Snow White Again!

And this was so good!  Seeing Red is the twelfth book in the Whatever After series and Mlynowski is still going super strong.  This was hilarious and it made me think about the very first one, when I feel in love with this series!

FINALLY

The tenth book in the Whatever After Series is finally out!  Sugar and Spice is a remix of Hansel and Gretel and it is fabulous!  Fans of the series, like I, will LOVE it!  So much fun!

Metaphors

Breadcrumbs was a book I saw around for a long time, but the cover looked boring. Then I read about it and discovered it was one of those fairy tale change-up books and I decided to give it a try!
I am really glad I did and it was a terrific audio listen, but I do wish I would have read it, because there is a lot in here with regard to some of those non-Disneyfied fairy tales, like the Little Match Girl that show up here in this story.
While most of us won't meet White Witches and wear red shoes that make us dance and dance and dance, we probably have all had an experience like Hazel, finding that a loved childhood friend is slipping away, that maybe you are outgrowing one another.
Beautifully written, I think. And for me to notice, because I am not an educated "smart reader" who notices that kind of thing, you know for sure that it is beautifully written.
Hazel is the main character but I do think dudes would enjoy this story if they gave it a chance. Even if they just started it, because they are all intriguing characters and Jack is a main focus. I am glad I read this finally! Anne Ursu is from Minnesota and remember, only great things and people come from Minnesota!   There is a neat interview with the author here, as she answers some questions that kids ask her.

I am a Genie

This is probably no surprise to anyone and probably true for most of you who are reading this blog at this very moment.  Larry Hagman has been on my mind.

Genie in a Bottle is the ninth book in the Whatever After series that I can't recommend enough.

I like how once again, it isn't ignored that most kids are only going to know Disney's Aladdin and not the original.  I loved the Disney movie, it is my favorite one, actually.  And I didn't know much about the original except that it was from Arabian Nights.  But I didn't know anything else!  But even what little I thought I knew, it turns out wasn't right!

It STILL has it!

Once again, Sarah Mlynowski has brought a new twist on an old tale and made it awesome!  Once Upon a Frog is the eighth book in the Whatever After series and it is just as good as the first!  This one uses the Frog Prince as a basis and it is awesome!  Keep 'em comin'!

Love this series!

Again Sarah Mlynowski has written a very funny little book, one that fans of Whatever After will love.  Cold as Ice is the story of the Snow Queen, but also mentions that one movie, it was a minor hit, Disney did it, a take on the Snow Queen...Frozen or something?
A great, great addition to the series!

Wild and Wonderful and Delightfully Odd!

West of the Moon is unlike anything that I have ever read before and probably will ever read again.  It is just lovely and yet it has many a sad and terribly awful parts to the story of Astri, a young Norwegian girl who lives with her evil aunt, wimpy uncle, cousins and little sister, Greta, after being pretty much abandoned by her father.  He just up and left Astri and Greta with this toad of a woman and set out for America. This book is just incredible.  Incredible.  I was also thankful to have the author's note at the end of the book that talked about the "America Fever" that hit Norway, when lots of folks thought that America was the place to be.  Once again, here is a remarkable piece of fiction, magical realism, I guess you would call it, that teaches so much.  The whole deal is about choices and forgiveness and this book reads like a beautiful, lovely sermon.  Now I know that word has negative connotations, but for someone who preaches, I don't mean it in any negative way at all!  This book is a thing of beauty.  Even though it has darkness in it, because that's life here on this side of the Jordan right?  The beauty with the ugly.

Forgot!

And it is probably not necessary now, but I have no idea how I missed Dream On, the fourth book in the Whatever After series. Obviously this series is one that I love and recommend often.  It is based on the story of Sleeping Beauty and this time Abby and Jonah take a friend with them into the tale, but no worries, she sleeps through the whole thing!  

Somebody Lied

Is a great song.  Man, it is.  Someone on goodreads said that this series is getting old, but Bad Hair Day was a great addition, I thought. 
Abby and Jonah are great kids.  Normal siblings in a very abnormal and very funny situation.  Rapunzel is a rock star in this one.  Highly recommended series. 

Dark and Grim Tales...

These little stories don't have anything to do with the A Tale Dark and Grimm series.  The Key and The Brothers Piggett are two stories from a collection that came out recently called Grim.  I am reading so many different books right now, but as soon as I am done with Rebel Belle, I am going to read this one.  I really, really liked The Key and wish it would have been longer.  I loved everything I've ever read by Rachel Hawkins and this short story was no exception.  I did like the one by Kagawa, too!  In fact, I loved that as well, even though some folks disagree on that one.  I thought it was super creepy and told really well.  What are these stories?  Well, you can probably figure it out!  Creepy fairy tales, of course! 

Number 10...have I stayed too long at the fair?

It's bound to happen.  It happened with the Private/Privilege books, even.  And how I did love those.  But I think after gorging on the same deliciousness for so long, it was bound to get old.  Not to say that I am below the four star rating, not at all, Volume 10 was a solid four-star, but it just didn't have that five-star sparkle, as the others did for me.  While I do love Flycatcher and I loved what he did here with setting up Haven, I still don't know his backstory.  Did I miss it somewhere?  What horrible thing happened to his family?  Now I just read the wikipedia article and that makes sense.  But was this in a comic that I missed?  I am going to take a Fable break, but I know I will come back to them.  Maybe the break will help me to appreciate them as I once did! 

