Famous Tales with a Twist
Reviews by Melissa Oxborrow

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[October 13, 2015]   I love when authors are able to take a fairytale, myth or classic story that everyone is familiar with and flesh it out, breathing new life into it. The following titles are perfect examples. Whether it’s hearing the story of Cinderella in a brand new way or diving into Lois Lane’s life when she was a teenager, each of these books gives a famous tale an unexpected twist.

Mechanica
by Betsy Cornwell, c2015


A steampunk retelling of Cinderella? Yes, please!

Nicolette lives a life of lonely drudgery with her cruel stepmother and selfish stepsisters, numb with grief from the deaths of both her parents---until the day she discovers the secret entrance to her mother’s workshop. As she sinks into her mother’s mechanical and magical world she begins to believe that she can find a way to use her talent for tinkering to change her life. With the help of a tiny clockwork horse named Jules, her own ingenuity and her clever new friends Finn and Caroline, can she prove herself to be the inventor she knows she truly is? She’ll have the chance at the upcoming royal ball and technological exposition.

This is the Cinderella tale like you’ve never heard it before with an ending that cries out for a sequel! It’s a wonderful pick for tweens and teens (grades 6 – 12) that love their fairytales sprinkled with a blend of magic and science.

The Wrath and the Dawn
by Renee Adieh, c2015


Shahrzad is bent on revenge. The Caliph of Khorasan, eighteen-year-old Khalid, takes a new bride every night only to have them killed the following morning---and Shahrzad’s best friend is his latest victim. She volunteers to be the king’s next bride, determined to take the life of this cold-hearted murderer. The kingdom is staggered when Shahrzad’s life is spared night by night, her beguiling stories gradually opening the caliph’s closed heart. Soon Shahrzad comes to see that nothing in this palace is what it seems, especially it’s tortured young king. How can she reconcile her new love for Khalid with her love for family and friends? Who will she betray?

This novel is filled with beautiful writing that brings an ancient magical kingdom alive with stark detail. Filled with believably flawed characters, epic storytelling, and searing romance, older teens will devour it and wait with bated breath for the sequel.

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Lois Lane: Fallout
by Gwenda Bond, c2015


Lois Lane is not the type to back down from a fight. And she’s always liked a good mystery. When she sees a fellow classmate bullied by a creepy clique called the Warheads, she decides it’s time to investigate. Soon she realizes that somehow the Warheads are using a high-tech videogame to mess with her new friend’s mind and it looks like some unscrupulous adults are behind it all. Can she save her Anavi’s mind, write a killer story for the Daily Planet and make some new friends along the way? Well, with a little bit of help from her online pal, SmallvilleGuy, anything is possible!

This fabulous tale full of mystery, action and lots of fun will appeal to guys and girls, grades 6 and up, especially those with a love of videogames and superheroes. Can’t wait for the next in the series!


The Actual & Truthful Adventures
of Becky Thatcher
by Jessica Lawson, c2014


Becky Thatcher promised her dying brother that she would have all the adventures he couldn’t, and she’s determined to keep her word. Maybe if she gets in enough trouble, Mama will break out of her cocoon of grief and notice she’s alive, even if her brother isn’t. And maybe she’ll have some real fun, even if she drives her poor Daddy crazy in the process. But Becky is about to get more than she bargains for when she and her friend Amy witness a grave robbery. With an interfering riverboat captain/writer watching her every move and that tattletale Tom Sawyer lurking around every corner, how can a girl solve a mystery and keep body and soul together at the same time?

This engaging read for children, grades 5 and up, is filled with action, fun---and humor that would make Mark Twain himself chuckle!

To check out these books or get recommendations for other great reads, please come see us at the Lincoln Public Library, 725 Pekin Street.

[By MELISSA OXBORROW, Lincoln Public Library District]

 

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