Second Star, by Alyssa Sheinmel

Fairy Tale retellings can be very tricky, particularly ones reworked so they are set in modern day. Sometimes they work (as in Alex Flinn's Beastly), other times not so well. An example of the later is Alyssa Sheinmel's Peter Pan reboot, Second Star. 

At the opening of this story, we meet recent high school grad and Good Girl Wendy Darling. Wendy's twin brothers (Michael and John), both die-hard surfers, disappeared several months earlier. Pieces of their surfboards were found shortly after a huge swell swept up the coast, creating larger than normal waves (even for winter). Everyone but Wendy believes the boys drowned, even though no bodies were found. So after graduation, Wendy sets off to investigate and see if she can't find her brothers and bring them home. Instead she discovers an almost magical beach where the waves are always perfect. Here lives Pete and a group of homeless teens who spend their days surfing and stealing supplies from nearby McMansions. Wendy lies to her parents, saying she's going on a road trip with her BFF, and moves in with Pete and crew. Wendy develops a crush on the charismatic Pete... But she also falls for Jas, a local bad-boy-who-wants-to-be-good sort. Jas makes a living selling a hallucinogen called "Dust," and claims to know the whereabouts of her brothers. Wendy and Jas take off up the coast, chasing a storm that will bring unseasonably large waves. If Michael and John are anywhere, they'll be there when the waves hit. They find the beach, but not the brothers. Wendy and Jas rendezvous with Pete & Co. and take a boat out to catch the waves...and Wendy almost drowns.

She wakes up days later tied to a bed in the psych ward of the hospital... And here's where things get confusing. 

The reader learns that Wendy was found, bruised but otherwise physically OK, nowhere near the beach she claims to have traveled to with Jas. Her parents and doctors tell her that she must have hallucinated the whole adventure and everyone in it. The reason for this is Wendy apparently took an odd cocktail of drugs that combined to cause her "trip." Evidence suggests otherwise, though. Wendy can suddenly surf like a pro (before she couldn't). And near the end she anonymously receives a photo of the boys she fell for. And this is where the author left things. 

I did like the whole summery, dreamlike quality to the story. And the idea was a good one. Unfortunately, the execution was sloppy. The ending confusing.

Before diving into Second Star, know this: The story does require a good deal of suspension of belief in addition to the typical fairy tale elements. For example, what parents would allow their 17-year-old daughter to take off to do who knows what for weeks at a time--especially one as supposedly unstable as Wendy? Also, it is unclear at the end whether Wendy's whole adventure was imagined (as her parents and doctors claim), really happened (as the photo of Pete and the gang she receives at the end suggests), or a combination of the two. And if the adventure did indeed happen, why did Wendy's family, friends, and doctors tell her otherwise? If they want her to heal properly, wouldn't they be honest with her? Nothing really lines up properly.  Also, if the author wanted to add the "she just imagined the whole thing" twist, it could have been done better. The way it was, it seemed too rushed and, well, cliche.

If you're looking for a good magical realism story, there are better options. Ask the on-duty librarian for recommendations :)

AJB

Through the Woods, by Emily Carroll

Don't go into the woods. There are things waiting there. Strange things. Monstrous things. Hungry things. Things waiting to pounce on the unsuspecting traveler foolish enough to wander off the path.

Artist and writer Emily Carroll's Through the Woods is a collection of five deliciously creepy stories about things that happen to those who dare to venture into the woods. 

A young woman trapped in her house during a snowstorm does the only thing she can: Wait for the thing that took her sisters to return for her

After marrying a wealthy man, a new bride learns too late the awful truth her husband's last wife. A fate that will soon be hers as well?

Two brothers enter the woods to stop a monster that has been terrorizing their village. One brother comes out. The monster is not what the reader first believes.

Two young women make a living fooling people into thinking they can communicate with the dead (they can't really). Then one of them really does become haunted. 

