Tales, Legends, and Myths Retold

Retellings of fairy tales, myths, and classic stories are always popular.  It's always fun to see a new twist on an old story.  This week, I'm sharing story retellings for teens.  Here are a few of our favorites . . . .

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

A retelling of the tale of twelve princesses who wear out their shoes dancing every night, and of Galen, a former soldier now working in the king's gardens, who follows them in hopes of breaking the curse.

Nameless: A Tale of Beauty and Madness by Lili St. Crow

Raised in luxury as the pampered, adopted heiress of Enrico Vultusino, godfather of the Seven -- the powerful Families that rule magic-ridden New Haven -- Camille knows that she is not really Family. Unlike them, she is a mortal with a past that lies buried in trauma. Then she meets the mysterious Tor and begins to uncover the secrets of her birth.

William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace: Star Wars Part the First by Ian Doescher

A retelling of The Phantom menace in the style of Shakespeare, featuring a disguised queen, a young hero, and two fearless knights facing a hidden, vengeful enemy.

More Retellings --

96 Words for Love by Rachel Roy

Briarheart by Mercedes Lackey

Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta

The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson

The Forest Queen by Betsy Cornwell

Frogkisser! by Garth Nix

Gilded by Marissa Meyer

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell

Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price

Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C. Bennett

Reflection: A Twisted Tale by Elizabeth Lim

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

Splintered by A.G. Howard

Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

These Violent Deaths by Chloe Gong

Thorn by Intisar Khanani

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Step Into a Fairy Tale World

 Fairy Tales and fairy tale reimaginings are a popular genre of teen books.  Here are some of our favorites . . .

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
A girl travels east of the sun and west of the moon to free her beloved prince from a magic spell.

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
When Sunday Woodcutter, the youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week, kisses an enchanted frog, he transforms back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland--a man Sunday's family despises.

Snow in Summer by Jane Yolen

Recasts the tale of Snow White, setting it in West Virginia in the 1940s with a stepmother who is a snake-handler.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede
Bored with her proper, circumscribed life as a princess, Cimorene runs away to join a powerful, fascinating dragon named Kazul and encounters a host of adventures along the way.

More Books --

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult

Cinder & Glass by Melissa de la Cruz

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore

Dragon Castle by Joseph Bruchac

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell

Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay

The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde

Rebel Rose by Emma Theriault

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

The Seventh Raven by David Elliott

Spindle's End by Robin McKinley
Tithe by Holly Black

The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Twice Upon a Time . . . . Fairy Tale Retellings for Teens

 This week, I'm sharing fairy tale retellings for teens.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

When Sunday Woodcutter, the youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week, kisses an enchanted frog, he transforms back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland--a man Sunday's family despises.

Snow in Summer by Jane Yolen

Recasts the tale of Snow White, setting it in West Virginia in the 1940s with a stepmother who is a snake-handler.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

A retelling of the tale of twelve princesses who wear out their shoes dancing every night, and of Galen, a former soldier now working in the king's gardens, who follows them in hopes of breaking the curse.

The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde

The author presents six alternative versions of the familiar story of a boastful miller and the daughter he claims can spin straw into gold.

More Fairy Tale Retellings --

Beast by Donna Jo Napoli

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

A Curse So Dark and Lovely by Brigid Kemmerer

Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore

Dead Upon a Time by Elizabeth Poulson

East by Edith Pattou

Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell

Once Upon a Dream by Lisa Braswell

The Princess and the Fangirl: A Geekerella Novel by Ashley Poston

Princess of Thorns by Stacy Jay

Rose & Thorn by Sarah Prineas

Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

Spindle by E.K. Johnston

Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

Towering by Alex Flinn

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 9, 2020.

Classics Retold

This week, I'm sharing teen books that are retellings of classics.  Here's a few of my favorites . . .

Abandon by Meg Cabot
A near-death experience, a horrible incident at school, and a move from Connecticut to Florida have turned seventeen-year-old Pierce's life upside-down, but when she needs him most John Hayden is always there, helping but reminding her of her visit to the Underworld.

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey
As seventeen-year-old Jill Jekel and classmate Tristen Hyde work together on a chemistry project, hoping to win a scholarship for her and a cure for his curse, they also uncover family secrets and a chemistry of their own.

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George
In the midst of maneuverings to create political alliances through marriage, sixteen-year-old Poppy, one of the infamous twelve dancing princesses, becomes the target of a vengeful witch while Prince Christian tries to save her.

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily receives special protections from the spiritual forces of Neverland, but then she meets her tribe's most dangerous enemy--Peter Pan--and falls in love with him.


