Into the Wild

Fairy tales seem to be quite popular these days.

Just a few days ago, Regina Doman linked to Sarah Beth Durst's blog- specifically to a post about the obscure fairy-tale, "Snow White and Rose Red." Durst has done hilarious commentaries on several obscure fairy-tales and I read through several of them with great amusement.

Then I realized (feeling rather silly as I did so) that Durst herself was an author, and that the book on the side of her blog was actually her own creation. Intrigued, I looked it up the next time I was at the library. And, of course, I read it pretty much in one sitting.

"Into the Wild" is the story of young Julie, a girl guarding a dangerous secret. Under her bed is a leafy growth known as: "the Wild." Years ago the Wild held all the fairy-tale characters captive, forcing them to relieve their stories over and over again, with no ability to change the outcome. Each time a story ended, they lost all of their previous memories.

However, by some unrevealed secret, Julie's mother Zel, (AKA- Rapenzel) and the other characters managed to escape this puppet-like existance and are now living incognito in the small town of Northboro MA. They are safe as long as the Wild remains contained under Julie's bed.

But, of course, the Wild does NOT remain contained. Someone drops a wish into the Wishing Well of Julie's grandmother and before the next day is over, all the characters (and a good many ordinary citizens of Northboro) have been ensnared once more in the never ending cycle of Fairy-Tales.

It is up to Julie- and her "brother" Boots (Puss in Boots, that is) to save their family and themselves from the Wild.

I heartily enjoyed this book. It is full of originality and humor- and reasonably appropriete for the intended audience. (There's a description of a kiss that pre-teens will probably find rather gross, but that's the intention of the passage).

Readers, both young and old will enjoy this unusual adventure. And fairytale savvy people will be tickled pink when they recognize the many referances to obscure fairytales.

So if you like fairytales...don't hesitate to pick this one up!