A young girl, home from school for the summer, visits her brother and his pretty new fiancee in their pretty new home. Then the girl wanders into the woods...and learns the horrible truth.

The girl walked safely through the woods at night. It was lucky the wolf didn't find her. Or did it?

Through the Woods is shivery, creepy, and lots of fun to read. The illustrations are gorgeous and vivid. Pick it up and read the stories all in one sitting, or savor them one by one. Either way, you've got a treat in store.

And maybe next time you're faced with the choice of taking the shortcut through the woods, you'll think twice and take the long way around. Because there are things in the woods. Strange things. Monstrous things. Hungry things.

Waiting to pounce.

On YOU! --AJB

Teen Review: Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Teen reviewer Becca read Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige on a friend's suggestion and thought it was awesome. In this dystopian, Amy, a teen finds herself trapped inside her favorite story: The Wizard of Oz. Only things have gone horribly awry: The Scarecrow is a mad scientist, the Tin Woodsman is cruel military commander, and the Cowardly Lion is a vicious beast. Worst of all, Dorothy is now a power hungry tyrant bent on stealing the land's magic and enslaving its people. Recruited by the Witches, Amy must save Oz before its too late.

"One day a tornado comes and transports Amy off to Oz, but her favorite fairy tale has been twisted. Amy is on the ride of her life to take down Dorothy and her minions."

Becca recommends Dorothy Must Die for teens ages 12-15. 

Teen Reviewer: Cinder

Teen Reviewer Kate read Cinder, by Marissa Meyer, because a friend suggested it. Although she doesn't read a lot of sci-fi, she ended up really loving this futuristic retelling of Cinderella. Cinder is the first in The Lunar Chronicles, a series of sci-fi retellings.

"Cinderella, or Cinder, in this book is half robot. This book was a great way of introducing the world and all the amazing characters--and I found it really interesting how all the characters from (the traditional) Cinderella found their way into this book as brand new characters. Overall, I loved this book and can't wait to read Scarlet, the second book!" --Kate Marsh.

Scarlet, published in 2013, is a retelling of Little Red Riding hood. Cress, a Rapunzel retelling, came out earlier this year, and Winter, a re-imagining of Snow White, is scheduled for an early 2015 publication.

Teen Reviewer: Defy

Teen reviewer Kate Marsh, 14, read Defy by Sara Larson. Lately Kate has been really into fairy tale retellings. And she'd read glowing reviews about Defy (a Mulan-type story) on Goodreads. But, unfortunately, she found it lacking:

"Compared to other fairy tale-type books, this one was fairly disappointing. The world that was built was really strong, and I really liked the new fantasy element with the sorcerers, but the characters were very dull. Alexa, or Alex, was Mulan, and she was very two-dimensional. When she was put into really scary situations, she would make really frustrating choices. The other characters, such as the prince, were really interesting, but we didn't get to find out much about them in this book. There is supposed to be a sequel, so I hope it will be more entertaining character-wise." 

Kate feels Defy would be appropriate for teens age 13-15. Unfortunately, she wouldn't recommend it. 

4 Teen Reviews

This crazy winter weather makes one want to stay in and stay warm. But that's OK as long as you've got a good book or two to read. This is how teen reviewer Kate (9th grade) has kept herself busy these past few weeks. Here are reviews for four books she read:

Cruel Beauty, a debut novel for Rosamund Hodge, is yet another retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but with a twist: "The main character, Nyx, is the "Belle" in this retelling. She was born to kill the Beast, but the Beast wasn't ready for Nyx. This book was a wonderful twist on a well-known story." This book, which Kate claimed practically jumped off the shelf and hugged her, was "an amazing book." Kate recommends Cruel Beauty for ages 13-15.

Kate picked up Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell because she'd heard so many good things about it. She found it entertaining, but it wasn't the best thing she'd ever read: "It was a sweet book about friendship. The romance and characters were well-developed, but the plot wasn't very elaborate." Her favorite character was Park. "I loved Park! He was an amazingly put-together character!." She recommends this book for ages 13 and up.

