Fantastic Reads and Where to Find Them: Reworked Fairy Tales for Teens

Last week, we looked at some fairy tale reads that you could share with the children in your life. Did you know that at the library, you can also find reimagined fairy tales for a more mature audience? If not, here are some suggestions which will hopefully intrigue you and help you to reach your summer reading goals.

The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale. The Books of Bayern Quartet, Book 1.

Based on a lesser known fairy-tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, we meet Princess Anidori, on her way to a neighboring kingdom to meet a prince she has never met. On the way she is betrayed by the guards and her jealous lady in waiting, who forces her to switch clothes and becomes the prince’s fiancé instead. The princess, now called “Isi” is forced to become a servant, a girl who watches the geese and brings them in at night (hence the term “goose-girl”). She finds new friends and allies and falls in love while waiting for her moment to secure her rightful place at the prince’s side.

Rumaysa: A Fairy Tale, by Radiya Hafiza. Standalone novel.

This debut novel combines elements from Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, and Snow White in this empowering novel for girls! The main character, Rumaysa, has been locked away in her high tower spinning gold for the evil Witch and has never been allowed to leave. One day, she drops her hijab from her tower window, and gets an idea about how to escape… After she does, she meets many different people, including some new friends, Cinderayla and Sleeping Sara!

Briarheart, by Mercedes Lackey. Standalone novel.

In a faraway land, the birth of Princess Aurora is being celebrated by her family and other people in the kingdom. After a dark fairy lays a curse on the young baby, her 15-year-old half-sister Princess Miriam steps forward to block the curse, and in the process discovers her own magical talents. She bands together with five other young people who are collectively known as Aurora’s Companions who train their martial and magical skills to prevent anything bad from happening to the young princess. She and her friends must learn to use their powers for good, to save both Princess Aurora and the kingdom at large.

Fables #1: Legends in Exile, by Bill Willingham, Lan Medina, Steve Leiahola, & Craig Hamilton; Graphic Novel series.

In this series, the fairy tale characters you remember from the stories are alive and well. They live among humans in secret, hiding in plain sight in New York City. The Big Bad Wolf, now known as Bigby, is tipped off about a murder of one of the Fables, who happens to be none other that Rose-Red, the estranged sister of Snow White, the deputy mayoress of the Fable community. As the evidence mounts and the stories conflict, the question becomes all too clear: who killed Rose Red?

Are there any other fairy-tale inspired reads that you feel should have been included on our list? Let us know in the comments section below!