Reviews by Tag: fairy tales

Teen Review
The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell

By Chris Colfer
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Eva K.
Nov 2, 2022

The Land of Stories: Wishing Spell is a book about
two twin siblings who get stuck in the book of
fairytales provided by their grandmother. The
book takes us through their journey as they
explore the new world and face completely unknown
dangers of the book. I highly recommend this book
for young kids, especially those in middle school
since that is the age of the characters in the
book. Personally, this is one of my favorite

Teen Review
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

The Magic Fish

By Trung Le Nguyen
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Palak P.
Apr 2, 2022

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.

Teen Review
Quests for Glory by Soman Chainani

Quests For Glory

By Soman Chainani
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Taylor E.
Nov 29, 2021

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.

Teen Review
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

By Grace Lin
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
David M.
Oct 21, 2021

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.

Teen Review
Poisoned by Jennifer Donnelly

Poisoned

By Jennifer Donnelly
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Sarah J.
Jul 3, 2021

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.

Teen Review
Tales From the Hinterland by Melissa Albert

Tales From the Hinterland

By Melissa Albert
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Lisa J.
May 17, 2021

The Hinterland — a fairytale world filled with magic, violence, and wickedly beautiful promises. In this collection of twelve dark fairytales, author Melissa Albert brings to life the stories that make up the very backbone of her debut novel, The Hazel Wood. Within these pages, girls grown from apple blossoms, women in bearskins, and grooms with the eyes of lions perform a precarious dance, toying with the fibers of life.

Teen Review
The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

The School For Good and Evil

By Soman Chainani
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Taylor E.
Apr 15, 2021

The School for Good and Evil​ is the first book in a series of the same name by Soman Chainani. This is a middle-grade fantasy novel that follows two girls in their early teens as they are taken from their hometown and thrust into a school to learn to become either good or evil. Although this is a middle-grade book, it has some more mature themes and insinuating moments in the dialogue.

Staff Review

Scarlet

By Marissa Meyer
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Megan K.
Oct 8, 2019

The second book in the Lunar Chronicles, Scarlet, is a take on the well known tale of Little Red Riding Hood. The main character and namesake is Scarlet, a farm girl living on the outskirts of a small French town. Scarlet’s spunkiness and courageous attitude makes her an almost shockingly dynamic character compared to Cinder from the first book.

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