October 2013, Little, Brown, 320 pages, Hardback, Review Copy
Themes: fairy
tale characters, magical (sort of) pets, being different, wanting to ignore
family ties, feeling trapped, deception, firm friendship, cute and helpful
animals, powerful dragon, feeling isolated, everything going wrong before it
goes right,
Content: Lots of
humour, some sadness, some moderate-ish peril,
Summary from Little, Brown
At Ever After High, an enchanting boarding school, the children of
fairytale legends prepare themselves to fulfill their destinies as the
next generation of Snow Whites, Prince Charmings and Evil Queens . . .
whether they want to or not. Each year on Legacy Day, students sign the
Storybook of Legends to seal their scripted fates. For generations, the
Village of Book End has whispered that refusing to sign means The End -
both for a story and for a life.
As the daughter of the Evil Queen, Raven Queen's destiny is to follow in her mother's wicked footsteps, but evil is so not Raven's style. She's starting to wonder, what if she rewrote her own story? The royal Apple White, daughter of the Fairest of Them All, has a happy ever after planned for herself, but it depends upon Raven feeding her a poison apple in their future.
What if Raven doesn't sign the Storybook of Legends? It could mean a happily never after for them both.
As the daughter of the Evil Queen, Raven Queen's destiny is to follow in her mother's wicked footsteps, but evil is so not Raven's style. She's starting to wonder, what if she rewrote her own story? The royal Apple White, daughter of the Fairest of Them All, has a happy ever after planned for herself, but it depends upon Raven feeding her a poison apple in their future.
What if Raven doesn't sign the Storybook of Legends? It could mean a happily never after for them both.
Nayuleska's thoughts
I'm
finding it a little cool that although there isn't yet a film of Raven and
Apple's story, there are
figurines
to buy. No, I'm not getting anything for saying that, it's just unusual to me
that a book has dolls of the characters-yay! It's such a pretty book - look at
the fancy border which is on every page.
Sometimes
fairy tale stories end up in a direction that I don't like, but not this one! I
feel so sorry for
Raven
because she is forced into a role that doesn't suit her - several influential
people do all they can to keep her on the allegedly one and only fairytale
career path. But what makes Raven Raven has her searching sometimes frantically
for another future, one where people don't freak out as soon as they see or
hear her.She wants to be good, not evil. I had half wondered if she would
create a spell to look like someone else, or disguise herself, but what
happened was clever and cool.
I love the costumes of all the girls,
especially Cerise's hood. I like how the girls are all a bit different to
their namesakes, how cute their magical pets are - a snow fox and a dragon are
kind of exciting! Although Apple is set on tradition, the bonds of friendship
means she helps Raven explore all options or their joint future, an
exploration filled with revelations, mishaps, and lots more friendship. I loved
the different furnishings for each fairytale princess's part of the room which
suited their needs. It was both funny and sad how other characters reacted to
stereotypes especially around Raven - I wanted to cry each time someone fled
from her. The ending was unguessable, with constant twists and uncertainty leading
up to it, and now I'm eager for book 2!
There are
several tiny ebooks about some of the characters which are currently free
on Amaz*n
Ever
After High: Hunter Huntsman's Story
Summary from Little, Brown
Get a sneak peek at the wonderful world of Ever After High!
Join
Hunter Huntsman, son of the heroic Huntsman, for a day in the woods.
What happens when he has to hide his real feelings about hunting in the
forest - and about a forest maiden, too? Read all about it in this
exclusive Ever After High short story by Newbery Honor author Shannon
Hale.
Nayuleska's thoughts
Hunter's preferences are a real surprise,
as is a special young lady he helps
Ever
After High: Ashlynn Ella's Story -
Summary from Little, Brown
Join Ashlynn Ella, daughter of Cinderella, as her woodland friends help
her get ready for her Legacy Year at school, where she will train for
her destiny to marry a prince. But what if she meets the woodsman of her
dreams instead? Read all about it in this exclusive Ever After High
short story by Newbery Honor author Shannon Hale.
Nayuleska's thoughts
awesome insight into a character a love and
wish had more page time.
Ever
After High: Madeline Hatter's Story
Summary from Little, Brown
Join Madeline Hatter, daughter of the Mad Hatter of Wonderland, for a
positively upside-down day at her father's Mad Hatter of Wonderland's
Haberdashery Hat & Tea Shoppe.
Nayuleska's thoughts
- I'm not a Wonderland fan but Maddie is
compassionate and really helps another girl out.
Ever After
High: Briar Beauty's Story
Summary from Little, Brown
Join Briar Beauty, daughter of Sleeping Beauty, as she taps into her
adventurous spirit to investigate and track down mischievous thieves who
are causing trouble around the castle.
Nayuleska's thoughts
A hilarious insight into another character who I
love
Ever
After High: Raven Queen's Story
Summary from Little, Brown
Raven Queen, the daughter of the Evil Queen, is destined to give the
poisoned apple to Snow White's daughter. But Raven has a spark of
rebelliousness in her heart and she knows one thing for sure - evil is so not her style.
Read all about her getting ready to return to Ever After High in this excerpt from the upcoming book The Storybook of Legends (out on 8th October 2013).
Read all about her getting ready to return to Ever After High in this excerpt from the upcoming book The Storybook of Legends (out on 8th October 2013).
Nayuleska's thoughts
This seemed to be the first scene in which
the reader meets Raven in Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends - after reading the summary realise that's exactly what it is!
Ever
After High: Apple White's Story
Summary from Little, Brown
The royal Apple White, daughter of the Fairest of Them All, cannot wait for Legacy Day! It will be the day she seals the deal on getting her happily ever after. Poisoned apple, a kiss from Prince Charming, and then ruling a kingdom - she wants it all!
Read all about her getting ready to return to Ever After High in this excerpt from the upcoming book The Storybook of Legends (out on 8th October 2013).
The royal Apple White, daughter of the Fairest of Them All, cannot wait for Legacy Day! It will be the day she seals the deal on getting her happily ever after. Poisoned apple, a kiss from Prince Charming, and then ruling a kingdom - she wants it all!
Read all about her getting ready to return to Ever After High in this excerpt from the upcoming book The Storybook of Legends (out on 8th October 2013).
Nayuleska's thoughts
again this seems to be the chapter where the
reader first meets Apple in Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends.
You can
find out more on the dedicated website.
Suggested
read
For more
fairytale fun check out Beauty by Robin McKinley (Children's, 9 years +, 9/10E)
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