Rockoholic by C.J. Skuse, a romantic comedy about a teen who accidentally kidnaps her favorite rock star, caught Kate's eye and kept her interested throughout. "It was an extremely entertaining and quick read. I really enjoyed the protagonist, Judy. She was really funny, and it was fun to read (the story) from her point of view." Kate recommends Rockoholic for ages 13-15.

Lastly, Katie read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell on a friend's recommendation. This story, about a college-bound, fan fiction-writing teen who must learn to break from her comfort zone and adjust to a very different way of life, was so enjoyable that Kate would definitely recommend it to others. "This was such a relatable book! The main character, Cather, was just so relatable in every way! She enjoyed reading and writing fan fiction about Simon Snow (a Harry Potter-esque character). I think it was interesting how you (the reader) get to see Cath's fan fiction. It showed how she put her writing skills into her college life." Kate recommends this one for ages 13 and up.

Interested in writing a review or two or more for this blog? Stop by the Teen Reference Desk and talk to any of the staff working there. We'll show you what you have to do.

Not The Disney Ending

You know these stories, don't you?
Sure you do!
They were read to you as a child.
You repeatedly watched Disney's versions.
Princesses, Princes, Castles, and Magic.
The Good Guys always won.
The Bad Guys... They were always defeated
(although nothing very bad happened to them)
And Happily Ever After.
Always a Happily Ever After.
Of course you know these stories!

Or do you?

After reading  Ron Koertge's Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses, you won't be so sure about any of these (well-known?) tales anymore.

Back to Scarborough Fair

Lucy Scarborough might have broken the curse that plagued the women in her family for 400 years, but Fenella Scarborough (the girl who started the whole mess in the first place) is still stuck in the Faerie Realm, impossibly long-lived and taunted by the very creature who cursed her family. Desperate to become mortal so she can die, Fenella strikes a bargain with the Faerie Queen: If she can commit three acts of destruction to counter the original curse's acts of creation, she will become 100% mortal and be free of all ties to Faerie. Fenella agrees--even after she discovers the destructive acts must be committed against her own family. Thus, Fenella returns to Earth and, after she gains the trust of Lucy and her family, instantly begins to do whatever she can to sabotage their safety, their love, and their hope. And if she refuses or fails? The Scarborough women will once again be victims of the original curse. Eventually Fenella succeeds in the destructive acts, freeing herself and, by association, her family from all ties to Faerie. But how can her family accept her after all the terrible things she's done? The fact Fenella got herself into such a terrible mess is Unthinkable.

This sequel to Impossible (2008) fails to measure up to its predecessor. Unlike Lucy, who the reader can certainly root for, Fenella is a selfish, untrustworthy, unlikable character who never manages to redeem herself in the eyes of the reader. How can one feel anything but scorn for a character who purposefully does terrible things (arson? kidnapping? attempted murder?) to characters the reader already knows and likes? Worse, beloved characters are reduced to cardboard cutouts of their former selves. Even spotty romance feels forced. The one bright spot is Fenella's faerie feline helper, who is snarky, funny, and does a complete 180 by the end of the book.  If you liked Impossible, my advice is to skip Unthinkable. It'll only spoil the original story for you. --AJB

More Teen Reviews

Even more reviews from Oxford Teens:

Kaitlyn, 12, read Cloaked, a fairy-tale retelling by Alex Flinn that is a mash-up of The Elves & the Shoemaker and The Frog Prince: "I would recommend this book to anyone who likes books with adventure, fantasy, and romance. It ties many classic fairy tales into a modern world and depicts the struggle between supporting your family and following your dreams." Kaitlyn recommends this story for teens 12 and up.