This One Had to Lose a Star

I do love Fables, as I have said, but I had to point out my usual trouble in this volume, number 9.  I was super excited to meet Hansel of Hansel and Gretel in this volume, but then, one tiny mistake was made, which of course, is my biggest pet peeve!   There is a flash-back scene in which Hansel refers to Father Somethingorother's sermons.  Father?  Really?  Sigh.  So anyway, another great addition to the series, but a pretty glaring mistake!

Ah, a good fable...

 I was recently told that I would be super addicted to theFables series, graphic novel/comic book.  I really didn't take the warning seriously.  Not at all.  I just thought, well, I will try one.  Just one.  Then I thought, well, I'll just see what the next one is like.  And then, oh, just the third.  I will stop at three.  Now I am currently reading Sons of Empire.  And that is Vol. 9.  So yes, I was warned but I didn't listen and now I am hooked.  They are all here, Snow White, Prince Charming, Beauty and the Beast, the Frog Prince, everyone.
See there is this bad dude, the Adversary.  And he and his armies have taken over most of the fable world.  Many fables have escaped and now live in New York City.  Sounds weird?  Yes.
Is it addictive and wonderful?  Yes.  But you are warned!
Also, this is not, not, not for kids!

The end...maybe...

Will this really be the end of the Tale Dark and Grimm series?  The title says it all, A Grimm Conclusion, but we can always hope, right?  Adam Gidwitz has created an incredible series and the art from Hugh D'Andrade is spetacular.  I looked at Mr. D'Andrade's website, I wondered if he did the cover of The Gates, but I couldn't find the answer. 
I really liked the scene with the devil's grandmother and the words that she shares with Jorinda and Joringel. 

Fairy tales are hot these days.  And after I read Coaltown Jesus, I was anxious to read more from Ron Koerteg and so it was pretty cool to just see Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses sitting on the shelf at public library.  This is kinda like a mix of Cloaked in Red and the Tale Dark and Grimm series, but for folks a little older.  The art done by Andrea Dezso is creepy and wonderful.  This was a great little book of poems.  I enjoyed it very much and probably will listen to it, someday, if it is available as an audiobook, but I am glad I got to look at the art.

READ!

Please, please read Gorgeous.  As long as you don't mind some nasty language, you will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book.  It is hilarious.  I listened to it and the language didn't seem as bad listening to it as it might have been reading it.  This is a magical book!  So funny.  So fantastic.  I loved all of the characters and I won't be able to describe the plot, so just click on the link and read about it from goodreads.com.  But don't miss this book.  It is hilarious for adults and older teens who don't mind a lot of bad language.  Well, there's a lot of bad language, but only from one character, really.  And it just fits who she is, so it didn't bother me.  But man, just set aside the language and get ready to laugh!  This book was written by Paul Rudnick who did the screenplay for a bunch of movies and so I think that's why the book never, ever, ever drags.  Just one awesome sceen after another!  It is unlike anything you have ever read!  It is great! 

Under the Sea

I've never seen Disney's The Little Mermaid, I am sad to say. I know the characters and the songs and it looks awesome but I'm not much of a movie watcher. Still I know that the Disney versions of The Little Mermaid, Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, etc. aren't very true to the original tales.  

Sink or Swim points that out. Abby has to explain to her brother that in the REAL Little Mermaid, there is no happy ending. 

So this time, when Abby and her brother are sucked through the Magic Mirror into the land of fairy tales, they set out to mess up the fairy tale on purpose.  

This one was hilarious and I so love this series. I've recommended it to so many and when I've heard back, it has been loved by all!  Abby and her brother, as I've pointed out before, are just a great pair of siblings. I love Sarah M., no matter what she is writing!  Can't wait for the next one!

Let Down Your Braid!

In Leah Wilcox's Falling for Rapunzel, Rapunzel can't hear very well and when the prince asks her to let down her golden locks, she throws out dirty socks.  It is a very funny picture book, especially now that kids are familiar with the Rapunzel story, thanks to Disney!  Towering is another take on the Rapunzel story.  It's for an older crowd and more gruesome than Disney, of course, by Alex Flinn, whom I love.  If you like the rebooted fair tales, this one is for you. 

Almost Real...

Far, Far Away is for sure a fantasy.  It's about a boy who can hear the ghost of Jacob Grimm when he touches his hand to his temple.  It's a fairy tale itself.  But man...I don't know, it is just so magical, and so good that by the end, I just really thought for a moment, this is real!  This really happened!
I know it didn't, but I just have to say, the characters were so well written, the story is very unusual and keeps you flipping the pages.  It is full of evil and good and promise and hope and well, I will be buying and recommending this one for sure.  I hope to read more from Tom McNeal too, as this was my first.  Great book.  Highly recommended.

Whatever After Finally!

I loved the first book in the Whatever After series by Sarah Mlynowski.  The only complaint I have is that it seemed to take forever to get If the Show Fits!  Are these books popular?  I am always recommending them, but I don't hear much about them and I have to say that surprises me.  I think these fractured fairy tales are great fun and I love Mlynowski's writing.  Abby and her brother are great heros and this time they travel through the mirror in their basement to visit Cinderella-- and mess up her chance with the prince.  Great laughs.  Great series!