Fantastic Fairy Tale Rewrites
The great thing about fairy tales is that we read many variations of them and regardless what little details are altered or how the endings change, they draw us in, cause us to use our imaginations, and fill us with a bit o' nostalgia (unless you lived a very sheltered life!).
We now have graphic novels and novelizations that seek to explain misunderstood characters, to give voice to characters, or seek to finish the stories (perhaps make them more complete). Not all are great but here are some my personal favories.
Jessica Day George is a new find. She did a rewrite of "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" called Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, where she gives the heroine a name and a voice. (George is also a funny, entertaining gal; is a good selection for an author visit for upper elementary and high school and public libraries.)
I really like Shannon Hale's books: The Goose Girl, Enna Burning, and River Secrets. She has a graphic novelization of "Rapunzel" called Rapunzel's Revenge out.
Gail Carson Levine writes stories that have elements of our favorite fairy tales. Ella Enchanted is similar to "Sleeping Beauty." When an infant, Ella is given a gift from a fairy: the gift of obedience. She has wicked stepsisters and fairy godmothers. This title is also a Newbery Honor book.
Beauty is very popular (by Robin McKinley), however, I didn't find it compelling. I have heard a couple of variations of "Beauty and the Beast" and this retelling didn't offer any new ideas. However, it is very popular and McKinley is a good writer (think Newbery good!). She has another retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" called Rose Daughter, which I have not attempted. Reviews say that Rose Daughter has some different elements of the fairy tale and her initial retelling, so a worthwhile read, I'm sure.
Juliet Marillier writes a lot of traditional fantasy as well as Wildwood Dancing, a combination of the "The Frog Prince" and "The Twelve Dancing Princesses."
The great thing about fairy tales is that we read many variations of them and regardless what little details are altered or how the endings change, they draw us in, cause us to use our imaginations, and fill us with a bit o' nostalgia (unless you lived a very sheltered life!).
We now have graphic novels and novelizations that seek to explain misunderstood characters, to give voice to characters, or seek to finish the stories (perhaps make them more complete). Not all are great but here are some my personal favories.
Jessica Day George is a new find. She did a rewrite of "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" called Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, where she gives the heroine a name and a voice. (George is also a funny, entertaining gal; is a good selection for an author visit for upper elementary and high school and public libraries.)
I really like Shannon Hale's books: The Goose Girl, Enna Burning, and River Secrets. She has a graphic novelization of "Rapunzel" called Rapunzel's Revenge out.
Gail Carson Levine writes stories that have elements of our favorite fairy tales. Ella Enchanted is similar to "Sleeping Beauty." When an infant, Ella is given a gift from a fairy: the gift of obedience. She has wicked stepsisters and fairy godmothers. This title is also a Newbery Honor book.
Beauty is very popular (by Robin McKinley), however, I didn't find it compelling. I have heard a couple of variations of "Beauty and the Beast" and this retelling didn't offer any new ideas. However, it is very popular and McKinley is a good writer (think Newbery good!). She has another retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" called Rose Daughter, which I have not attempted. Reviews say that Rose Daughter has some different elements of the fairy tale and her initial retelling, so a worthwhile read, I'm sure.
Juliet Marillier writes a lot of traditional fantasy as well as Wildwood Dancing, a combination of the "The Frog Prince" and "The Twelve Dancing Princesses."
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