High School Senior Kati read and loved Underworld, by Meg Cabot: "Underworld only proves that Meg Cabot's abilities go above and beyond the well-known Princess Diaries. This sequel (to Abandon) captures the audience from the beginning and leaves not a moment dull. The cutoff point of each chapter is so strategically chosen that the author knows it will be impossible to put the book down. This novel was full of suspense and unending action. Meg Cabot does it again!"

Not all teen reviews are positive, as proven by 10th grader Margaret's review of Cami Garcia's Beautiful Creatures, which was recently adapted for the Big Screen. Margaret read the book on a friend's glowing recommendation. However, she didn't agree: "I didn't really enjoy this book much. It's just another teen romance thing with the same old black and white/good and evil scenario. The emotional depth of this book fits, maybe, a 13-year-old mindset. Honestly, I don't see how anyone could genuinely like this book. Something like (this story) is absolutely meaningless. Don't waste your time." Needless to say, Margaret won't be recommending the Beautiful Creatures series to anyone anytime soon.

Kayla, 11, recently finished Jeanne Birdsall's The Pinderwicks on Gardam Street. She too read the book because a friend suggested it and, although she didn't absolutely love it, she felt it passed the time: "I thought that this book was very interesting and I can kind of relate to it because (the characters) had a lot of kids and I also have a lot of siblings." Kayla would probably recommend the book to a friend.

Do you like reading and writing? Submit a review at the Teen Desk for possible publication on this blog! --AJB

Towering, by Alex Flinn

Alex Flinn is at it again with another fairy tale retelling. This time she puts a modern spin on Rapunzel with Towering. But don't expect a lighthearted Disney romance (for that, check out Tangled). This novel is, in its own way, every bit as dark and suspenseful as the original Brothers Grimm version. 

When Wyatt moves to a remote Adirondack town to escape the aftermath of his best friend's violent death, he hopes to find some sort of peace. To forget. Instead, he finds a mystery: Here several teenagers have vanished without a trace, including Danielle, the daughter of his host, the creepy but kindly old Mrs. Greenwood. Oddly, no one in town seems bothered by any of these mysterious disappearances. Then there's the voice he hears on the wind, the voice no one else seems to hear. Or is it just that they won't admit to hearing it? What's going on here? When Wyatt decides to follow the voice, he stumbles upon a ruined tower hidden deep within the woods...and finds Rachel, a girl his age who has been a prisoner in the tower all her life. And this is where the fairy tale part comes in: Rachel has the look of a fairy tale princess. And, for some reason, her hair grows with surprising speed and strength. Plus she has other unusual powers that reveal themselves as the story develops. As Wyatt and Rachel inevitably develop feelings for each other (because this is a fairy tale after all), they set in motion events that will blow the cover off a secret drug testing operation that has been plaguing the town--and its teenage residents--for decades. Expect plenty of action, mystery, and, of course, the sort of romance you'd expect from a Flinn retelling. Overall, lots of teen appeal. 

Towering is perhaps Ms. Flinn's best retelling since Beastly. However, a word of warning to parents and tween readers: Towering includes some violence, teen pregnancy, and other sensitive topics that make this book better suited to older teens (14/15 and up). --AJB

Cloaked

Best known for her literary hit Beastly (which inspired a movie a few years ago), Alex Flinn continues her streak of fairy tale re-mixes with Cloaked, a mash-up of The Frog Prince, The Elves and the Shoemaker, and a handfull of random obscurities originally penned by Grimm and Anderson. Unfortunately, this book boasts too many bits and pieces of interwoven fairy tale plots and not enough originality. And the story suffers for it: Characters (even main ones) are never fully fleshed out, bad guys don't feel threatening, romance lacks chemistry, and the ending wraps up too neatly--even for a fairy tale. The concept for the story is a good one. Unfortunately, the execution falls flat. Fans of Beastly will be disappointed, and fairy tale connoisseurs will feel short-changed. 

