The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Retelling, Fairy Tale, Twelve Dancing Princesses, Magic

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Zita is not an ordinary servant girl – she’s the thirteenth daughter of a king who wanted only sons. When she was born, Zita’s father banished her to the servants’ quarters to work in the kitchens, where she can only communicate with her royal sisters in secret. Then, after Zita’s twelfth birthday the princesses all fall mysteriously ill. The only clue is their strangely worn and tattered shoes. With the help of her friends – Breckin the stable boy, Babette the witch, and Milek the soldier – Zita follers her bewitched sisters into a magical world of endless dancing and dreams. But something more sinister is afoot – and unless Zita and her friends can break the curse, the twelve princesses will surely dance to their deaths. A classic fairy tale with a bold twist, The Thirteenth Princess tells the unforgettable story of a magical castle, true love, spellbound princesses – and the young girl determined to save them all.

This is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. In it there is actually a thirteenth princess who was raised as a servant. Zita gets to know her sisters in secret. As time goes on she notices that things are not right with them so she tries to get them some help. But it must come down to her and her friends to save the day. I thought that the twist on this story was very invented. Adding in the new characters to the story only made for a richer story that you can’t help but love. I really liked this book. It is quite sweet and show love in both the family kind of way and the romantic kind as well. A book I highly recommend to read.

Publisher: Harper Collins

ISBN: 0061824984

Pages: 256

Series:

Volume:

Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards

Genre: Children

Sub Genre: Fiction; Orphans

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Mandy, a ten-year-old orphan, dreams of a place to call her own. Escaping over the orphanage wall to explore the outside world, Mandy discovers a tiny deserted cottage in the woods. All through the spring, summer, and fall, Mandy works to make it truly hers. Sometimes she "borrows" things she needs from the orphanage. Sometimes, to guard her secret, she even lies. Then, one stormy night at the cottage, Mandy gets sick, and no one knows how to find her—except a special friend she didn't know she had.

This is one of those great childhood tales. Mandy has grown up in an orphanage and just wants a place to call her own. While exploring over the wall of the orphanage she finds a deserted cottage. She takes it upon herself to clean it up and make it perfect. It is such a great story. I know that it is a children’s book but it is so well written and it is one story that will stay with you. I loved reading it and have several times.

Publisher: Harper Collins

ISBN: 0061207071

Pages: 320

Series:

Volume:

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire

Genre: Fantasy

Sub Genre: Re-telling of a Fairy Tale

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: We have all heard the story of Cinderella, the beautiful child cast out to slave among the ashes. But what of her stepsisters, the homely pair exiled into ignominy by the fame of their lovely sibling? What fate befell those untouched by beauty… and what curses accompanied Cinderella’s looks? Set against the backdrop of seventeenth-century Holland, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister tells the story of Iris, an unlikely heroine who finds herself swept from the lowly streets of Haarlem to a strange world of wealth, artifice, and ambition. Iris’s path quickly becomes intertwined with that of Clara, the mysterious and unnaturally beautiful girl destined to become her sister. While Clara retreats to the cinders of the family hearth. Iris seeks out the shadowy secrets of her new household – and the treacherous truth of her former life. Far more than a mere fairy tale, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsisteris a novel of beauty and betrayal, illusion and understanding, reminding us that deception can be unearthed – and love unveiled – in the most unexpected of places.

This was one of the first re-telling fairy tales I ever read. Now Gregory Maguire is best known for his renditions of the Wizard of OZ, Wicked. But I think that this is one story that gets over looked. It shouldn’t it is a good story. Told from the Ugly stepsister who is more then what the stories say she is. It also has a different look at Clara, aka Cinderella here. The way it is told gives all the characters more depth. I enjoyed it as more of light reading then anything. IF you enjoy re-telling stories then you should read this.

Publisher: Harper Collins

ISBN: 0061960551

Pages: 384

Series:

Volume: