Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

Genre: YA fantasy/ fairy tale retelling
Pages: 310 (available in paperback)
Published: 2011 by Little, Brown

Synopsis: As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear, too.  Years later, when their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak, South Carolina. They're invited to stay with Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds sugary magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.

Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel gradually forget their haunted past -- until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel. He tells her the witch isn't gone -- it's lurking in the forest, preying on girls every year after Live Oak's infamous chocolate festival, and looking to make Gretchen its next victim. Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is.  Gretchen is certain of only one thing: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry.

My Take:

Sweetly was one of those books which had been on my to-read radar for ages, after I read and basically liked Sisters Red, Jackson Pearce's first fairytale retelling.  Sweetly has more in common with Sisters Red than I expected, firstly in that it featured two siblings fleeing unusual life circumstances (Gretchen's twin sister disappeared, apparently taken by a witch in the forest, when Ansel and Gretchen were younger and thus scarred them for life).  I liked Sisters Red because it was so Buffy-esque-- I loved Scarlett's character, her sorrow and toughness and grit.  Our heroine and first person narrator Gretchen does get her a Slayer-on a little bit by the middle of Sweetly, but she and Ansel are no Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.

Nope, they aren't that kind of Hansel and Gretel.  Gretchen and Ansel are rather Mary and Gary Sue, though not unlikeable.  Sweetly does have a very intriguing character in the form of Sophia Kelly, the candy-maker who the siblings stay with after their stepmother kicks them out of the household.  Sophia's mysterious past kept me guessing and the complexity of her character was the most interesting thing about Sweetly.  Most of the small town of Live Oak blame Sophia for the disappearance of its young women, because girls run away after attending her annual party, but generous Sophia appears to be sweet and saintly as can be-- the patron saint of candy, as the locals say.  As the night of Sophia's candy gala draws closer, Gretchen rushes to uncover the dark secrets of Sophia's past in order to save the girls doomed to disappear this year.  

There is actually a heavy tie-in to Sisters Red which I didn't expect, and this is where I started to become meh about Sweetly.  Jackson Pearce's companion novels are more companion-y than the synopsis might lead you to believe, as the terrifying Fenris werewolves do play a role and a character linked to Pearce's first book, Samuel, becomes the love interest for Gretchen.  I wasn't sold on the romance between Samuel and Gretchen, or the romance between Sophia and Gretchen's brother Ansel.  The ending, though, and the truth about Sophia's past, made Sweetly worth a quick read.  Overall I'm not sure if I will be checking out Fathomless, Pearce's third book in this fairy tale retelling series, which is a spin on "The Little Mermaid".  Sweetly would have been an interesting take on "Hansel and Gretel", except I think that the "Hansel and Gretel" part got lost in the retelling a little.  Don't especially recommend this one unless you're very curious-- except to add that cool cover to your bookshelf! 



Rating:

Modern YA Fairy Tales Part II

The second (and most likely the last) part of this post series...

~~ Fairy tales have clearly been making a comeback in YA fiction, though fairy tales are and always have been a well-ingrained tradition in every culture worldwide.  The familiarity of such stories-- cleverly twisted with modern, macabre, or even hilarious new elements-- gives retold fairy tales a wide appeal.  Many of the authors whose books I'm featuring in this second post of the series favored a subtler and looser interpretation of original tales-- the effect is that we are presented with an entirely new story and characters, but there's still that ring of nostalgia that always accompanies stories where fairy tale elements are woven in.   

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
(2008)

While Snow White and Rose Red is doubtless one of the lesser-known Grimms tales, Margo Lanagan's Tender Morsels is a novel which deserves to be read by many.  It is the dark and often brutal story of Liga, a girl who suffered unspeakable horrors in her youth, and her two daughters: Branza and Urdda.  Liga is granted her personal haven in which to raise her daughters, who couldn't be more different, in the safety she never had.  But when the borders of their magical paradise are torn down at last, this fragile family must face the cruelty of the real world with all its all too human evil.  Set in a vaguely medieval village, Tender Morsels is as enthralling as it is acutely disturbing and vividly memorable.

