Princess of the Midnight Ball, by Jessica Day George

Princess of the Midnight Ball, by Jessica Day George. New York: Bloomsbury, 2009.

Here's another retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". This fairy tale tells the story of twelve princesses who are cursed to wear out their shoes dancing every night, and Galen, a former soldier and gardener, who follows them to try to discover their secret. Will Galen be able to break the curse?

Unlike the Zahler retelling, this story focuses on the perspective of Galen, the former soldier. Older tweens may be more interested in this one than The Thirteenth Princess.

This book was selected as one of YALSA's 2010 Best Books for Young Adults. Additional editorial reviews can be found at Amazon.com.

The Thirteenth Princess, by Diane Zahler

The Thirteenth Princess, by Diane Zahler. New York: Harper, 2010.

Zita is the thirteenth princess in a royal family. Cast away to the kitchens when she was born because she wasn't the son and heir her father wanted, she learns who she really is when she is 11 years old. As she gets to know her sisters, she notices that they are starting to get listless and ill. Zita is determined to find out what's wrong. Could it be a magic spell that is causing her sisters to get sick and to wear out their shoes every night?

This retelling of the fairy tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" is an interesting take on the classic story. It's nice to read a retelling where a young girl does a lot of the work to break the spell that is usually credited to the handsome soldier who eventually breaks the curse. This was a short, fun read, with a little romance thrown in.

Additional editorial reviews can be found at amazon.com. A video trailer for the book can be found at YouTube.

Zel, by Donna Jo Napoli

In this retelling of Rapunzel, love and jealousy play a major role. The characters include a mother who loves her daughter and wants to be together with her always, a girl who is excited to grow up and see the world outside her cottage, and a young nobleman who is smitten with her. What lengths can a mother go to, to keep her daughter safe?

It isn't always the case, but in this particular retelling, the motivations of all three main characters are drawn clearly, and the reader can understand what would lead a mother to lock her beloved daughter in a tower. Just like in the source material, there is a lot of darkness in this story, but it will appeal to any tween who wants more detail than they normally get by reading the basic fairy tale.

A number of editorial reviews can be found at amazon.com.

Awards:
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Books
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Best Books
BULLETIN FOR THE CENTER OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS Blue Ribbon Book
BOOKLIST "Books of Special Note"
American Booksellers Association Pick of the List
American Library Association Young Adults (YALSA) popular paperbacks
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Master List, Vermont
Maine Student Book Award Master List
Voice of Youth Advocates Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror List
Missouri State Teachers Association Reading Circle Selection List
Notable Carolyn W. Field Award, Pennsylvania Library Association
Honor Book YOUNG CRITICS' TOP CHOICES FROM THE LAST SIX YEARS, 1997

Spinners, by Donna Jo Napoli & Richard Tchen

The rumpled man was once able to spin straw into gold--but this gift took everything else he had. Saskia uses her gift for spinning to provide for herself and her father. When Saskia's father boasts to the king that she can spin straw into gold, the circumstances bring the rumpled man to her dungeon. Will the complicated secrets that tie them together save her or kill them both?

This unusual retelling of the Rumplestiltzkin story is written from the point of view of both Saskia and Rumplestiltzkin. Due to some sexual situations at the beginning of the book, as well as its dark tone, it is more appropriate for older tweens, ages 11-14.

Editorial reviews can be found at amazon.com.

Awards:
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An Edgar Allan Poe Award Finalist
Junior Library Guild
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age
Carolyn W. Field Honor Book, Pennsylvania Library Association
South Carolina Book Award Master List

Just Ella, by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Like the rest of the girls in the kingdom, Cynthia Elianora dreams of going to a ball and being swept off her feet by Prince Charming. What girl wouldn't want to marry a handsome prince and leave all her troubles behind? But once it really happens, her perfect "happily ever after" isn't anything like she imagined. Her advisers try to mold her into their idea of what a princess should be, and Prince Charming is nothing but a pretty face. As Ella becomes more disillusioned with her life, the stories of a fairy godmother who sent her to the ball persist in the kingdom. Why can't anyone believe she did it all on her own? And who will help her escape her unwanted royal destiny?

This story, with its strong, independent heroine, is a believable retelling of how the Cinderella story may have played out without a magical intervention. It provides an interesting twist on the well-known, well-loved tale.

A detailed review can be found at Greenmanreview.com. Additional editorial reviews can be found at amazon.com.

Awards (list found here):
American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, 1999
A YALSA Best Book for Young Adults, 2000
A YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2000
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, 2000
International Reading Association Young Adult Choice, 2001
Readers' Choice Award for Teen Books Finalist, 2003
A YALSA Popular Paperback for Young Adults, 2005