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READING STYLE GUIDE

Finding Your Heart

11/17/2020

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Poisoned by Jennifer Donnelly read by Rosie Jones

Where's my heart?
​Jennifer Donnelly has done it again. As with Stepsister, she begins at the conclusion of a well-known fairytale and proceeds to spin a tale that answers the question: What happens next? Her inventive fantasy is not simply rearranging narrative details. She uses several story elements and weaves them together to create an entirely new shimmering cloth.
Poisoned opens deep in a forest. By command of the queen, a huntsman escorts eighteen-year-old Sophie into a secluded spot, proceeds to cut out her heart and place it in a special box that will keep the heart alive. Then he leaves the dying girl and hurries back the castle, delivering the precious heart to Sophie’s evil stepmother. What an opening!
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As fate would have it, a family of brothers rush to the dying girl’s aid and fill the gaping hole in her chest with a mechanical heart built by the clockmaking brother. This heart sputters and stutters, but it works. Sophie has a new functioning heart. She also has a home. The brothers are enchanted with this charming, albeit naive princess. They are determined to protect her from the machinations of the queen. Sophie, on the other hand wants to get back to the kingdom, certain that her betrothed prince will rescue her and help her vanquish the queen.
What's to become of a young heir to the throne who has been constantly told that she is too week, too soft-hearted to be a monarch? How can a girl who has only a loud clunking mechanical heart attempt a journey to find her real heart and reclaim her rightful place as ruler of the kingdom?
Donnelly is a master storyteller. Sweeping in its scope, at turns violent then becoming tender, the pace keeps readers’ hearts racing. Sophie’s life is fraught with peril. She is battling foes both visible and unseen. Danger awaits at every page turn. Tension builds with a constant stream of crescendos, leading Sophie to a precipice from which there appears to be no escape.
A word about the setting. The tale is filled with references to the land of the Grimm brothers.  Food is described in mouthwatering detail: schnitzel, mushroom strudel, spaetzle, plum cake. There are sly references to things Germanic. Who knew that polka music serves as a poison antidote?
Jones brings her considerable performance gifts to the narration. Each character's voice is distinctive. For a family of German brothers, that is quite a feat. Of note is the voice of Sophie, who begins the story as a girl with a soft and gentle heart, tentative and unsure. As the tale progresses, our heroine becomes more confident. The final scenes depict a woman who has overcome obstacles and is now stronger and more resilient.
There are many dark forces at work here and the evil queen in not Sophie's greatest enemy. There is a villain more fearful than the queen. There is deception. There is betrayal. There are vicious vipers, a giant scorpion, and of course, a poisoned apple. But far more deadly, there is self-doubt. Donnelly does not let up. The tension escalates as Sophie races against time to defeat her foes and reclaim her heart. A fairy tale retelling not to be missed.

Tempting. Very Tempting

Try this selection of tantalizing bonus treats. If you enjoyed Poisoned, try reading Stepsister. Meet Jennifer Donnelly and discover her inspiration for Poisoned.

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Audiobook accessed via Hoopla.
Release date: October 5, 2020  Publisher: Scholastic Audio
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Twisted Tale

10/16/2020

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Straight on Till Morning, A Twisted Tale
​by Liz Braswell read by Lorna Bennett

