A clever twist on a selection of fairy tales from "Sleeping Beauty" to "Rapunzel" shines a realistic light on these classics, questioning whether magic is always a good thing. Princess Annabelle's older sister, Gwendolyn, is given the magical gift of beauty while Annie has been made impervious to magic of all kinds, a gift that proves to be quite valuable in the end, though Annie can't help but feel like the plain little sister next to Gwennie's overwhelming beauty. When the classic "sleeping beauty" curse is cast on Gwennie, Annie, along with Liam, a footman and friend, sets out on a journey into the forest to find the prince that will save the day. Not only does the spirited Annie save her family, she winds up discovering herself along the way. Baker's characters are intriguing, easy to relate to and entirely three-dimensional. While the plot may seem hectic at times, in the end readers will find that each character and plot twist has a purpose. The author ably joins the practitioners of the contemporary fairy tale, suggesting that those fairy tales and their happily-ever-afters are not always better than reality. (Fantasy. 10-14)

Baker, the author of The Frog Princess series, offers a lively take on "Sleeping Beauty" in this stand-alone title. Lacking magical abilities, Annie feels out of place and ordinary, especially compared to her older sister, Princess Gwendolyn, a fabled beauty. Then, on Gwendolyn's sixteenth birthday, a curse puts her and the entire castle's inhabitants into an enchanted sleep, all except for Annie, who is immune to magic. Setting out to discover the enchanter and true-love prince who can break the spell, Annie is helped by handsome Liam, a castle guard, in a journey filled with obstacles and sinister plans. The day needs saving. Can Annie do it? Annie is an enjoyable, independent, and undaunted character, who uses wits and skills rather than spells in her endeavors. Fairy-tale-savvy readers will recognize tongue-in-cheek nods to other tales, elements that sometimes include a mature angle, such as Annie's discovery that apparently Rapunzel wasn't a one-prince gal. Overall, this blend of romance, suspense, magic, and humor offers an entertaining, peppy fractured fairy tale.

Gr 5-8 When Annie is born, fairy Moonbeam passes a magic wand over her and proclaims that magic will have no effect on her. (This could be a curse or a blessing.) A spell was cast on her older sister, Princess Gwendolyn, at birth and now, for fear that she will prick her finger, all spinning wheels have been banned from the land. On her 16th birthday, one is secretly delivered, and the inevitable happens. The entire castle falls asleep except for Annie. It is up to her to find Prince Charming to awaken the sleeping beauty. Along the way she meets Hansel and Gretel, dancing fairies, Rapunzel, and a lumpy mattress. Each one of these embedded fairy tales has an enjoyable twist. Eventually she finds all the available princes in the land and sends them to the castle for the big event. Annie is a down-to-earth character who eventually learns that there was a plot to take over the kingdom. Readers will like this wrinkle in the action as well as the surprise kiss that eventually wakes Princess Gwendolyn. Humorous at times, this fractured fairy tale will be enjoyed by readers who like adventure with a touch of romance. Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI