Stories Inspired by Fairy Tales

Fairy tales are dramatic, often scary, and much read. Sometimes authors use fairy tales as starting points for new stories, twisting and interpreting them in new ways.

      You know the story of Cinderella: the poor girl with the mean stepsisters and stepmother, who scores the handsome prince. Marissa Meyer took some of those pieces in her futuristic take on the Cinderella story, Cinder.  As plague ravages the overcrowded Earth, Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg, becomes involved with handsome Prince Kai and must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect the world. There are two sequels, Scarlet and Tress, each based on characters from different fairy tales.

      Troll’s Eye View: A Book of Villainous Tales, are fairy tales retold through the eyes of the characters who were the villains in the original tales. Everyone thinks they know the real story behind the villains in fairy tales--evil, no two ways about it. But the villains themselves beg to differ. In this anthology, you'll hear from the Giant's wife (from Jack and the Beanstalk), Rumpelstiltskin, the oldest of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, and more.

       The new novel by Tom McNeal, Far Far Away, doesn't exactly retell one or more fairy tales.  Instead it creates a new kind of fairy tale with roots in the old tales and featuring the ghost of Jacob Grimm. When Jeremy Johnson Johnson's strange ability to speak to the ghost of Jacob Grimm draws the interest of his classmate, Ginger Boltinghouse, the two find themselves at the center of a series of disappearances in their hometown.

Here are some more books that take the fairy tales we remember and give them just a little twist.

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

On her way to marry a prince she's never met, Princess Anidori is betrayed by her guards and her lady-in-waiting and must become a goose girl to survive until she can reveal her true identity and reclaim the crown that is rightfully hers..

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

 In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.

Beast by Donna Jo Napoli

This book is based on the tale of "Beauty and the Beast," told from the point of view of the beast and set in Persia.

There are many other books based on the fairy tales we all love.  Just ask in the Youth Services Room!

Happy reading,
Connie

You've finished Allegiant! Now what?

If you loved the Divergent series and have finished reading Allegiant, are you feeling like this?

And now you have to wait until March for the movie!

Here are some suggestions of books to read while you wait.

If you loved the Dystopian Setting in Allegiant (set in dystopian Chicago), try Delirium (set in dystopian Portland..yup, our very own big Maine city!).

 
           Lena looks forward to receiving the government-mandated cure that prevents the delirium of love and leads to a safe, predictable, and happy life, until ninety-five days before her eighteenth birthday and her treatment, when she falls in love.

If you loved the Action in Allegiant, try Legend.

          In a dark future, when North America has split into two warring nations, fifteen-year-olds Day, a famous criminal, and prodigy June, the brilliant soldier hired to capture him, discover that they have a common enemy.

If you loved the Initiation in Divergent, try The Giver.

 
Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.

If you loved the Dauntless Pit, try The Forest of Hands and Feet.

Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the Unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.

If you loved the Romance, try Matched.

 
All her life, Cassia has never had a choice. The Society dictates everything: when and how to play, where to work, where to live, what to eat and wear, when to die, and most importantly to Cassia as she turns 17, who to marry.




Or ask in the Youth Services Room for more titles you will love!


Happy reading.

Snow!

      In Maine in January we think a lot about SNOW!  Here are some books you can find in the Youth Services Room at the Scarborough Public Library that touch on snow.

After the Snow  by  S. D.Crockett

 
     Fifteen-year-old Willo Blake, born after the 2059 snows that ushered in a new ice age, encounters outlaws, halfmen, and an abandoned girl as he journeys in search of his family, who mysteriously disappeared from the freezing mountain that was their home.

Phantoms in the Snow by Kathleen Benner Duble

     In 1944, fifteen-year-old Noah Garrett, recently orphaned, is sent to live at Camp Hale, Colorado, with an uncle he has never met, and there he finds his pacifist views put to the test.

Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin

      After her stepfather is arrested for child abuse, thirteen-year-old Karina's home life improves but while the severity of her older sister's injuries and the urging of her younger sister, their uncle, and a friend tempt her to testify against him, her mother and other well-meaning adults persuade her to claim responsibility.


Snow : a retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs  by Tracy Lynn.

Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan

       In 1940, when the Nazi invasion of Norway reaches their village in the far north, twelve-year-old Peter and his friends use their sleds to transport nine million dollars worth of gold bullion past the German soldiers to the secret harbor where Peter's uncle keeps his ship ready to take the gold for safekeeping in the United States.


