Monster High/Ever After High--The Legend of Shadow High

July 15, 2017
The World of Stories is in danger, and it's up to the offspring of famous fairy-tale characters and monsters to team up to save the day.Fairy-tale characters don't believe in monsters, and monsters don't believe in fairy tales. Each group lives in its own carefully isolated island-world within the World of Stories. Then Frankie Stein and Draculaura accidentally transport themselves from Monster High to Ever After High, where they meet Apple White (Snow's daughter) and her friend Raven Queen, the Evil Queen's daughter (their familial connection is unremarked upon). After mutual exclamations that these mythological figures really exist, the four girls band together to stop Raven's power-hungry mother, recently escaped from mirror prison, from freeing Shadow High from the annals of legend. If they fail, the lands that make up the World of Stories will come crashing together, unmaking the entire World and destroying everyone in it. Third-person, present-tense narration with asides in the form of footnotes makes the novice Narrator, Brooke Page, a character who breaks the fourth wall. Self-awareness abounds; puns, literal interpretations of figurative sayings, and the series' trademark portmanteaus ("fangtastic," "spelltacular") fill the pages and may strike many as precious rather than cute. Moreover, overuse of the same jokes grows tiring (how many jokes can be made of the famous "Pease Porridge" rhyme?--five, apparently). This entry in the Monster High/Ever After High franchise may please fans, but it's unlikely to win new ones. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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September 15, 2017
Grades 4-7 Frankie Stein and Draculaura totes didn't mean to transport themselves to Ever After High, but they're hexcited to discover that dragons, pixies, and princesses do exist. Meanwhile, the Evil Queen escapes to Monster High, where she learns about the ever-elusive Shadow High. Where is this forgotten academy? And why are all the worlds bound to it? Stylish monsters and fairy tale royalty team up to thwart the queen before their worlds irreparably overlap. The Hales' charming Monster High spinoff explores the many facets of young female friendships and personalities: Draculaura and Raven Queen immediately bond; Frankie Stein and Apple White squabble; Maddie Hatter, hilarious and energetic, communicates directly with the fumbling but endearing narrator, Brooke Page. This sprightly tale spins so out of control that Brooke invites the reader to revamp the ending, resulting in a choose-your-own-adventure that celebrates the power of imagination. With creative twists and defrightful wordplay, this mashup will enchant fans of the franchise, who will adore watching characters from clashing realms interact for the first time.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)