Today is Sunday, also known worldwide as “Homework Day.” But I’ve decided to transform the phrase. At YA New York, Sunday is the day to catch up on books that have been out for awhile but that you might have missed when they first appeared.
Since I was up until about 4 a.m. last night reading the works of Sarah Beth Durst, I’ve decided to begin with one of YA’s new classics: Into the Wild.
Meet Julie, daughter of Rapunzel, adoptive sister of Puss in Boots, granddaughter of a reformed wicked witch. She’ll be your guide through “The Wild,” a place where fairy tales repeat themselves again and again, with each character stuck in his or her own story.
It all starts one night when Julie, Zel and her grandmother Gothel are entertaining the seven dwarves for dinner. They’ve asked the three bears — yes, the ones from Goldilocks — to watch over a wishing well at the rundown motel Gothel runs. Problem is, someone drugs their porridge, makes a wish, and brings The Wild to life. Which is exactly what our fairy tale friends don’t want, because they spent hundreds of years trying to escape their endlessly repeating stories.
This novel is witty (at times, downright hilarious), full of references to all our favorite childhood stories, and also kind of heartbreaking. Fairy tales must have heartbreaking moments, no? It’s required.
Into the Wild came out in June of last year, so you probably think you’ve got plenty of time to read it. But you’re oh-so-wrong. Because Sarah’s sequel, Out of the Wild, comes out next month. Yes, you heard me right. It’ll be available on June 19.
Yes, yes, I know. I tell you every day to please read this book or that book. And it’s true: I do want you to read every book I recommend here. But you’ve got to prioritize. Anything with a sequel due out in less than a month? Move it up the list. If you’ve read it already, start thinking about re-reading it, because you’ll want it fresh on your mind when Sarah’s second novel hits the shelves.
Buy Into the Wild