Ever After High (1) - The Story Book of Legend by Shanon Hale
The beautiful children's story about magic and fairy tales… Ever After High - The Storybook of Legends by Shannon Hale (in German Ever After High - Schule der Herzenswünsche). I heard it as a German audio book. Originally published 2013. Girls age of three plus.
Apple White and Raven Queen: Two girls who are about to enter the senior year in High School. In contrast to our schools, the Ever After High prepare their students for inheriting their parents' roles in the fairy tales. While Apple can't wait to become Snow White and get her Happily Ever After, Raven isn't as enthusiastic. She doesn't want to be even a little bad. So how can she take the place of the most evil character of all, the Evil Queen in Snow White? But the consequences of refusing her role in the Storybook of Legends are too dire – aren't they? Will she really die? And the whole fairytale with her? Raven doesn't know what to do. What a good thing that Apple's at her side, who doesn't want to risk her, ehm, their future...
Very funny, with soooo cute ideas! And absolutely no hints at current teenage-things (from the real world). Mirror Phones, Taylor Quick... Coincidences! It makes the book even more funny than it already is!
The characters are very sweet (especially Maddy) and I like how the narrator is tricked into revealing things she shouldn't. The idea with a narrator who was at the EAH and can be tricked into telling a character things! This is soooo so so so so good! And its really well executed.
I also like how Apple and Raven work together and how Apple really helps Raven, even though she doesn't actually want to. She's a good person. A little silly, a control-freak sometimes… but she has a kind heart and only wants to do what's right. Which is why she suffers so much from the people's expectations. Because they don't care whether the new Snow White's a good person as long as she's pretty.
I also like the whole idea of the school – and the time table, teachers and festivals. The Sleeping Beauty day, were you sleep for a few days, or Cinderella, were the students have to scrub the floors. But my favourite is Raven's timetable, with Brewing Potions and Evil II; in contrast to Apple's with Being Saved by Princes – or however that class is really called. It's funny! Especially how the girls do the job themselves. I love Apple's BF's special powers. Power sleeping – does that count as a sport?
The other children of the fairy tale characters are, by the way, just as cool as the main characters. I like Ashlynn Ella, but Maddy is my favourite, of course. Red Riding Hood's daughter is something as well. And the Charming's. Really, quite charming they are.
The basic idea behind that book is wonderful. I don't know what was first – the TV series or these books. But whoever had these ideas, please please please don't stop writing! This is such a beautiful world, for children and adults who just want a happy ending. And yes, I know it sounds pathetic. But leave me alone, it's not like you never wanted a happy ending – or a story where no one makes out with someone else, for a change!
In brief:
I give it stars for characters, ideas, style, content and the mixture of real life and fairy tale details. Plus the SoGH for humour.
Sequel: