FEBRUARY 2021 - AudioFile
This elegant performance by Rosie Jones is a reimagined story of Snow White. Princess Sophia’s heart has been cut out and stolen by the queen’s huntsman, and with the help of seven allies, she’s on a quest to get it back. Jones’s enchanting voice is perfect for this fantasy, and she maintains an intense level of suspense throughout Sophia’s journey. Her regal narration fits Sophia’s growth from timid princess to a strong, independent individual. Listeners will also discover their own favorite characters in the supporting cast, each with a unique personality. While arguably not as strong as her previous work STEPSISTER, this fairy-tale remake by Jennifer Donnelly will be a new hit. G.M. 2021 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
Praise for Poisoned:
"An empowering and action-packed feminist retelling that will be popular with fantasy and fairy tale-loving teens." — School Library Journal
"[Sophie's] is a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, wrapped up in a thrilling fantasy adventure." — The Guardian
"Donnelly thoughtfully and critically unwinds the fairy tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves . . . With adept prose, Donnelly twists the familiar story until it bursts, artfully examining the forces that motivate us . . . A finale hints that more variations on this theme are to come, and readers will welcome them." — Booklist
"A good accompaniment to Donnelly's own Stepsister and Haydu's Ever Cursed." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Lush prose depicts a vaguely Germanic fantasy landscape populated with intriguing legends and creepy horrors." — Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Stepsister:
* "The gorgeous prose and the fairy-tale themes have obvious appeal, but the real strengths here are the depth of character across the board; the examination of the cost of beauty in a world that reveres it; and Isabelle herself, a shattered but not unreedemable girl with a warrior's heart." — Booklist, starred review
"A breathlessly exciting and utterly satisfying fairy tale." — Kirkus Reviews
"This is another needed voice exposing cultural myths that suffocate girls in the name of likability and pit them against one another in the name of beauty." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
School Library Journal
10/01/2020
Gr 9 Up—Donnelly's feminist retelling of Grimms' fairy tale "Snow White" is told from the point of view of princess Sophie. Like Snow White, Sophie has lips as red as blood, skin as pale as snow, and dark hair. Her father died years ago, and approaching 17, Sophie is expected to marry well and inherit his throne. However, Queen Adelaide, Sophie's stepmother, despises her. While beautiful, Sophie is perceived by the queen to be too foolish, kind, and weak to be a leader—and Sophie undoubtedly believes her. The King of Crows visits the queen in her mirror and tells her Sophie is her biggest threat. In turn, she orders the huntsman to kill Sophie and retrieve her heart. Seven brothers walking in the Darkwood hear Sophie's scream, find her, and save her life by building her a new heart. The brothers clothe her, feed her, and bring her back to health. They also provide some much-needed comic relief and try to convince Sophie to view kindness as a strength. Fearing for her safety, they advise Sophie to stay hidden. After attempting to leave for the first time, the brothers find Sophie and tell her the truth of what happened. Sophie realizes she cannot wait any longer. She embarks on a treacherous yet successful journey home to Skandinay to reclaim what was stolen from her. VERDICT An empowering and action-packed feminist retelling that will be popular with fantasy and fairy tale–loving teens.—Jess Gafkowitz, Brooklyn P.L.
FEBRUARY 2021 - AudioFile
This elegant performance by Rosie Jones is a reimagined story of Snow White. Princess Sophia’s heart has been cut out and stolen by the queen’s huntsman, and with the help of seven allies, she’s on a quest to get it back. Jones’s enchanting voice is perfect for this fantasy, and she maintains an intense level of suspense throughout Sophia’s journey. Her regal narration fits Sophia’s growth from timid princess to a strong, independent individual. Listeners will also discover their own favorite characters in the supporting cast, each with a unique personality. While arguably not as strong as her previous work STEPSISTER, this fairy-tale remake by Jennifer Donnelly will be a new hit. G.M. 2021 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2020-07-28
The story of “Snow White” recast as a parable of fear and love.
Princess Charlotta-Sidonia Wilhelmina Sophia of the Greenlands—or Sophie—loves her tough-minded fiance but worries that she is not made of stern enough stuff to rule. Her cruel stepmother, enthralled by Corvinus, the King of Crows and the personification of Fear, has been dripping such poison in the princess’s ears forever. But when the queen orders her heart cut out, Sophie—outfitted with a new clockwork heart by seven mysterious brothers—sets out to rescue her kingdom before the mechanism winds down. Lush, almost-purple prose depicts a vaguely Germanic fantasy landscape populated with intriguing legends and creepy horrors. Sophie, however, is portrayed as so sickly sweet and generous that it’s hard not to agree with her stereotypically villainous stepmother about her dimwitted naiveté. Sophie trusts everyone and falls in love (twice!) on the merest acquaintance, is instantly adored by many, and is rescued from her own poor judgment by a succession of men. The climactic confrontation hand-waves away the threat to Sophie’s life, and all problems of state are surmounted through the power of nice. The novel reiterates ad nauseam the importance of not listening to fear. Characters default to White.
Heavy-handed. (Fairy-tale adaptation. 12-18)