Childhood dreams are never simple
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Listen to a sample.
Braswell takes Peter Pan in a new direction. Straight On Till Morning centers around two females: a sixteen-year-old girl and a tiny, determined fairy. ​Wendy, on the cusp of adulthood, faces the prospect of the dreary predictable life that society expects of her: caring for her younger brothers and ultimately becoming a governess. This girl who delights in spinning stories wants more.
Under cover of darkness she escapes England for her land of make-believe. Bargaining with Captain Hook, she offers Peter Pan’s shadow in exchange for passage to Neverland.
The result of her plan is not exactly what she envisioned. The pirates want her to be their “mother.” She will do the cooking, mending, and laundry. Wendy wonders: Where is the adventure she longed for? And where is Peter Pan?
She discovers that there’s a lot more happening in this fantasy world. Hook’s objective is to destroy Neverland and Wendy has unwittingly become an accomplice in his sinister plan. She realizes that she has played into his schemes and determines that she must outwit Hook. This involves obtaining Peter's shadow and returning it to its rightful owner, recruiting the Lost Boys to help her defeat Hook and save Neverland.
The narrative is fantasy from Wendy's perspective, exploring the relationship between reality and the land of stories. Wendy discovers that the Neverland she and others dreamed of has become her reality. She wonders if imagined stories can truly come to life.
An interesting subplot is the relationship between Tinkerbell and Wendy. Initially Wendy is thrilled with the prospect of meeting a fairy, a tiny little being who sparkles and can fly. She hopes that they can become friends. This enthusiasm is squashed by the fairy’s excessive jealousy. Wendy examines her feelings for Peter and knows that while she is intrigued by this boy who never grew up, that’s just it. He will never grow up. She wants more from a relationship than this youngster can offer her. It takes time and patience but eventually the girl and fairy reach a truce and take tentative steps toward friendship.
After successfully dealing with pirates, fairies, Captain Hook, and The Lost Boys, Wendy comes to terms with who she is and what her life will be. She wants to return to England but no longer in the role of surrogate mother. She wants to be her own woman and pursue her own dreams. Writing stories will certainly be a part of that dream.
Bennett's narration captures the distinctive personality of each character. Her lovely British accent gives the tale an enchanting storytelling quality.

More Twisted Tales

If you like your "happily ever after" with a contemporary spin, try Twisted Tales, a Disney series reimagining classic fairytales.
Currently there are nine titles in the Twisted Tale collection. For those who like to read a series in order, here is the current list, beginning with A Whole New World (2016) to So This is Love (2020). The series is written by fantasy authors Jen Calonita, Elizabeth Lim, and Liz Braswell.
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​Audiobook accessed via Axis 360.
Release date: February 4, 2020  Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks
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She was Smart and Strong

5/7/2020

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Bo the Brave by Bethan Woolvin

Bo wasn't too little. She was smart, she was strong...she was Bo the Brave.
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Woolvin has done it again. Incorporating traditional fairy tale elements, she has created a marvelous little story with the unique plot twist that readers have come to expect from this talented picture book author.
Bo lives in the Alpine Kingdom filled with slimy sea monsters, scary cave beasts, and horrid forest monsters.  When her older brothers set off to catch a monster, Bo begs to come too.
The boys tell her no. "You're far too little."
Armed with her bow and arrow, she sneaks out of the castle, in search of a monster to slay. Readers can follow  Bo's travels with the map featured on the end papers
She encounters some strange and possibly fearsome creatures: a Griffin, a Kraken, and a dragon. However, each responds to Bo with kindness and concern.
Bo teams up with these bestiary creatures to rescue a baby dragon who is in the clutches of her brothers.  The boys have captured this little dragon and are behaving monstrously. Bo saves the dragonling from danger and rehabilitates her siblings. All ends well, thanks to Bo's courage and caring.
Woolvin's signature style is marked by bold graphic designs and a limited color palette. Instead of one primary color contrasting with black and white, this story uses a different color scheme. Illustrations are teal with  contrasting pink and orange. The coloring add a fairy tale quality.
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As with all of the author's  picture book tales, girls are smart and strong. Never helpless. Sometimes devious. Inevitably problem solvers. Hurrah for Bo the Brave.

Eye Spy

Want more of Woolvin's witty retellings of traditional fairy tales?  Try Hansel & Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel. These fairy tales are ever-so-much-more.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: April 1, 2020  Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company   ISBN: 978-1682631829
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Dos Chicos

4/30/2020

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Two Latino boys. Two engaging stories. Two distinctive illustration styles.  ¡ bravo! 

