but for readers just starting in chapter books, this is a good first pick.

Bone Book 5 by Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith
Bone Book 5
2002

In the fifth volume of the “Bone” saga, Fone and Smiley Bone go into the wilderness to return a lost rat creature cub to its own kind. Before long they run into Rock Jaw, a big lion who calls himself the Master of the Eastern Border. It is not long before the Bone boys befriend a group of baby animals who have been orphaned because the rat creatures ate their parents. Matters only seem to get worst when they meet the leader of the rat creatures. After some complications the Bones are able to escape the crazy bad guys and the rat cub is returned to his “pack”.

Pgs 128
Graphic Novel
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Interest Level 9-12+

-Fun fast read for those who like interesting humor and interesting story lines.
-Don’t need to read other Bone books to enjoy.

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Margaret Peterson Haddix

Just Ella

1999

Ella’s set up to marry Prince Charming. He’s gorgeous, she’s gorgeous. They are a perfect match. Except Ella can’t talk to Charm—she can’t even call him Charm. Ella finds herself settling into doubt as she easily falls into great conversation with her tutor Jed. But when Ella tries to call off the wedding with Charm, it proves to be life risking. With Jed gone to help the war refugees, Ella is left with her only other friend and a shovel to try and escape the insanity of the palace.

Pgs 240

Romance, Speculative fiction

Young Adult

Interest Level 10+

-I was disappointed in this one. The story was too simple and so was the writing.

-Good for readers who like a simpler plot and reading level.