Bound (Donna Jo Napoli)

Author Biography

Donna Jo Napoli is head of the linguistics department at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She has written dozens of books for children, tweens and young adults alike.

Published By: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Year: 2004

ISBN: 0-689-86175-3

Reading Level: Grades 9 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

In this Chinese-flavored “Cinderella” retelling, Xing Xing is an unwanted stepdaughter in a society where girls are worthless. But will she be bound by oppression forever?

Beast (Donna Jo Napoli)

Author Biography:

Donna Jo Napoli is head of the linguistics department at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She has written dozens of books for children, tweens and young adults alike.

Published By: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Year: 2000

ISBN: 0-689-83589-2

Reading Level: Grades 8 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

This retelling of “Beauty and the Beast” offers a Middle Eastern-flavored spin on the tale, told from the Beast’s point of view. Prince Orasmyn is transformed into a lion, a curse that only a woman’s love can break.