Frederico and the Wolf by Rebecca J. Gomez ill by Elisa Chavarri

Once upon a modern time...
Gomez takes the well-known tale of "Little Red Riding Hood," dresses the main character in a scarlet hoodie, adds a distinctive Latin flavor, and sets it to a rhythmic beat. It's Federico and the Wolf, a contemporary retelling.
In this version, young Federico bikes to his grandfather's shop. First he stops to purchase ingredients for pico de gallo.  He and grandfather plan to enjoy lunch together and then whip up a batch of hot salsa. 
Federico is on his way with a basket of groceries when a hungry wolf appears and declares his intent to devour this niño. It takes some quick thinking and a large habanero to outwit un lobo.
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At the tale's conclusion, Gomez shares a recipe for pico de gallo. She adds a glossary of Spanish words and phrases with pronunciation guide along with definitions. 
Chavarri's charming illustrations have a contemporary folk-art quality. End papers feature colorful traditional patterns with the faces of Federico and Grandfather nestled within the designs. Her portfolio includes this dazzling bookmobile art.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: May 19, 2020  Publisher:  Clarion Books   ISBN: 978-1328567789

Brick by Brick by Heidi Woodward Sheffield

Tonight I dream in my house.
Nuestra casa para siempre-
our always house.
Brick mason meets young reader. Sheffield has ingeniously woven together the building of an architectural structure and the creation a reader. Both are busy: constructing brick by brick, book by book.
​Pages views alternate between parallel activities. Papa scales the scaffolding while Luis scrambles up playground equipment. Papa mixes mortar and trowels a layer of cement as Luis molds clay. Papa stacks bricks row by row and Luis arranges a tower of his favorite stories, book upon book.
The heart of the story is the relationship between a father and son. Luis rides on his father's shoulders while wearing papa's hard hat. The two share a warm abrazo.
Together they work and plan for the fulfillment of a dream: a house that they can call home.
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Sound effects displayed with various font colors add to the sensory experience.
TAP TAPS brick into place
SCRRRRAPES drips the mortar
KERCHUNKS lunch box closes
WHIRRRRRR a mixer at work
WHOOOSH water added to the slurry
Illustrations are stellar. Sheffield's collages of textures, colors, shapes and snippets of photographs are ingenious. Artistic assemblages are enhanced with painted details.
Observant readers will find papa's boots are photographs of actual work boots. The United States flag is a collection of irregular red and white stripes, hand drawn stars on a blue background and a snippet of blue jeans. Pieces of actual brick form the buildings. Multicolor angular shapes become falling autumn leaves.
Spanish phrases are seamlessly woven into the narrative. Messages are carefully placed throughout the illustrations. A city illustration includes the messages "dream" and "mis sueños" which echo the father and son's hopes for the future. When the pair drive away from the city toward their new home the environmental art contains a different message: "bye" and "adios." Brick by Brick is brimming with the joy of hard work and the realization of a dream.
Copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: May 5, 2020  Publisher:  Nancy Paulsen Books  ISBN: 978-0525517306
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A Tale Retold

4/17/2020

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Bluebeard: A Feminist Fairy Tale by Metaphrog

​The dynamic duo Metaphrog have created a creeptastic reimagining of Bluebeard. Award-winning co-creators John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs have cast this traditional French folktale as a fantasy feminist story. Readers meet a girl who doesn’t wait to be rescued. She rescues herself.
Here’s how it happens:
Eve and her family live near an enchanted forest. Beyond the forest atop a high mountain is the castle of Count Bluebeard.
Eve's idyllic life with her family and her best friend Tom is disrupted when strange things begin to happen near the forest. Animals disappear. ​People can be trapped in the masses of dense vegetation. No one dares to enter this sinister wood.
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After Eve reaches her eighteenth year, Bluebeard decides to select a bride from among the townsfolk. With a roll of the dice, Eve is selected to become his wife and live with him on the mountaintop. Following the marriage ceremony he takes her to his imposing, opulently furnished castle. Eve notices a long corridor leading to countless rooms. At the end of an extended hallway is a door opened only with a special golden key.
When Bluebeard leaves on urgent business he presents Eve with a ring of keys giving her access to all rooms in the castle. ​She is explicitly warned to never enter the door unlocked with the golden key. Alone and anxious, Eve roams throughout the castle, going from room to room.
Eventually she opens the forbidden door. To her horror she finds the bodies of all the Count's former wives, hanging from the ceiling, their blood staining the room a violent red. The horrific truth dawns on Eve: He has killed all his wives. She is trapped inside the home of a murderer and she will be his next victim.
Meanwhile in the village Eve's older sister Anne has disappeared. Tom worries about Eve as there has been no communication from her. Tom suspects foul play and decides to take action. He recruits Eve's brothers to help him storm the castle, locate Anne, and rescue the two sisters.
Bluebeard returns to his home and finds that Eve has discovered the bodies of his murdered wives. In an intense climactic scene, Eve struggles to save her sister. Not waiting for Tom and her brothers, she courageously takes matters into her own hands, finishing off the count and setting both girls free.
Tension escalates with a series of panels that depict Eve gazing up a dizzying spiral staircase while Bluebeard stealthily inches nearer. Close-ups of razor-sharp teeth and talon-like extended fingers bring the terror into sharp focus.
Art is breathtaking. Intricately detailed dark silhouettes contrast against the soft jewel tone tints. The gorgeous backgrounds are enchanting.
Color plays an important part in the story. Some of the opening settings and coloring are reminiscent of the classic Disney fairy tales, such as Cinderella. Eve's world is a sparkling pink, while the appearance of Bluebeard is signaled with predominantly blue hues.

