Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood

Goodreads Synopsis:    Red is not afraid of the big bad wolf. She’s not afraid of anything . . . except magic.
But when Red’s granny falls ill, it seems that only magic can save her, and fearless Red is forced to confront her one weakness.

With the help of a blond, porridge-sampling nuisance called Goldie, Red goes on a quest to cure Granny. Her journey takes her through dwarves’ caverns to a haunted well and a beast’s castle. All the while, Red and Goldie are followed by a wolf and a huntsman—two mortal enemies who seek the girls’ help to defeat each other. And one of them just might have the magical solution Red is looking for. . . . 

My Thoughts:

-    I know I'm posting this after Grump, but I promise I read this first. I just had to get Grump's post up because I was assigned a date.

-    I really enjoyed this one. I liked the references to Rump, and I really liked the variety of fairy tales that were used. For some reason, I just love fairy tale mash ups.

-    I'm glad Red got her own book. She was such a fun character in Rump, and it was fun to get to know her story.

-    I loved Red's character development. She went through a lot, and she had to learn so much. It was good to see her stretch and grow.

-    I really liked Red's relationships and interactions with the other characters, especially Goldie. 

-    I loved the message of this book. It is something everyone could benefit from. It talks about grief and not wanting the people we love to die. It was so good, and it tackled the topic is a great way for a middle grade book.

Grump: The (Fairly) True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Goodreads Synopsis:    From the New York Times bestselling author of Rump, comes the true story behind another unlikely hero: a grumpy dwarf who gets tangled up in Snow White's feud with the wicked queen.

Ever since he was a dwarfling, Borlen (nicknamed "Grump") has dreamed of visiting The Surface, so when opportunity knocks, he leaves his cavern home behind.

At first, life aboveground is a dream come true. Queen Elfrieda Veronika Ingrid Lenore (E.V.I.L.) is the best friend Grump always wanted, feeding him all the rubies he can eat and allowing him to rule at her side in exchange for magic and information. But as time goes on, Grump starts to suspect that Queen E.V.I.L. may not be as nice as she seems. . . .

When the queen commands him to carry out a horrible task against her stepdaughter Snow White, Grump is in over his head. He's bound by magic to help the queen, but also to protect Snow White. As if that wasn't stressful enough, the queen keeps bugging him for updates through her magic mirror! He'll have to dig deep to find a way out of this pickle, and that's enough to make any dwarf Grumpy indeed.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

My Thoughts:

-    This was a fun and refreshing new take on a classic fairy tale.

-    I liked Red and Rump better, but this was good. I liked this better than Jack.

-    I liked the Grump was the center of the story, and I liked learning about the dwarfish ways. The author was really clever with the Dwarves' way of life.

-    Snow White was a little annoying, but I think she was supposed to be. 

-    I liked the queen dynamic. I really liked that being the fairest in the land had two meanings, and the queen totally took the wrong one. 

-    I liked that Grump had to figure out where he belonged in his society, and I liked his character growth.

-    There a few slow parts, but overall, this was an entertaining read. 

Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk

From Goodreads:    Jack has always been told that giants are not real. But if that’s the case, how do you explain the huge, foot shaped pond in the yard, or the occurrence of strange and sudden storms in which the earth quakes and dirt rains from the sky? When his father is carried away in such a storm, Jack gives chase in the only logical way: by trading the family cow for some magic beans that will give him access to a land beyond the clouds. He arrives to find that the giants themselves have giant-sized troubles. With the help of an overachieving little sister, a magic goose and a chatty cook (who is not interested in grinding human bones into bread, thank you very much!) Jack sets out to save his dad and save the day.





My Thoughts:

-    I liked Rump a lot, so I was excited to read more of these, but this one was a little disappointing. It wasn't as good as Rump.

-    I wish the story has strayed from the original a little more. 

-    I really like that the giant world was the same world as Rump. It was really fun to see old characters come back.

-    I liked the characters a lot. I like Jack and his sister, and I liked their relationship.

-    The story was a little slow at times. I think the pacing was just off.

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin

Goodreads Says:    This funny fractured fairy tale goes behind the scenes of Rumpelstiltskin. "A most magical feat," writes Newbery Honor-winner Kirby Larson, "Liesl Shurtliff spins words into gold." 

In a magic kingdom where your name is your destiny, 12-year-old Rump is the butt of everyone's joke. But when he finds an old spinning wheel, his luck seems to change. Rump discovers he has a gift for spinning straw into gold. His best friend, Red Riding Hood, warns him that magic is dangerous, and she’s right. With each thread he spins, he weaves himself deeper into a curse.

To break the spell, Rump must go on a perilous quest, fighting off pixies, trolls, poison apples, and a wickedly foolish queen. The odds are against him, but with courage and friendship—and a cheeky sense of humor—he just might triumph in the end.

Book Trailer

My Thoughts:

-    I've really been enjoying the middle grade fairy tale retellings lately. 

-    This was a clever and humorous spin on Rumpelstiltskin. I liked it a lot.

-    I love the idea of the power of names. I always have, and I love how this story intertwines destinies with names. 

-    There were some similarities between Rump and Once Upon a Time's Dark One. I wonder if one influenced the other.

 

-    I was really intrigued with Red and her family. I hope there is a book about them sometime in the future. 

-    Very fun read! I highly recommend it!