Gail Carson Levine

Brief, but as dark as original fairy tales; in these poems, the cow chews down the beanstalk ("I think I'm worth more than five magic beans"), the witch lures Hansel and Gretel to their cannibalistic doom, and Red Riding Hood's grandmother abandons her to the wolf. Most poems have a fairy tale or nursery rhyme connection with a dark twist; in others, the author addresses the reader directly. The table of contents is purposefully useless ("This is Just to Say" over and over, except for the show more Introduction, which is buried on page 18). Funny for the right reader; appalling for the wrong one.

See also: Paul Janeczko's A Kick in the Head, A Poke in the I; Shel Silverstein

William Carlos Williams, "This is just to say" show less

It took me awhile to get into this book, but I finished it two days ago and I'm still thinking about it, wishing there were more (Ms. Levine, I request a sequel, please!). As she did in [b:Ella Enchanted|24337|Ella Enchanted|Gail Carson Levine|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1308737674s/24337.jpg|2485462], GCL gives us a fairy tale with complicated, lovable characters and a lot of intrigue. Here are things I loved about it:

1. The dragon Masteress Meenore's lack of gender. It probably show more wasn't GCL's intention, but I thought creating a character that's neither male nor female was a very progressive move. Not only does it leave room to explore what's "masculine" and "feminine" but it adds a twist that I don't think I've ever seen before. (Also, don't expect it be resolved neatly.)

2. The audiobook narrator, Sarah Coomes. What a genius! She did about 12 distinct voices and had to fit her style to GCL's weird descriptions of how people talked and what their accents were like. I especially loved the voices she did for Princess Renn, Count Jonty Um and Masteress Meenore.

3. Combining fantasy and detective genres. I'd been craving a good mystery, and this certainly hit the spot. Elodie wants to be a mansioner (an actress) but ends up the assistant of a dragon who is basically a detective/street vendor. Together they take up the job of finding out who is plotting against an ogre who also happens to be a count. It sounds crazy, but it totally works.

I heartily recommend the audiobook version of this. I smell an Odyssey Award... show less

This might be the best book I have read in this current semester (though I should say, re-read, as this was one of my favorite books growing up), and that's saying a lot as I have read quite a few wonderful books for this class alone. Levine just knows how to write in a way that immediately immerses you into a world, whether you are a long time fan, or a new reader.

One aspect I love is the relationship between Prince Charmont (a play on the French word for 'charming') and Ella. Levine is show more able to better flesh out their relationship over the course of a year or two, rather than a chance encounter, which gives them both a certain depth that the original Cinderella lacks. It is noted that Char found Ella's mother delightfully funny, and within Ella, sees the same joy in life that she had. This is best characterized by their share love of sliding down stair banisters: “No one is here," Char said. "You need resist temptation no longer." "Only if you slide too." "I'll go first so I can catch you at the bottom." He flew down so incautiously that I suspected him of years of practice in his own castle. It was my turn. The ride was a dream, longer and steeper than the rail at home. The hall rose to meet me, and Char was there. He caught me and spun me around.” It is a whimsical moment, but it showcases the idea that the best, healthiest relationships are built on a sense of joy from each other.

The second aspect I absolutely loved is the concept of the various languages, and giving Ella a gifted tongue (in the original fairytale, we know very little of the main character. Ella is able to free herself from the ogres by imitating their dialect. She comforts a small dwarf child by repeating a phrase she learned from a parrot, and she befriends a wonderful foreign girl over their mutual love of the girl's home language. This love of language, and of learning new culture, is showcased in a moment when she says goodbye to Char: “ahthOOn SSyng!" I said. "That's farewell." "It sounds evil." "It is," I answered, and we parted.”

There are multiple messages: embrace new cultures, find love in friendship, love yourself--all intertwined in the relationships and experiences Ella has with Char, her friend from boarding school, and her encounters with the magical creatures of her world. show less

A kind sister and a cruel one. A charming prince. A spiteful fairy. A hundred-year snooze. A pea under a pile of mattresses. A kiss.

All the familiar ingredients, but why is the punished sister happy? Where did that extra prince come from, and what does a flock of balding sheep or a fleck of tuna in a chocolate cake have to do with anything?

Gail Carson Levine has waved her magic wand over three well-known fairy tales, and presto! They are transformed - and sparklingly funny -in these show more delightful retellings.

Includes:
- The Fairy's Mistake
- The Princess Test
- Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep show less