The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer
(2004)

In this book, the first in a trilogy, master author Nancy Farmer has penned a very loose interpretation of one of our most popular nursery rhymes.  We are so caught up in the suspenseful, intriguing Norse fantasy world where trolls take bossy little sisters captive and said bossy little sisters turn out to be elf-children exchanged for humans at birth, that it's only a very clever reader who realizes this trilogy is in fact based on the old rhyme "Jack and Jill".  There are also numerous Norse stories woven into the mix, of course, and you can't go wrong with Vikings.  I seriously love this one.

Reckless by Cornelia Funke
(2010)

Enchantingly beautiful the cover of this vivid fantasy from Inkheart and Thief Lord author Cornelia Funke is not, but the story within its pages is definitely worth a read.  Reckless is a fantastical retelling of the Brothers Grimm, part Alice Through The Looking Glass and part every other fairy tale ever told.  Jacob Reckless prefers the Mirror-world where fairy tales roam free and often turn deadly to his modern existence, but when his brother Will is changed into a mythical creature of unspeakable horror, Jacob is forced to journey through the Mirror-World and face all its various terrors and delights on an epic quest to save Will.  Dozens of fairy tales make cameo appearances.  My favorite character has to be Fox, a girl who long ago put on a fox's skin and came to prefer her vulpine form to her human one.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
(2011)

The Goddess Test is a modern retelling not of a Grimms or Perrault story, but of an even more ancient Greek myth-- that of the underworld god Hades and his love for Persephone, the goddess of spring who was doomed to spend half of every year in the cold darkness of the underworld.  Kate is our modern Persephone, a girl who moves back to her mother's hometown even as her mother is slowly dying of a terminal disease.  Coping with that and starting in an unfamiliar school is hard enough, but Kate soon has to contend with Henry, a strangely melancholy and chivalrous stranger who none the less tricks her into bargaining her freedom away and staying in his mansion for six months every year, in exchange for her mother's life and that of a new friend Kate thought she'd lost.  A series of mysterious-- and perhaps impossible-- tests ensue, as Kate tries to do what all the girls before her have failed to achieve and become Henry's Persephone.

White Cat by Holly Black
(2010)

Yes, Holly Black's White Cat is in fact based (albeit loosely) on a fairy tale: the French story "The White Cat".  As in the original story, our hero Cassel Sharpe is the youngest of three brothers in a family whose relationships are dysfunctional to say the least.  Cassel's entire family are workers-- in his world, people blessed (or cursed) with various magical abilities which can be transferred via a single touch of the hands.  The fantasy world is completely original and breathtakingly unique, despite the fairy tale inspiration.  The next book in the Curse Workers series, Red Glove, was released only last month, and is just as brilliant.

East by Edith Pattou
(2005)

A lyrical retelling of "East of the Sun, West of the Moon", a Norwegian fairy tale.  Teenage Rose leaves her family and her home after a mysterious white bear appears to her family, offering them all her good health and happiness if only they will give up their daughter, who has always felt drawn to faraway adventures.  Although adventurous Rose journeys to a snowbound castle atop the back of a white bear who is certainly more than he appears, certain elements of this novel and amazing characters give it a solid dose of reality which blends perfectly with the more fantastical happenings.  Ultimately, the story strongly recalls "Beauty and the Beast".

Cloaked in Red by Vivian Vande Velde
(2010)

Here Vivian Vande Velde does for "Little Red Riding Hood" what she did for that equally ridiculous fairy tale "Rumpelstiltskin" in The Rumpelstiltskin Problem.  Eight short and sweet stories propose alternative endings and happenings, as well as a host of different perspectives and many, many laughs.  So begins the quirky introduction: "Everyone knows the story of Little Red Riding Hood, the girl with the unfortunate name and the inability to tell the difference between her grandmother and a member of a different species."

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
(2006)

Alice in Wonderland's status as a fairy tale is definitely still up for debate, considering it is relatively recent in comparison.  But most will agree it definitely has the right 'feel' for a fairy tale-- a touch magical, a touch bizarre, a touch too lighthearted for its subject matter.  Of all the TV movies and series which rehash the story of Alice and her mad adventures after that unfortunate tumble down a rabbit hole, The Looking Glass Wars is without a doubt the most unique.  In this version the story begins in Wonderland, and Lewis Carroll a blubbering mis-interpreter of the story the real Alice presents to him.  Alice is the Princess of Hearts and Queen Redd her twisted aunt who is determined to send the little princess and her infamously powerful imagination packing.  Alice is lost to the brutally ordinary mortal realm where she's seen as odd to say the least; meanwhile her card deck armies and trusted bodyguard, Hatter Madigan, plot rebellion against the mad queen Redd.

