The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling

This book by JK Rowling is really fun.  I enjoyed these stories.  This book was written to help JK Rowling’s Charity with money.  There are 5 stories.  The stories are the magic version of what we would call “Fairy Tales” or “Fables.”  These are what the magic communities in Harry Potter’s world would be read to for bedtime stories though some could be quite shocking for little ones to be read to at bedtime.  My favorite part of the book is the actual stories.  They have some fun bonuses though.  Dumbledore (the character) gives insight and commentary on each one.  That is fun to read.  Also, the author JK Rowling gives footnotes.  Hermione (the character) is to have translated the stories.  I really thought the stories were fun and believable.  It was quick, light reading that went best when I was using my imagination.

Cinder and Ella by Melissa Lemon

What if the story of Cinderella has been wrong all this time?  What if all this time no one has gotten the details right?  The author writes this as being the real Cinderella story.  This is a story about a very happy family which consists of:  a dad, a mom and 4 little girls (Katrina, Cinder, Ella, and Beatrice).  Then something in the story happens that breaks up their happy family.  There is a change.  Soon things are not happy.  Cinder finds herself in a position to try to save her family and she’ll also have to save the entire kingdom from a very dark and evil prince.  That’s a heavy burden for anyone to bear but, Cinder will find she can do much to help.  I really liked this book.  It wasn’t the typical happily ever after book and yet it had a very satisfying ending.  It was a book that really makes you think about real life troubles and of family.  It was very hard to put down.

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

This book was a bit unexpected.  Who would’ve thought of a castle that is alive and that can add rooms or switch around hallways?  That is exactly what this book did.  It was a fun adventure.  I grew to like Celie.  She is one of the princesses at the castle.  The castle likes her a lot and she finds the castle a big help when the castle and kingdom are threatened.   I enjoyed using my imagination and thinking of what it would be like to be in a castle that if it liked you suddenly your room was soft and luxurious.  Or if the castle didn’t like you it would seem to get smaller and cramped and military like.  It was so cool to cheer for the royal family that lived in the castle and hope they came out of it alright.  Jessica Day George makes a story feel real even though there is magic and things that are not typical in real life.  It seemed that it could happen.  I had fun with this book.