A Wolf at the Door: and Other Retold Fairy Tales
Author:
Genres: Children's Books, Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genres: Children's Books, Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Paperback
Helpful Score: 5
This rather petite collection of re-told fairytales features the usual cast of authors featured in Datlow & Windling's fairy tale anthologies, but these stories are aimed at younger readers (10-12, or thereabouts.) The introduction is pretty much the same as in all of Windling's other anthologies but simplified.
Still, when you're working with good authors, you're going to get some good stories - even if these are shorter than the usual, and deal, for the most part, with kids rather than adults.
The Months of Manhattan - Delia Sherman
The story of the nice sister who is magically blessed and the nasty (step)sister who is cursed, set in Manhattan, at the Met.
Cinder Elephant - Jane Yolen
Cinderella with a message - it's your heart/personality that matters, not your size or weight. Sounds a bit cheesy, but it's a witty and cute retelling.
Instructions - Neil Gaiman
A poem about the tropes of fairy tales. Why doesn't Gaiman ever contribute a STORY to these anthologies?
Mrs. Big - Michael Cadnum
Jack & the Beanstalk - from the point of view of the surprisingly-good-hearted giant's wife.
Falada: The Goose Girl's Horse
A fairy horse is assigned to carry a spoiled princess to her prince - but a demon horse and its girl rider come along, and force the princess to switch places. Still, everything may work out for the best.
A Wolf At The Door - Tanith Lee
In a future ice age, animals have learned to talk, and magical spells are entirely possible. When a talking wolf moves in, a girl realizes he must be under a spell. But the wolf is so annoying! What if she doesn't want to break his spell and marry him?
Ali Baba and the Forty Aliens - Janeen Webb
An abandoned mine shaft holds a treasure of gold amassed by mysterious inhuman beings. Finding it seems to be quite a windfall for a young loner... but when his brother demands to know where he got the gold, things take a dark turn...
Swans - Kelly Link
A rather surreal take on the tale of the stepmother who turns a girl's brothers into swans.
The Kingdom of Melting Glances - Katherine Vaz
Based on some less-familiar-to-many Portuguese legends, the story of a girl with a lily-shaped birthmark on her face, the hummingbird-prince who loves her - and of course, some cruel sisters.
Hansel's Eyes - Garth Nix
Hey! This is way creepier and more disturbing than the original Hansel and Gretyl! In a contemporary setting, a stepmother and her weak-willed husband try increasingly more drastic ways to be rid of his children from a previous marriage. Hansel and Gretyl are resourceful, but eventually they are kidnapped by a witch who lures them into a videogame store, then locks them in the basement to try to corrupt Gretyl and prepare Hansel for illegal organ transplants.... eek!
Becoming Charise - Kathe Koja
An all-too-true story of a smart girl stuck in a lousy school, despite a teacher's efforts, because of an uncaring aunt. Inspired by The Ugly Duckling. Really made me want to cry for all those kids out there...
The Seven Stage A Comeback - Gregory Maguire
A disturbing-in-its-implications and not-very-kid-oriented poem about the seven dwarfs wanting to get Snow White back for their very own.
The Twelve Dancing Princesses - Patricia A. McKillip
A pretty straight retelling of this story.
Still, when you're working with good authors, you're going to get some good stories - even if these are shorter than the usual, and deal, for the most part, with kids rather than adults.
The Months of Manhattan - Delia Sherman
The story of the nice sister who is magically blessed and the nasty (step)sister who is cursed, set in Manhattan, at the Met.
Cinder Elephant - Jane Yolen
Cinderella with a message - it's your heart/personality that matters, not your size or weight. Sounds a bit cheesy, but it's a witty and cute retelling.
Instructions - Neil Gaiman
A poem about the tropes of fairy tales. Why doesn't Gaiman ever contribute a STORY to these anthologies?
Mrs. Big - Michael Cadnum
Jack & the Beanstalk - from the point of view of the surprisingly-good-hearted giant's wife.
Falada: The Goose Girl's Horse
A fairy horse is assigned to carry a spoiled princess to her prince - but a demon horse and its girl rider come along, and force the princess to switch places. Still, everything may work out for the best.
A Wolf At The Door - Tanith Lee
In a future ice age, animals have learned to talk, and magical spells are entirely possible. When a talking wolf moves in, a girl realizes he must be under a spell. But the wolf is so annoying! What if she doesn't want to break his spell and marry him?
Ali Baba and the Forty Aliens - Janeen Webb
An abandoned mine shaft holds a treasure of gold amassed by mysterious inhuman beings. Finding it seems to be quite a windfall for a young loner... but when his brother demands to know where he got the gold, things take a dark turn...
Swans - Kelly Link
A rather surreal take on the tale of the stepmother who turns a girl's brothers into swans.
The Kingdom of Melting Glances - Katherine Vaz
Based on some less-familiar-to-many Portuguese legends, the story of a girl with a lily-shaped birthmark on her face, the hummingbird-prince who loves her - and of course, some cruel sisters.
Hansel's Eyes - Garth Nix
Hey! This is way creepier and more disturbing than the original Hansel and Gretyl! In a contemporary setting, a stepmother and her weak-willed husband try increasingly more drastic ways to be rid of his children from a previous marriage. Hansel and Gretyl are resourceful, but eventually they are kidnapped by a witch who lures them into a videogame store, then locks them in the basement to try to corrupt Gretyl and prepare Hansel for illegal organ transplants.... eek!
Becoming Charise - Kathe Koja
An all-too-true story of a smart girl stuck in a lousy school, despite a teacher's efforts, because of an uncaring aunt. Inspired by The Ugly Duckling. Really made me want to cry for all those kids out there...
The Seven Stage A Comeback - Gregory Maguire
A disturbing-in-its-implications and not-very-kid-oriented poem about the seven dwarfs wanting to get Snow White back for their very own.
The Twelve Dancing Princesses - Patricia A. McKillip
A pretty straight retelling of this story.
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