Modern YA Fairy Tales

Photo Credit: aperturefirst

  Here's something a little different for a Monday.  I wrote this post for the Fairy Tale Fortnight event over at the Book Rat, but it ended up not making an appearance.  So, it's premiering on my little blog instead: my take on fairy tales and a favorites list of YA re-tellings.


~~There's nothing quite like opening up a musty old book of fairy tales.  After being raised on a steady diet of Disney princesses and friendly dragons, many of us are surprised to find that in these ancient bedtime stories, sinister creatures and gory endings intertwine liberally with happily-ever-afters and pretty golden hair.  Today fairy tales continue to enthrall humanity in the form of movies like the recent Red Riding Hood and the cult classic Snow White: A Tale of Terror.  But it's still the written word that reigns supreme as far as modern fairy tales go.  As a YA enthusiast, I've sought out dozens of books both old and new whose authors have re-told and re-imagined the classic tales of Grimm, Anderson, and Perrault, taking the timeless stories to new boundaries and new horizons-- often to the false rationality of our very own modern cities. 

 Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce 
(2010)
Scarlett and Rosie March are a far cry from naive Little Red Riding Hood.  The two sisters relentlessly hunt the Fenris-- evil werewolves who killed their grandmother before taking Scarlett's eye.  Their bond of sisterhood is unbreakable, but Rosie sometimes finds herself craving the comfort and security of the normal life she and Scarlett never had.  When the handsome young woodsman they knew as children reappears to help the sisters hunt in the big city, Rosie is terrified to love him for fear of betraying Scarlett, whose fierce desire to rid the world of Fenris threatens to eclipse everything else in their lives.  A dark modern fairy tale with a unique take on Red Riding Hood, Sisters Red is as sweet and stirring as it it suspenseful.  Jackson Pearce's second fairy tale retelling, Sweetly, will be released in August, and is a twist on Hansel and Gretel.

 Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
(2007)

Juliet Mariller has penned many fantastic retellings of fairy tales for both teens and adults, and Wildwood Dancing is definitely one of her best.  This gorgeous fantasy retelling offers a fresh explanation for where those dancing princesses wandered off to every night.  Set in a Transylvanian castle, Wildwood Dancing is endlessly magical, lush, and romantic.


The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde 
(2002)

Over the course of six hilarious short stories, Vivian Vande Velde attempts to rationalize the peculiar and somewhat ridiculous tale of Rumpelstiltskin.  Why would a miller brag about his daughter being able to spin straw into gold?  Why would the king believe him, and why would on earth would the stupid girl agree to hand over her firstborn child?  If you've ever wondered, you're in good company.  The author's notes are every bit as amusing as the bizarre scenarios themselves.  This is a fun little book which is guaranteed to make you smile whenever you think of it.  

   Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
(1997)

We couldn't possibly have a list of retold fairy tales without including the holy grail of re-imagined stories!  Ella Enchanted was made into a popular and fantasy-filled movie, but as in most cases, the book is decidedly better.  Poor Ella of Frell had a fairly wicked fairy godmother: well-meaning but bumbling Lucinda bestowed upon her the gift of unconditional obedience.  Throw in a Prince Charming, a horde of friendly giants, wicked stepsisters, and an elf who dreams of becoming a lawyer (not a dentist ;), and you have your Cinderella... only better!

A Wolf at the Door and Other Retold Fairy Tales, edited by Ellen Datlow and Teri Windling
(2000)
Thirteen acclaimed and beloved fantasy writers-- including Jane Yolen, Garth Nix, and Gregory MacGuire-- contribute stories to this funny and occasionally eerie collection.  Neil Gaiman's beautiful poem about what to do and what not to do if you should find yourself trapped in a fairy tale, "Instructions", is without question my favorite piece.  

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
(2003) 

The Goose Girl is something of a modern YA classic, a heroic and fascinating mix of adventure and folklore loosely based on the lesser-known Grimm tale of the same name.  There are sad parts and parts that made me smile and magic that stretches the boundaries of our willingness to blindly believe-- necessary components for most any fairy tale.  But it all ends happily enough, and our princess heroine Ani is very good at saving herself from her own tower and dragon.  