More Classics --
Avalon High by Meg Cabot
Beast by Donna Jo Napoli
Black Spring by Alison Croggon
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett
Enter Three Witches by Caroline Cooney
The Fall by Bethany Griffin
Hunted by Megan Spooner
A Little in Love by Susan E. Fletcher
The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepard
Marly's Ghost by David Levithan
Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
Psyche in a Dress by Francesca Lia Block
Railsea by China Mieville
Ronit & Jamil by Pamela L. Laskin
Rook by Sharon Cameron
Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
The Steep and Thorny Way by Cat Winters
Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis
Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel
This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee
When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through May 11, 2018.

Dragon Tales

Stories of dragons are always a popular request at the library.  Dragons are mysterious and fantastical.  They can be thrilling or chilling.  Here are some of my favorite chapter books featuring dragons.

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George
Orphaned after a fever epidemic, Creel befriends a dragon and unknowingly inherits an object that can either save or destroy her kingdom.

Thomas and the Dragon Queen by Shutta Crum
When the princess is kidnapped by a dragon queen, thirteen-year-old Thomas, a new--and very small--squire-in-training boldly sets out on a quest to rescue her.

Ivy's Ever After by Dawn Lairamore
Fourteen-year-old Ivy, a most unroyal princess, befriends Elridge, the dragon sent to keep her in a tower, and together they set out on a perilous quest to find Ivy's fairy godmother, who may be able to save both from their dire fates.

Digory the Dragon Slayer by Angela McAllister
Digory, a gentle boy who likes to spend time alone in the forest and make up songs to sing, accidentally becomes a knight and reluctantly sets off to rescue damsels in distress, slay dragons, and marry a princess.


More Dragon Stories --
Aunt Severe and the Dragons by Nicholas Garlick
The Dragon in the Sock Drawer by Kate Klimo
A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans by Laurance Yep
Dragonborn by Toby Forward
Dragonsdale by Salamanda Drake
Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell
Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Barnhill
Kenny & The Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi
No Such Thing As Dragons by Philip Reeve
A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through February 17, 2017.

Once Upon a Time . . . Fairy Tales for Teens

I love to read re-imaginings of fairy tales -- whether it is a strict retelling with more character development or a fractured tale.  Here are some of my favorite fairy tales for teens . . . .

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
When Sunday Woodcutter, the youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week, kisses an enchanted frog, he transforms back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland--a man Sunday's family despises.

Snow in Summer by Jane Yolen
Recasts the tale of Snow White, setting it in West Virginia in the 1940s with a stepmother who is a snake-handler.

Zel by Donna Jo Napoli
Based on the fairy tale Rapunzel, the story is told in alternating chapters from the point of view of Zel, her mother, and the prince, and delves into the psychological motivations of the characters.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
A girl travels east of the sun and west of the moon to free her beloved prince from a magic spell.

Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst
Having escaped from the Wild and the preordained fairy tale plots it imposes, Rapunzel, along with her daughter Julie Marchen, tries to live a fairly normal life, but when the Wild breaks free and takes over their town, it is Julie who has to prevent everyone from being trapped in the events of a story.


More Fairy Tales for Teens --
Curse of the Thirteenth Fey by Jane Yolen
Dark Shimmer by Donna Jo Napoli
The Door in the Hedge by Robin McKinley
East by Edith Pattou
The Glass Casket by McCormick Templeman
Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses by Ronald Koertge
Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell
Mira, Mirror by Mette Harrison
Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris
Rose & Thorn by Sarah Prineas
Roses by G.R. Mannering
The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde
The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman
Spindle's End by Robin McKinley
Toads & Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson
Towering by Alex Flinn
The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through December 30, 2016.

Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George

Princess Petunia has been kidnapped!  Sort of . . .by accident.

Oliver, the leader of the Wolves of Westfalian Woods didn't mean to take her prisoner.  But she had seen his face.  He determines to make it right by delivering her safely to the estate of the Grand Duchess.

But is she really safe there?

It's been ten years since Princess Petunia and her sisters were cursed to dance away the night at the underground balls of the King Under the Stone.  Ten years of peace and tranquility.  But now the sisters are having horrible dreams of the "princes" and the ball once more.

Oliver will have to work together with the princesses, their husbands, and some powerful magicians to save the princesses from the King Under the Stone forever.


This was a great ending to the Princess Trilogy by Jessica Day George.  While it it not necessary to read the previous books before starting this one, it will greatly enhance the reading of the story.  The first book Princess of the Midnight Ball, a retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses", tells the story of the oldest princess Rose.  The second book Princess of Glass, a retelling of "Cinderella", tells of the story of the middle princess Poppy.  The third book Princess of the Silver Woods, a retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood", tells the story of the youngest princess Petunia.  Together, they are a wonderfully interwoven story with each book building upon the previous book.  These books would be great for teens who love fairy tales and romance with a touch of creepy evil.