More Wondrous Stories 

Metaphrog, is an award-winning graphic novelist team known for imaginative stories, resplendent art and stunning use of color. I became acquainted with Metaphrog about ten years ago when I picked up a curious little graphic novel, Louis-Night Salad. I had never encountered a book quite like this one. The approach is unique with classic art, luscious coloring and innovative story twists. Bluebeard continues that tradition of excellence.
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Electronic copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: May 5, 2020  Publisher: Papercutz  ISBN: 978-1545804124
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Under the Sea

5/31/2019

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Sea Sirens: A Trot & Cap’n Bill Adventure
​
by Amy Chu & Janet K. Lee

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California surfer Trot spends her summer days with Cap’n Bill, a one-eyed rescue cat wearing a tiny red life vest who joins her on the surfboard and her Vietnamese grandfather who is in the early stages of dementia and sometimes wanders off.  
One day Trot and Cap'n Bill sneak away to catch a big wave. Her board capsizes, sending them into a magical world in the briny deep. When sea serpents threaten a bevy of lovely sea sirens, Cap'n Bill lashes out, sending away the serpents.
In gratitude, the seahorse-riding sirens give Trot and her cat the ability to breathe underwater and transport the duo back to their mother Queen Aquareine and her opulent kingdom, or more accurately, queendom. They are honored with a lavish celebration.
A special guest arrives for the festivities: grandpa!  He slipped into the ocean and wandered into this enchanted aquatic paradise. ​
Cap'n Bill revels in the food and the adulation, Trot thrills at surfing on the backs of rays. And granddad enjoys viewing aquatic life. Then trouble strikes.  Grandfather is kidnapped by the King of the Serpents. It's up to Trot and her mermaid friend to rescue grandpa and avert a war between the sirens and serpents.
Sea Sirens: A Trot and Cap'n Bill Adventure is replete with homages to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. There's the faithful pet who accompanies a girl on a fantastic journey, a traveler who arrives in a locality quite by accident and becomes its mythical and revered leader, a giant balloon that can traverses between two worlds, and a heartfelt "There's no place like home" ending.
It appears that there is more to the story.  Trot has the precious pearl given to her by the queen and perhaps she may use it again. Stay tuned for the next adventure with this intrepid surfer and her one-eyed feline. 
Note: Keep an eye on Cap'n Bill and his snarky attitude. He steals the show in more than one scene.
Inspired by L. Frank Baum’s The Sea Fairies as well as Vietnamese folktales and fairy tales, Amy Chu has fashioned a remarkable comic. She breathes life into the story with imaginative characters and an interesting plot twist.  Inclusion of Vietnamese dialog and folktale elements enrich this sumptuous tale.
Janet K. Lee's art is stunning.  Innovative layout with full pages, insets, circles and angular lines burst beyond the confines of traditional rectangular panel configuration. Her art nouveau style is well suited to the story, giving it a classic feel. The gorgeous aqua-rich color palette and settings are magical. 

