Nightbooks by J.A. White (Middle Grade Fantasy Horror Book Review)

Nightbooks
by J.A. White
Published by Katherine Teagan
on July 24, 2018
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Horror
Length: 320 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years

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Synopsis:
A boy is imprisoned by a witch and must tell her a new scary story each night to stay alive. This thrilling contemporary fantasy from J.A. White, the acclaimed author of the Thickety series, brings to life the magic and craft of storytelling. 

My Thoughts:

Young Alex Mosher is obsessed with everything spooky and scary. He loves scary movies and even writes his own scary stories that he calls his Nightbooks, but this has made him the 'weird kid' and in an attempt to feel normal he decides to head to his apartment buildings' basement to burn his Nightbooks. Along the way, he is waylaid by the sounds of his favorite movie, Night of the Living Dead, and enters an apartment that traps him within! It's owned by a witch and she will only let him live if he reads her a scary story every night!

Nightbooks is fairytale retellings gone spooky!
This fun middle grade has both hints of fantasy and horror and is perfect for budding young writers!

If you would rather read fairytales than ghost stories during Autumn but still want a little scare, this is the perfect choice!
It reminds me of both Hansel & Gretal and One Thousand and One Nights thanks to the witch that lures in children and a character who must tell stories in order to survive.  

I started reading the physical book (which I bought way back in an Owlcrate subscription) but my daughter was so intrigued and wanted to hear it too so we switched to audio to finish the story and then we watched the Netflix adaptation together.  There were a few small changes from book to movie but I suspect it was for the soundtrack and pop culture value but otherwise was quite enjoyable! 

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Swan Lake by the New York City Ballet & Valeria Docampo (Children's Picture Book Review)

Swan Lake
by the New York City Ballet
Illustrated by Valeria Docampo
Published by Little Simon
on August 27, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Fairytales
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

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Synopsis:
In this stunning follow-up to the bestselling The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty, the New York City Ballet presents another timeless tale for a modern ballet lover with Swan Lake.

Our Thoughts:

Based on the New York City Ballet production of Swan Lake, this beautifully illustrated picture book will delight readers of all ages with a classic and beloved tale.

Downtrodden by his parent's demands to marry, Prince Siegfried is too sulky to join his friends on a hunting trip to use his new bow, but he later has a change of heart and sets out toward the lake late into the night. Once there, he comes across a swan that turns into a beautiful young woman. The beautiful Odette, queen of the swans, has been put under a spell by an evil sorcerer. The only way to lift the curse is for someone who has never loved before to swear his love to her and marry her. 

But the sorcerer, von Rothbart, has other plans!

True to the original, this story does not have the happiest of endings. It's honestly a bit heartbreaking and tragic and my own daughter was a little disappointed when it didn't turn out like the children's animated film, 'The Swan Princess'. But it's a lovely story nonetheless, with beautiful illustrations that emulates the actual ballet performance, including costumes and choreography.

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Book Review: Changeling by Delia Sherman

Changeling by Delia Sherman

Genre:

YA Fantasy

Published:

2006

My Rating:

☆☆☆

SYNOPSIS:

A determined heroine, a quest? adventure galore! Neef is a changeling, a human baby stolen by fairies and replaced with one of their own. She lives in ?New York Between,? a Manhattan that exists side by side with our own, home to various creatures of folklore. Neef has always been protected by her fairy godmother?until she breaks a Fairy Law. Now, unless she can meet the challenge of the Green Lady of Central Park, she?ll be sacrificed! Neef is determined to beat the rap?but time is running out . . .

MY THOUGHTS:

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” — Neil Gaiman (This is probably the best quote from a completely different author that I could put with this book. One, because 'Changeling' is a story about a girl raised by fairies. Two, because there is also a dragon in this story.) Neef is a changeling. She was taken as a young child and a fairy that looked exactly like her was put in her place. She was then take...more“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” — Neil Gaiman (This is probably the best quote from a completely different author that I could put with this book. One, because 'Changeling' is a story about a girl raised by fairies. Two, because there is also a dragon in this story.) Neef is a changeling. She was taken as a young child and a fairy that looked exactly like her was put in her place. She was then taken to Central Park and raised by a beautiful white rat named Astris. Neef might live with the fairies but she is just a mortal child with mortal curiousity and whims which gets her in trouble with the "Green Lady" and sends her on an adventure which may or may not put her life back to rights. I've read a few 'Fey' or 'Fairy' books before but this one is so full of mythical creatures that I think it is probably one the best reads for those in love with fairy stories. There are so many fairy realm creatures in this book that I couldn't begin to name them all. This book is also full of adventure and is a really good quick read for young-adults. I recommend to anyone looking for something mystical and fun.

[Read from April 25th to April 28th]