The Snow Pony by Alison Lester

       Prolonged drought has strained Dusty's ranching family to the breaking point, but she finds consolation with her wild and beautiful horse.

The Winter of Red Snow:  The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart by Kristiana Gregory

       Eleven-year-old Abigail presents a diary account of life in Valley Forge from December 1777 to July 1778 as General Washington prepares his troops to fight the British.


Enjoy the snow!


Happy reading, 
Connie

Every December...

          Every December I re-read out loud Dylan Thomas’s famous story, A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Using beautiful language, the author describes a young Welsh boy’s memories of Christmas, with mounds of snow, aunts and uncles, red-nosed postmen, and of course presents.  The holiday season wouldn’t feel as special to me if I didn’t read this book each December.

         There are so many wonderful Christmas books, from How the Grinch Stole Christmas to The Polar Express.  What are your favorites?

  
         A new favorite of mine is Jim Murphy’s Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting.  This is a non-fiction book about a miracle on Christmas Eve, 1914, in the midst of World War I. In World War I trenches were used to help shelter soldiers from bullets and bombs. Trenches ran from the North Sea Coast all the way to the Swiss border, with the trenches being from 50 to 1000 yards apart. The Germans were on one side of the trench and the French, English and Belgians were on the other. Originally both sides thought the war would be over by Christmas, each side shelling, bombing and launching raids on the other. Massive losses on both sides contributed to doubt among those on the front lines. Then on Christmas Eve of 1914, a miracle happened. Almost all the way along the lines a spontaneous peace erupted; for more than 24 hours no fighting took place  The soldiers met in the middle of no-man's land between the trenches and exchanged gifts and songs and Christmas greetings and wishes.

         With lots of historical photographs, this book tells of politicians and military leaders who wanted to continue fighting and soldiers who did not obey orders and had a Christmas miracle.

Whatever holidays you celebrate, I wish you. ..and the world…peace in this special season.

Happy reading,
Connie

Battle of the Books!

The Youth Services staff and TAB, the Teen Advisory Board, have put together a Battle of the Books!  Between November  25th and March 22, 2014, read either six dystopian novels or six anime books (or read all 12, if you want!). 

The six dystopian novels selected to do battle are:

Hunger Games

Among the Hidden

Divergent

City of Ember

Matched

The Giver

 
The six anime books selected to do battle are:

Full Metal Art

Black Butler

Blood Relatives

Fruits Basket

Naruto

Bleach

As you read, think about these things:

                                       Did you like the main character?

                                             Did you like the plot?

                                           Did you like the cover?

                            Would you recommend this book to a friend?

                          Was it one of the best books you’ve ever read?


There will be a ballot box in the Youth Services Room for you to vote for your favorite dystopian novel and your favorite anime book.    

Let the games begin!!

Happy reading,
Connie

Maze Runner: another post-apocalyptic book series becomes a movie

       Maze Runner, the dystopian novel by James Dasher, is headed for the big screen with a movie opening on February 14th.  Maze Runner is the first book in a series (of course; every book seems to be part of a series now!) and is followed by The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure, and  a prequel, The Kill Order.
   

       When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by 60 boys who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. Some have been there two years. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift. Thomas was expected. But the next day, a comatose girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the stange message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind. They're all trapped in a maze that will require Thomas to join forces with fellow "runners" for a shot at escape. There are lots of fast-paced action scenes, particularly those involving the nightmarish Grievers who plague the boys.

Read the book (or even the series) before the movie comes out!  

Even though I love to go to movies, I think books are always better than their movies.  With books I can use my own imagination! Do you agree or disagree?

Maze Runner is the book that the library's middle school book club, Bookworms, is currently reading.  We read great books and have lots of fun.  Join us!  Just fill out a short form found at the Youth Services desk.  I hope to see you soon.

Happy reading,
Connie

Chance to win a free book!

Have you wondered about this display in the Youth Services Room?

  

It’s Writer’s Corner!  Every month, a different collage of pictures is posted on the wall.  Think about what is happening in the pictures.  Can you see a story in them?  There is no right answer!  Let your imagination take off.  Describe the story you create from the pictures. Write down your story on the paper provided.


The author of the most imaginative story wins a free book !  Each month there is a new group of pictures and a new chance to win.

Good luck!  And congratulation's to the first winner: Jenny! Enjoy your free book.
Connie