More Underwater Adventures

Enchanting tales of girls who live underwater. Gorgeous art. Compelling storytelling. Answer the siren call and read these graphic novel adventures by award-winning creators David Wiesner, Donna Jo Napoli, and Metaphrog aka Sandra Marrs and John Chalmers.
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Copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: June 11, 2019  Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers  ISBN: 978-0451480163
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Fractured Fairy Tale

4/30/2019

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Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

What if the end of the story is only the beginning? 
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What happens after Cinderella slips her dainty foot into the glass slipper and is whisked away by the prince?
What will become of the step mother and her two daughters?
Donnelly begins this fractured fairy tale with the scene in which each stepsister cuts off a part of her foot in an attempt to fit into the crystal shoe. Each fails and is left with a maimed foot, a heart full of resentment, and no prospects. What will become of them?
This retelling contemplates the future. Who or what influences one’s fortune? Is it the Fates, three women who spend their days determining the destiny for every person? Writing with magical inks, they create individual life maps, which they believe are unalterable. Chance questions this supposition and wagers that it is Chance not Fate which will decide the course of a stepsister’s life. Which will prevail: Fate or Chance?
There is Magic in this sad, hard world. A magic stronger than fate, stronger than chance. And it is seen in the unlikeliest of places.
Stepsister Isabelle is bitter and bereft of hope. She is ugly. No one wants her. Villagers taunt her mercilessly. Not only have her toes been brutally chopped off but parts of her heart, namely her compassion and courage, have been excised. She has reached rock bottom.
One night in the Wildwood, Isabelle meets the fairy queen who agrees to grant her one wish on the condition that she will find the missing pieces of her heart. 
Isabelle resolves to find these shards of her heart. She sets out on a seemingly impossible quest. Unbeknownst to her, one of the Fates personally intervenes to guarantee her dismal future. She arranges for the destruction of the stepsister's family home, forcing mother and daughters into a life of menial servitude, cutting cabbages by day and sleeping in a barn at night. ​There are other forces at work. A power-hungry warlord is methodically destroying villages throughout the country, attempting to overthrow the king. Isabelle believes that her dearest childhood friend has abandoned her. Success doesn't seem likely.
Fortunately, Isabelle has a few things going for her. The fairy queen offers her three simple objects, each bearing an enchantment. Chance travels to a nearby village with a magician, a monkey wearing a pearl necklace, and a troupe of performers. They present a magnificently inspiring performance for an audience of one. All have a vital role in shaping this stepsister’s choices. However, Isabelle's most important asset is herself. She is a women of strong conviction, a compassionate sister and daughter, a friend who is willing to forgive. Her extraordinary bravery, intelligence, humility, and selfless love are what ultimately determine her future. She reclaims the splintered pieces of her heart and in the process, discovers her true self.
Every war is different, yet each battle is the same. The enemy is only a distraction.
​The thing you are fighting against, always, is yourself.
Readers will recognize several familiar motifs  from the traditional Grimm lore. Isabelle befriends a tiny mouse. A shape-shifting fairy queen turns a pumpkin into a coach  and later creates an army from  a collection of toy wooden soldiers.
Stepsister​ shatters the traditional Cinderella tale. This is magic of a different kind. A girl who was deemed ugly, self-centered, and mean-spirited transforms herself into a woman of intellect, courage, and strength. A true beauty.
She was sorry for so many things...She was sorry for all the grim-tale girls locked in lonely towers. Trapped in sugar houses. Lost in the dark woods, with huntsman coming to cut out their hearts.
Donnelly has fashioned a tale that is brimming with a compelling multilayered characters, a story line that is traditional in its roots and contemporary in its theme. A classic that blends the magic of fantasy with the power of self-determination. That's the best kind of happily ever after.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date:  May 14, 2019 Publisher:Scholastic Press  ISBN: 978-1338268461
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Which Witch?

