Enchanted

In Enchanted, the author weaves a magical world out of traditional fairy tales. The Frog Prince, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Cinderella are all mixed together to make this delightful new fantasy. 

Sunday is the rather overlooked youngest sibling in a large family, but when she meets Grumble, a man who has been transformed into a frog, her whole world turns upside-down. She finds herself falling in love, but when Grumble is changed back to normal, and Sunday thinks him dead, he must figure out a way to show her who he really is. Enchanted is funny, sweet, and suspenseful, I would recommend it to anyone!

Maddie, 13

Bitterblue

In the book Bitterblue, Kristin Cashore, author of Graceling and Fire, continues the story of princess Bitterblue. She has now become the queen of Monsea after her tyrannical father is killed, but has to deal with the aftermath of the horrors he committed during his reign. Already in her eighth year as queen, Bitterblue has still not managed to unravel her father Leck’s secrets. But, when she starts sneaking out at night to see her kingdom as it really is she gets wound up in a tangle of stories, lies, and betrayal.

Maddie, 13

Bluefish

In the book Bluefish, Pat Schmatz, author of Mrs. Estronsky, Mousetraps, and Circle the Truth, tells a touching story of grief, secrets, and friendship. Travis is a quiet kid, with a love for nature. But his life is turned upside-down when he and his grandfather move, his dog Rosco disappears, and he is forced to attend a new school. There he meets Velveeta, a girl whose personality is almost as colorful as the scarves she wears. They both have a secret and they need one another's help to fix the messes that they are both in.

Maddie, 12

The Silver Bowl

The Silver Bowl, by Diane Stanley, author of Saving Sky and Bella At Midnight, is a wonderful fairy tale. Molly is a serving girl with a crazy mother, a mysterious necklace, and a curious heritage, who must use all her strength and cunning to save the royal line from a terrible fate. This book is filled with adventure as well as a curse, a handsome prince, and a magic silver bowl. It will keep readers laughing and they simply won’t want to put it down.

Maddie, 12

Nightspell

In the book Nightspell, Leah Cypess, author of the book Mistwood, tells a tale of mystery, deception, and murder. Told from the point of view of three siblings, Varis a noble prince dedicated to his kingdom, Darri a fierce warrior princess, and Callie who has been forced to spend her entire life in a kingdom where the dead do not stay dead, and a silver coin can be a deadly weapon. They will need courage, strength, and most importantly trust, if they wish to make it out alive.

Maddie, 12

A Tale of Two Castles

In A Tale of Two Castles, Gail Carson Levine, author of the award winning Ella Enchanted, tells a fairy tale with a mysterious twist. Elodie’s dreams of becoming a famous actress are thrown off course and it will take an observant dragon, a misunderstood ogre, and a thieving cat trainer to help her find something she loves even more. Readers who love humor and suspense will be begging for more!

Maddie, 12

Cloaked

In the book Cloaked, Alex Flinn, author of Beastly and A Kiss in Time, crafts magic into the modern world. It mixes up different fairy tales and sticks them into seventeen-year-old Johnny’s life. Johnny has enough problems running his family’s shoe repair shop, without adding a princess, a curse, and a magic cloak. When a witch turns a prince into a frog there’s bound to be trouble. Readers who like action and humor will love this exciting novel. Prepare to be wrapped up in a magical adventure!

Maddie, 12