Ella Enchanted (Gail Carson Levine)

Author Biography

Gail Carson Levine is the award-winning author of numerous books for children and young adults, mostly inspired by fairy-tales. She lives in New York’s Hudson Valley.

Published By: HarperCollins

Year: 1997

ISBN: 978-0-06-440705-2

Reading Level: Grades 6 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

In this inventive “Cinderella” variation, a fairy’s spell forces Ella to obey every command she hears. But her inner strength, sharp wits, and love for Prince Char just might prove stronger than magic.

Roses (G.R. Mannering)

Author Biography

G.R. Mannering (aka Rose Mannering) signed with the literary agency Creative Authors at age eighteen and secured her first publishing deal a year later. She lives in Kent, England.

Published By: Sky Pony Press

Year: 2013

ISBN: 978-1-62087-988-7

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

With silver skin, white hair, purple eyes and magic in her veins, Beauty grows up as a despised outcast. But in fleeing from persecution, she finds a new life in a mysterious castle… a castle that belongs to a Beast.

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?

The Goose Girl (Shannon Hale)

Author Biography:

Shannon Hale is the Newbery Honor-winning author of Princess Academy, as well as the four Books of Bayern. She lives in South Jordan, Utah.


Published By: Bloomsbury U.S.A.




Year: 2003




ISBN-13: 978-1-58234-843-8




ISBN-10: 1-58234-843-X




Reading Level: Grades 9 and up




Reader’s Annotation:

While journeying toward her arranged marriage, Princess Anidori is betrayed, stripped of her title and reduced to servitude. But with courage, good friends and a hint of supernatural aid, she just might manage to reclaim her crown.

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.

Ash (Malinda Lo)

Author Biography:
Malinda Lo has written four LGBTQ-themed novels for young adults and is the former managing editor of AfterEllen.com, the largest entertainment news website for lesbians and bisexual women.

Published By: Little Brown and Co.

Year: 2009

ISBN: 978-0-316-04009-9

Reading Level: Grades 8 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

In this unique “Cinderella” retelling, Ash longs to escape from her stepmother’s house into the fairy world. Until she meets Kaisa, who gives her life new purpose and teaches her what it means to love.

Toads and Diamonds (Heather Tomlinson)

Author Biography:

Heather Tomlinson has worked as a teacher of both English and French, as a book wholesaler and as a fantasy novelist. She lives in southern California.

Published By: Henry Holt and Co., LLC

Year: 2010

ISBN: 97800-8050-8968-4

Reading Level: Grades 10 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

Diribani’s lips drop jewels and flowers when she speaks, while Tana’s drop snakes and frogs. But are these gifts truly a blessing and a curse, or are they more complex than that?