10/1/2018

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Hansel and Gretel by Bethan Woollvin

...because Willow was a good witch
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Bethan Woollvin has done it again! A well-known fairy tale is turned it on its ear. This time the story’s surprise element is evident at the onset: two spoiled and mean-spirited children, Hansel and Gretel encounter the home of a kindly witch named Willow.
Because she is a good witch, she returns their boorish behavior with kindness. When the twins commence to eat her home (which is made of gingerbread) she responds by preparing a delicious meal. When the children refuse to help her tidy up the forest, she overlooks their thoughtlessness.
"Willow did not get angry, because Willow was a good witch"
But enough is enough. Even for a good witch. When the children discover her book of magic spells and her magic wand, chaos and catastrophe take over her tidy little residence. It's time for Willow to take action because...
"Willow was not ALWAYS a good witch."
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Bethan's wit is liberally sprinkled throughout the pages. She manages to poke fun at existing tropes. (Yes, there is an oven scene. But not what you expect.) The subtle empowerment theme runs throughout.  But truly it's a great story that will be read and enjoyed again and again.
Her signature graphic style is evident. The cover features the top of heads, with expressive eyes which tell a story in and of themselves. The spot of color is a brilliant orange.  So now a Christmas classic works equally well for Halloween, and many other occasions. 
Thanks Bethan for another classic fairy tale remix.

Gingerbread Goodness

Time to make some sweet and spicy gingerbread goodness.  If you're a good witch, feel free to share with children.
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Make some fragrant playdough
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Gingerbread recipe
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Step-by-step directions for creating your own 
​Gingerbread House

More Woollin Fairy Tale Retellings

If you have missed either of these inventive retellings, now is the time to correct that. Experience Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel in an entirely different way.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: October 1, 2018  Publisher: Peachtree Publishers  ISBN: 978-1682630730
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Do You Believe in Magic?

9/13/2018

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Smoke and Mirrors by K. D. Halbrook

...making up stories doesn’t make me a liar...It makes me a storyteller
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Weaving a tale of wonder filled with pain, regret, resolve, hope, and a generous dose of magic is difficult. K. D. Halbrook's words seem to flow effortlessly, creating an illusion that is enchanting, while simultaneously heartbreaking.  
Sasha and Toddy are children of Cirque Magnifique performers. From infancy, their lives have revolved around the wonder of daring aerial acts and dazzling costumes. People come from afar to marvel at these performances. Everyone, that is, except for the residents on the other side of the island. They will have nothing to do with this strangeness
Sasha is devastated when their parents decide that the siblings must attend school with the island children. She believes that she won't fit in. She doesn’t.
​The Cirque kids were color in a gray world, they were many languages and strange accents, they were children of bizarre grown-ups who didn’t have normal jobs or wear normal clothes or carry the same tired expressions in their eyes, like the other island parents did.
Then she notices the beginnings of something sinister. Tendrils of acrid gray mist, known as the Smoke are creeping into her world.  She is both repulsed and intrigued by this shadowy presence. Then one day in an angry outburst to her mother she declares that she wants to disappear.  She wants the Smoke to take them all away from the Cirque. Her fury causes her parents to make a fateful error. High above the ground, without a net, Smoke fills the tent and her father misses grasping the trapeze bar. She watches as her parents plummet to the earth, only to become birds at the last possible moment and fly away.
Stricken with guilt, Sasha takes Toddy and goes in search of the Smoke. To defeat the Smoke they must find the Magician at The Edge of the World, remove his curse, and rescue their parents. Their quest takes them sailing on a ship sprouted from a magic seed..  They encounter King Crab, the Sharp-Beaked Weasel, a Unimoose, and the Grandelion. ​The fantastical beasts are imbued with distinctive personalities and are a bit reminiscent of characters Alice meets in Wonderland. Like Alice, Sasha must use her wits and summon courage she didn't know she possessed. She makes friends in unexpected places and learns to forgive herself.  She heals as she recalls and enumerates the good things in her life.
You remember every nice thing that's happened to you. The people who hugged you when you were sad. The ones who invited you to their birthday party and gave you nicest piece of cake. You think about the most beautiful sights on the island.
Sasha's journey brings closure and peace to her family, the Cirque Magnifique performers, a newly-found friend, a former enemy, and importantly, to herself.
Some book covers resonate with me. This one does. I loved the slightly Art Nouveau graphic design. Note the symmetrical image of the girl. The shapes on each half of the body are the same, but the coloring on each side is different, suggesting duality. What was with the entwined birds? Why was she holding feathers? Smoke and Mirrors had me intrigued before I even cracked the cover. Kudos to the case designer.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: September 4, 2018 Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books ISBN: 978-1534405042
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Swept Away