     Ash by Malinda Lo 
  (2009)
 My personal favorite.  Ash is desolate and at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and sisters after her father's death.  Forced to live as their ill-treated and unpaid maid, she often dreams of the faeries her mother told her about as a child, wishing they would come and steal her away from her harsh existence.  When at last she encounters Sidhean, a beautiful and enigmatic faerie cursed to love her from the time of her birth, he seems all too willing to oblige.  But that is before Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress.  Slowly, Kaisa and Ash become friends, then more than friends, and grieving Ash must choose between the Huntress who makes her want to live again and the faerie who promises an escape from it all.  This book is lyrical and beautiful-- a truly unique story.     

Beastly by Alex Flinn 

(2007)
This book hardly needs an introduction, what with the recent movie adaptation starring Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens.  Kyle is the golden boy of his high school, until he disses the resident goth girl-- who, unfortunately for Kyle, turns out to be a witch-- and is transformed into a not-quite human creature in the tradition of Beauty and the Beast.  Now he must find someone to love him as he is, or be stuck as a beast forever.  Alex Flinn has also written several other YA retellings: A Kiss in Time and Cloaked.

Reckless by Cornelia Funke

RECKLESS, BY CORNELIA FUNKE  published August 2010 
394 pages   Overall Rating: 4/5

If you're looking for happily ever after, you've come to the wrong place.

Quick Synopsis: For years, Jacob Reckless has been secretly disappearing to another world, a world behind a mirror, a world for which his father abandoned his family. The mirror world is Jacob's escape from reality. It's a place for treasure hunts and magnificent quests. A world where witches haunt the forests and giants and dwarfs roam. A world locked in a deadly war.
Jacob's secret seems safe, until one day his younger brother Will follows him, with disastrous consequence. Faced with a curse that is quickly turning Will to stone, the Reckless brothers are thrust into a race against time to find a cure before Will is lost forever. 

 Cornelia Funke has been one of my favorite authors for years-- I still have the worn-out copy of Inkheart that I bought with my allowance money when I was nine.  So the news that she would be releasing a new novel-- the first in a series, no less-- for a somewhat older audience had me counting down to the release date.   

 Reckless does not disappoint.  The world Funke has created in her latest book is at first strikingly similar to the world of her Inkheart trilogy, the major difference being that this world is entered through the surface of a mirror rather than the pages of a book.  What amazes me, when I was a kid first falling in love with fantasy and now, when I've read about hundreds of fantasy worlds, is her ability to create characters and creatures that are nothing close to anything anybody else has thought of.  In Reckless, Funke does it again: she introduces us to the Goyle, a race of people made of stone, a hauntingly bizarre creature known only as the Tailor, and a race of faeries who seem set to defy current stereotypes.  

That said, the world of Reckless is so complex that it tends to leave readers wanting, and maybe a little confused.  My biggest peeve with the story is that it centers on 24-year old Jacob Reckless's journey through the Mirrorworld to save his brother Will from becoming a human Goyle-- stone man.  Yet Jacob first entered the Mirrorworld twelve years ago, as told in the Prologue.  I wanted to know more about Jacob's adventures when he was younger, how he became a renowned thief and adventurer in his new-found world and how he first met Fox-- the shapeshifter girl who accompanies him on his travels and who so often wears her vulpine pelt that she's nearly forgotten what it's like to be human.  Fox is definitely the most intriguing character in the book, and there already seems to be a triangle forming with her, Jacob, and Clare-- Will's girlfriend-- on the different angles.  Reckless is largely a plot-driven novel, with a story that would make a brilliant bedtime story were it not for the creepiness of the creatures, and I guess, a few mature themes.  It's definitely written for an older audience than Funke's other books-- Inkheart, Thief Lord, Dragon Rider, etc.  The prose is lovely as ever...reading books-in-translation always makes me wonder if the original novel is so beautifully-written, or if that's the work of the translator?  Either way, I can hardly wait for the yet-untitled sequel.

Altogether Reckless is an engrossing read, the sort of book you tear through in as few sittings as possible, only taking little breaks from the building suspense and intriguing story-world only to admire Funke's beautiful pencil illustrations arching over the frequent chapter titles.