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

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.

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.