Half Upon a Time

The book’s dedication to “anyone whose story didn’t go as planned. Seriously, who writes these things?” is a clever synopsis for this unpredictable, humorous adventure blending classic fairy tale stories. Jack, the son of the guy who went up the beanstalk, is failing at his princess rescue training. When a sarcastic girl named May falls from reality into Jack’s fairy-tale world wearing a t-shirt deeming her “Punk Princess,” Jack takes a more literal approach to prove his damsel-saving abilities as he helps May on her search to find her kidnapped grandmother, Snow White. While the characters could use a little more development throughout the story, Jack has a refreshing realness about him due to his imperfections. If you’re not a fan of sarcasm, you might be bothered by the leading lady, May. The villains in this story (the Huntsman, Red Hood, Ifrit the Genie, and the Wicked Queen) could be frightening for younger or more sensitive readers, but appropriately-aged audiences will be riveted by the action and adventure this story holds. This page-turner is full of surprises and twists and ends somewhat abruptly, so make sure to have the second book in the trilogy on hand for when you finish.