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5 Fabulous Fairy Tale Retellings
There are some tropes that never get old, and new takes on classic fairy tales is definitely one of them! Every year there seems to be more of these awesome books magically coming out of the woodwork, and I can understand why: When you are told a story at a young age that sticks with you (and fairy tales are particularly sticky), it forever holds a little place in your imagination and heart. At least, the good ones do. Here are some fresh middle grade books and series that revisit some of our favorite fairy tale classics, from Sleeping Beauty to Aladdin, in a totally new and inspiring way! Read these and then live happily ever after!
Charmed (Fairy Tale Reform School Series), by Jen Calonita
In the second book in this fantastic series about a school in which the teachers are (former) villains, reformed pickpocket Gilly Cobbler and her friends at Fairy Tale Reform School realize that going from mostly bad to somewhat good and heroic has a price—it puts you at the top of the most wanted list of Sleeping Beauty’s wicked fairy! To make things worse, someone seems to be spilling all of their school’s secrets and weaknesses to her, so Gilly must go undercover in the Royal Ladies in Waiting (think: a magical Girl Scouts) to figure out who this spy really is.
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Beyond the Kingdoms (The Land of Stories Series), by Chris Colfer
Most people probably know Chris Colfer from his part as Kurt Hummel on the hit TV show Glee. But Chris has also managed to write a bestselling series of middle grade books, in his copious spare time. (Some people just seem to have more hours in the day than the rest of us!) In the 4th book in this magical series, twins Alex and Conner Bailey find themselves traveling through a vast array of classic stories, picking up some familiar characters along the way (cue: Jack, Red Riding Hood, and Goldilocks), while trying to outwit the Masked Man.
Genie in a Bottle (Whatever After Series), by Sarah Mlynowski
The 9th book in this adorable and enchanting series by the prolific Sarah Mlynowski revisits the story of Aladdin (and anyone with Disney-obsessed kids will probably be very familiar with this one!). Siblings Abby and Jonah once again step through the magic mirror in their basement and find themselves in a whole new fantastical world. Fun, mayhem, and unexpected twists ensue. What would you do with your three wishes?
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Return to the Isle of the Lost (Descendants Series), by Melissa de la Cruz
An island full of the children of the most famous Disney villains—now doesn’t that sound like an enticing vacation destination? Welcome to the Isle of The Lost! Disney fans will love to see their favorite notorious characters wreaking havoc in a new exciting adventure. You may even find yourself rooting for the “bad” guy in this modern fairy tale series. Find out what happens when Malificent’s daughter Mal returns to the Isle that spawned this wickedly fun series.
Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood By Liesl Shurtliff
In the latest book in this series by Liesl Shurtliff, Red takes on the big bad wolf in an updated version of Little Red Riding Hood. (Be sure to check out Shurtliff’s reimagining of Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk and Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin as well.) This fairy tale was always one of the scarier ones for me as a kid, so it’s nice to encounter a protagonist who isn’t afraid of anything. Well, anything except for magic. And in order to save her beloved granny who has become ill, Red will have to face this fear as well. Hopefully she’s braver than the rest of us!
What are your favorite modern fairytale retellings?