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Mood: Happy ]
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Currently: Listening to CBC Radio ]
Aza is an ugly duckling in a kingdom full of beautiful people. Even though she is able to sing like a lark, she is harshly treated by those outside her adopted family. Yup, she is an orphan who was left in the room of an inn. Luckily for her, the innkeepers adopted her and raised her as their own.
So Aza works in her parents’ inn, hoping not to be noticed by the customers. If she is seen, rude commemts usually follow. Yet despite this, Aza is asked by a duchess to act as her companion at the king’s wedding. There, Aza finds herself thrust into a world of palace integue where her secret talent is both valued and cursed. Through it she befriends a handsome prince and runs afoul of the Queen.
Author Gail Carson Levine has created a lovely adaptation of Snow White, with interesting twists and turns. The world she has built, full of music, is enchanting. (There is even a tie in to Ella Enchanted with the return of the "good" fairy Lucinda.) Aza must grow as a yong woman in order to overcome the challenges that are thrown in her way.
This is a great book for the junior to intermediate set. Heck, it’s fun for adults too. It will be in an upcoming, What to Read After Harry. Go get it!