Over at the Castle

This week we learned about castles during our Eyewitness program.  So I thought I would share some books that feature castles as a setting . . . 

Horton Halfpott by Tom Angleberger

Horton, an upstanding kitchen boy in a castle in nineteenth-century England, becomes embroiled in a mystery surrounding a series of thefts, which is also connected to the pursuit of a very eligible and wealthy young lady's affections.

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

Princess Celie must defend Castle Glower, which add rooms, stairways and secret passageways every Tuesday, when her parents are ambushed while travelling.

The Castle Behind Thorns by Merrie Haskell

When Sand, a blacksmith's apprentice, wakes up in a broken castle, he must find a way to put it back together.

Crandall's Castle by Betty Ren Wright

Charli's impulsive uncle, Will Crandall, decides to buy the town's abandoned, possibly haunted castle and fix it up as a bed-and-breakfast, but Charli and Sophia, a clairvoyant orphan who has come to stay with the Crandall family, know his plan is somehow dangerous.

Midnight Magic by Avi 

In Italy in 1491, Mangus the magician and his apprentice are summoned to the castle of Duke Claudio to determine if his daughter is indeed being haunted by a ghost.

The Castle Corona by Sharon Creech

Two orphaned peasant children discover a mysterious pouch, the contents of which lead them to the majestic Castle Corona, where their lives may be transformed forever.

More Stories Featuring Castles --

The Beasts of Clawstone Castle by Eva Ibbotson

Brand-New Page by Tony Davis

Castle of Shadows by Ellen Renner

The Children of the King by Sonya Hartnett

East of the Sun, West of the Moon by Jackie Morris

The House of Arden by E. Nesbit

The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye

Pure Dead Magic by Debi Gliori

Stealaway by K.M. Peyton

A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine

Are You a Good Witch or a Bad Witch?

"Are you a good witch or a bad witch?"  

That is one of the most memorable lines from the movie The Wizard Oz.  This week, I thought I would share some books for teens featuring witches.  It is up to you to determine whether they are good or bad . . .

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Twelve-year-old Sunny Nwazue, an American-born albino child of Nigerian parents, moves with her family back to Nigeria, where she learns that she has latent magical powers which she and three similarly gifted friends use to catch a serial killer.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

A retelling of the tale of twelve princesses who wear out their shoes dancing every night, and of Galen, a former soldier now working in the king's gardens, who follows them in hopes of breaking the curse.

Garden Princess by Kristin Kladstrup

Princess Adela, preferring plants and trees to idle chit-chat, attends a garden party hosted by Lady Hortensia and finds something is amiss in the Lady's garden.

Bewitching by Alex Flinn

Tells the story of Kendra, a witch, and the first three-hundred years of her life, including takes on a classic fairy tale, the 1666 plague in Britain, the "Titanic" disaster, and the story of a modern-day, plain stepsister.

Juniper by Monica Furlong

While apprenticed to the witch woman Juniper, a young girl struggles to save her family from the evil machinations of her power-hungry aunt Meroot. 

More Books Featuring Witches --

All Just Glass by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

Plain Kate by Erin Bow

Time of Witches by Anna Myers

Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials by Stephanie Hemphill

Witch & Wizard by James Patterson

Witch Child by Celia Rees

Snow! Snow! And More Snow! - Part 2

We still have snow on the ground and they are calling for yet more snow tonight.  So I thought, I would continue to share some of my favorite snow stories -- this time for teens. . .

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
I love this retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon.  It takes place in the frozen north and features a girl simply named Lass who agrees to live with a bear for a year.  Eventually falling in love with the bear, Lass must travel "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" to save him from the Troll Queen.

Trapped by Michael Northrop
This book tells the story of what happens when Scotty and his friends are trapped in the school during a blizzard with several other students.  They foolishly decided to stay and work on a shop class project rather than go home when school was let out early.  Now they are trapped in the school with no heat, no food, and no water.  And then the roof starts to creak from the huge amount of snow on it and they must decide whether to stay or attempt to get help.

Once Upon a Time . . .

I have always loved to read fairy tales.  The adventure, magic and romance combine together to make compelling stories.  Here are three of my favorite fairy tale novels for teens.

Snow in Summer by Jane Yolen
Recasts the tale of Snow White, setting it in West Virginia in the 1940s with a stepmother who is a snake-handler.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
A girl travels east of the sun and west of the moon to free her beloved prince from a magic spell.

Zel by Donna Jo Napoli
Based on the fairy tale Rapunzel, the story is told in alternating chapters from the point of view of Zel, her mother, and the prince, and delves into the psychological motivations of the characters.