There is much to be said for a story that knows what it’s about from page one onward. Named Jack Spinner, the man promises to give Charlotte the things she wants the most.
Tragedy after bad luck, however, sees to it that unless Charlotte wants very much to see Stirwaters survive she must seek the help of a stranger. When Charlotte Miller’s father dies and leaves his mill, Stirwaters, to his daughters Charlotte knows that all she wants is keep the place running. It’s so much simpler to live your life when you know what you want. Few books are lucky enough to do so much. Though I feel some judicious pruning was probably in order, Bunce’s debut binds together a strong story with characters that make you believe. Or this book, A Curse Dark as Gold which reimagines the Rumpelstiltskin story with cleverness and style. The Magic Circle, which took the Hansel and Gretel tale and turned it into a story of mental illness. Nothing against the titles I’ve already mentioned, but my favorite reinterpretations are always the ones that aren’t considered princess tales.
East of the Sun, West of the Moon becomes Sun and Moon Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George or East by Edith Pattou. Cinderella becomes Donna Jo Napoli’s Bound. Nowandays, when contemporary authors take a tale it becomes the skeleton for a larger story to come. For centuries humans have been fascinated with such tales, telling them, retelling them, and changing them to suit current needs. Every possible fairytale is eventually hunted down and stripped of its elements for middle grade and YA novel reinterpretation.
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