Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--5--Lana, who is nine, is feeling left behind as her brother, Harrison, enters middle school and has more time for studying than for playing games. Her mother suggests a trip to the new supermarket in town to get a treat to cheer her up. About that supermarket--isn't it strange how it just popped up overnight? And why does it seem like there's only one employee (a strange little old man) doing all the jobs? In any case, Lana finds a treasure, a big book of fairy tales. The warning that the stories are scary just makes her want to read them even more. Eventually, with a little push from the strange old man, Lana falls into the fairy-tale world itself. There she encounters the sleeping beauty Briar Rose, guides princes of varying quality, and battles one evil fairy/witch. Miller deftly handles fairy-tale retellings in a new and interesting way, updating where necessary (ex. the prince wakes Briar Rose by a kiss on the hand, specifically mentioning consent as important), and provides a humorous tone, even when events get a bit scary. None of the characters are indicated as any particular race, though the illustrations do imply a lighter skin tone for all characters. A few of the Briticisms elements may not be as easily understood by American readers (i.e., the name of specific candies), but they don't impact the understanding of the story. VERDICT With humor, adventure, and heart, this is a strong purchase for all collections.--Kadie Seitz
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Nine-year-old Lana is bored; her 12-year-old brother, Harrison, once a constant playmate, is busy studying. The best Lana's mother can come up with is visiting Grimm's, the new supermarket in their quiet English village. Inside, they encounter amazing deals and one curious employee--a short, beady-eyed old man. He tries to stop Lana from taking home a book of "proper fairy tales," which he insists are too frightening. Lana's mother buys it anyway, and at bedtime, she starts reading Lana "Sleeping Beauty." The next morning, the book is missing. Lana, desperate to read more, returns to Grimm's. The odd little man shoves her into a tub of sweets, and she falls down a chute into the world of fairy tales. Lana hops through portals into different stories, where she helps the protagonists. Eventually, Harrison joins her, and fortunately, his studious ways come in handy. Given the endless appetite for fairy-tale adventures, fans of series such as Tae Keller's Mihi Ever After will enjoy this tale. Readers who delight in shivery scares will appreciate the pushback against sanitized literature for kids. The framing of the original, bloodthirsty versions includes subtle and valuable mentions of power imbalances and consent (as the prince says, in response to the suggestion of waking Briar Rose with a kiss, "No, I don't think that's right. Not without asking first. And I can't ask because she's asleep…"). Charming illustrations support the text. Characters are minimally described and racially ambiguous. Entertaining fairy-tale fun. (Fantasy. 7-11) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
