Hazel and Jack were best friends until one snowy day in winter. "It was the sort of snowfall that, if there were any magic to be had in the world, would make it come out. And magic did come out. But not the kind you were expecting." Suddenly Jack starts acting strange and stops being friends with Hazel. Her mother says that these things happen sometimes and to make new friends, but Hazel knows that something is wrong. Then one day, Jack disappears entirely and no one even seems to notice. Hazel has read about this sort of thing in books. She may be the only one who can save him, so what choice does she have? She packs her supplies and sets off into the icy heart of winter.

I love Hans Christian Andersen and many references to his stories are made, with the main story following “The Snow Queen.” It's a great outsider tale and Hazel is a wonderful, strong main character. Book worms will appreciate all the literary references Hazel makes. I’d give this to anyone looking for a fairy tale retold, a modern school story, or a fantasy because it is all three.

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu


Erica's Picks
3rd-6th
Tags: Contemporary Fiction, Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Friendship, People of Color, Retellings, School Stories

What would you do if the moon went missing and you were the only one who could hear its cries? Rendi is surprised that no one else seems to mind the missing moon or hear its moans at night--but what can he possibly do about it? Maybe once he could have got someone to help, but now he's on his own. After being caught as a stowaway he's stuck working as a chore boy at a small inn in the middle of nowhere. But when a mysterious new guest arrives and starts telling stories suddenly the sleepy town begins to change. With mysterious toads, kidnappers, and fights over snails, Rendi realizes that he is in the middle of an exciting story of his own--and it's up to him to make sure it ends happily.

I loved the way the characters' separate stories were connected. Each character has lessons to learn before the moon can be restored to its rightful place. The novel is illustrated throughout with beautiful pictures. Of course the language is as beautiful as the illustrations. Throughout the main story are enchanting short stories that are great reading on their own. I'd recommend this to fans of fairy tales looking for a chapter book to read. Those with an interest in Chinese culture and folklore will be particularly interested in this book.

Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin


Erica's Picks
3rd-5th grade
Tags: Character-Driven, Fairy Tales, Family Life, Fantasy, Friendship, People of Color

Neverland is not the fantasy you think it is. It's an island in the Atlantic few know exists. Because of its isolation, there are creatures there that cannot be found anywhere else, like mermaids and fairies. It's one of those creatures, Tinkerbell, who tells us the story of Tiger Lily as she saw it. Her story is not one of childhood dreams and happy endings. Neverland can be a dangerous place, and if you're not careful the island will eat you alive. But for Tiger Lily the most dangerous things on the island are not the native hazards, but the foreigners who wash-up and make the island their home. Foreigners like the infamous Peter Pan. 

This is one of the best re-tellings of a story that I've read. All of the familiar characters are there, but they have been given interesting new histories. The emotions of the novel are as raw and wild as the Neverland forest: characters act in haste, they make mistakes, they betray each other. This is a story is for the misfits, for the failed romances, for the voices that are silenced. It doesn’t ignore things that are difficult or unpleasant. I loved it for that, even if it made bawl my eyes out.  I'd give this to people who like dark retellings of classic stories.

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Erica's Picks
7th-8th Grade
Tags: Character Driven, Fairy Tales, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Retellings, Romance, Tear Jerker