7/30/2018

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Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier

You made my heart wake up
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Welcome to the world of Victorian England’s chimney sweeps. Jonathan Auxier has created a tale that is part historical fiction, part fantasy, part social commentary, and pure magic.
​Nan Sparrow has only known life as a chimney sweep. From infancy she was nurtured by a man she calls the Sweep. Together they did more than simply survive a grubby, demanding life of toil and deprivation. Instead he taught Nan to find joy in what others might deem a joyless existence.
​The Sweep had never understood how a person could sleep through the sunrise. 'It's like Heaven itself is offering you a gift you're too lazy to open,' he used to say. Then he'd wink and add, 'Ah, well. More for us.'
One night the Sweep disappears. Nan is left companionless, stranded in a cruel existence of climbing through gritty chimney flues. Bullied and browbeaten by her pompous, evil overseer, Master Crudd, Nan soldiers on with the few meager items bequeathed to her: the Sweep’s hat and a small chunk of char.
​Then a miracle occurs. Nan becomes trapped in a cramped flu. A conniving chimney sweep sets a match to the bottom of the chimney, causing a huge explosion. Nan is painfully expelled to the rooftop and in the process, the lump of soot comes to life.
​And yet, here in the dusty crawl space, she held a miracle in her hands.
​She names this sooty lump Charlie. Perhaps he is a monster, or maybe a Golem. Nan is not sure. Whatever. It becomes evident to her that there is a purpose to his existence. Her destiny is entwined with his.
"A sage or rabbi--​ that is, a Jewish priest— forms a body out of mud or clay and then brings the creature to life with a sort of magic word called a Shem"...
"In your stories, why did the rabbi make his golem?"
"Why does a person create anything? Out of necessity... The golem is made to help people who fear for their lives.”
Auxier's storytelling abilities excel in this fantasy filled with richly-drawn characters. Nan, Charlie, as well as her friends and foes, are painted with deft strokes. Like the lump of char, they come to life through his dexterous prose.
The premise of a Golem is intriguing. The story thread maintains its tension until the tale reaches its inevitable conclusion. Auxier manages to weave the realities of life for the poor and under-privileged into a saga of wonder and magic. It is a story of pain and death, sorrow and disappointment, redemption and possibility, enchantment and wonder. It is a tale to read again and again. There is magic infused into each paragraph, each chapter. Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster is destined to be a timeless classic.

Stories to Tell. Stories to Share.

It is an ancient need to be told in stories. But the story needs a great storyteller.   Alan Rickman
I distinctly recall attending a book launch at Books of Wonder for debut author Jonathan Auxier. I can still picture the jacket he wore and his demeanor as he cradled his very first book in his hands and described the premise for Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes. I was enchanted. From that day forward, I believed that he would go on to create more magical characters and compelling adventures. My belief has become a reality. Thanks Mr. Auxier, for filling my soul with story soup.
Sometimes on nights when there was no food to eat, the girl and her Sweep used to make Story soup. The girl would fill her pockets with trash she found on the streets - scraps of paper or trampled strings or bits of colored glass. At the end of the day, she would present these things to The Sweep. “Make Story soup!” she would tell him.’
​”Oh-ho!” The Sweep would always exclaim, rubbing his belly with both hands. ‘You’ve brought us ingredients for a right feast!’
Have you noticed that all Auxier book covers feature silhouettes set against a richly variegated sky? Each story is a beautifully wrapped gift. Each is an enticing invitation to enter the fantastical worlds of Jonathan Auxier.
​It's a very private thing to open a present and a person deserves to do it on his own way.
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Bonus: The Wit and Wisdom of Sweep

​What is a year?
A year is a bunch of days put together.
Oh, it's much more than that! ...A year is a little lifetime.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: September 25, 2018  Publisher: Amulet Books ISBN: 978-1419731402
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    I like talking about books and  interesting ideas. I like thinking about how books affect my life. Not particularly interested in giving out stars or in rating books. 

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