Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
A darker, breathtaking twist on a classic tale! What if Rapunzel’s mother drank from the destructive Moondrop flower instead of the healing Sundrop? Stranded in her tower with silver-gray hair that possesses the terrifying power to hurt rather than heal, this Rapunzel must overcome Mother Gothel’s severe psychological gaslighting to reclaim her autonomy and true strength.
What if the Sword in the Stone was a trap? Mari Mancusi delivers a 4-star “twisted” retelling of King Arthur’s legend. When Madam Mim rigs the selection of the king, Arthur and a new, fierce Guinevere must team up to reclaim their own destinies.
Marta lives quietly in the attic of the Hotel Balzaar while her mother works as a maid. One day a mysterious countess arrives with a parrot she claims was once a general. She promises Marta seven stories, each told in order. As Marta listens, she begins to sense that the tales might be connected to her missing father. Each unfinished story leaves her wondering what is real and what is imagined as she searches for answers hidden within the countess’s words.
In The Puppets of Spelhorst, five puppets dream of freedom and purpose as they pass from owner to owner until finding themselves part of a magical play that fulfills each of their secret wishes. Through imagination, friendship, and self-discovery, Kate DiCamillo reminds readers that every story, no matter how small, holds meaning and heart.
A hat-obsessed gnome. A tea-loving rat. Endless laughs. Gnome and Rat is a charming graphic novel full of quirky adventures, clever words, and friendship kids will love reading again and again.