In Cloaked, we meet Johnny, a teenage shoe repairman (and closet shoe designer) who works at a fancy Florida hotel. When a visiting princess recruits him to go on a mission to rescue her brother, who has been transformed into a frog, Johnny accepts. Armed with a magic cloak that transports its wearer anywhere they desire, an earpiece that allows communication with transformed animals, and a magic ring, Johnny, accompanied by his friend Meg, go in search of said frog. They encounter a tedious amount of fairy tale and magical creatures and situations before finally rescuing the prince and returning him to the safety of his family. In the end, Johnny (rather predictably) gets the girl, convinces the thuggish bad guy to do the right thing, finds his missing father, and lands a $$$ contract to sell his shoe designs. And they all live happily ever after.  

Alex Flinn has a new book coming out later this month. A retelling of Rapunzel. I liked what Disney did with this particular tale, so have high hopes for Flinn's interpretation. Hopefully, she'll go back to what she did with Beastly and focus on modernizing a single tale rather than making an overstuffed mashup of many. --AJB 

Kill Me Softly--A Fairy Tale Gone Wrong

Mira never knew her parents (they were killed in a fire shortly after her birth). Her guardians, two well-meaning but overprotective women, refuse to tell her anything significant about her past except to stay away from the town of her birth (and her parents' demise), Beau Rivage. By her 16th birthday, the mystery of the forbidden town is so great Mira can think of nothing else.So she does what any self-respecting and rebellious teen would do, she runs away to see what the fuss is about. What she finds there is nothing short of bizarre! Beau Rivage seems to be populated by fairy tale characters...and not the bubble-gum sweet Disney-fied versions either: Vivian is obsessed with her appearance, but not in the way one might think. Jewel is constantly choking up flowers. In fact, everyone Mira meets seems to have decidedly odd, well, quirks.  Most notable are those two guys Mira just can't seem to avoid: Felix, who is so charming she can't help falling for him, and Blue, who is so infuriating it's practically hate at first sight. In fact, everyone Mira meets seems to marked for some unavoidable and tragic fate. And it's becoming clear that not every tale ends with Happily Ever After. There's more going on in Beau Rivage than meets the eye. And Mira better figure out what it is before it's too late. 'Cause she's marked for something too.

Although Kill Me Softly is predictable (you'll likely figure out what's going on early in the book and wonder why Mira is so clueless), it's still a highly entertaining story. And there are a few unexpected twists. Not my favorite retelling, but enjoyable enough to recommend. --AJB

p.s. Kill Me Softly is one of the Yalsa Top 10 recommendations for 2013.

Cinderella Story

Set in 14th century China, Donna Jo Napoli's Bound is a re-imagining of Cinderella that's sure to please fans of both fairy tales and historical fiction.

Following the death of her beloved father, young Xing Xing, 14, is doomed to a life of servitude at the hands of her cruel stepmother and spoiled stepsister, who was crippled by a botched foot binding operation. Xing Xing's only joy comes from her daily encounters with a beautiful white carp, who lives in a nearby pond (this carp, we learn, embodies the spirit of her deceased mother). When Stepmother kills the fish to punish Xing Xing, the teen secretly retrieves the bones from the trash and, in doing so, learns the hidden location of a beautiful silk gown and slippers. Dressed in this finery, Xing Xing sneaks out to attend an annual festival and, there, encounters a prince who, of course, is enchanted with her beauty and naturally tiny feet. In effort to beat Stepmother and stepsister home, Xing Xing flees, leaving a single slipper behind. And, well... you know the rest of the story.

As a fairy tale retelling, Bound is particularly interesting in that it incorporates historical details of life in ancient China. And author Donna Jo Napoli manages these small history lessons without drying up the greater story. Even though the story is decidedly predictable (everyone knows what happens in Cinderella), it's still very worth reading. --AJB

p.s. Bound is currently being featured on our Staff Picks shelf, located next to the New Book Shelves at the entrance to the Teen Area.