What Parents Should Know
Parents should know that in this fairytale from the author of Ella Enchanted , the heroine, Aza, is refreshingly less attractive than your average protagonist and suffers from quite a bit of self-doubt because of it. Aza is tricked and imprisoned in a dungeon where she is tied up with a gag in her mouth. When she escapes there is the threat of being killed by a guard or eaten by an ogre. There are also mild love exchanges between Aza and a prince, which includes some kissing.

Families who read this book can talk about why Aza is a good and kind person worth rooting for. Is it because she grows up in a house of love and respect? Can you relate to Aza's feelings about herself and how others judge her? How did it feel as a reader to hear Aza's description of herself as a "blemish" or others calling her an "ogre"? Does this make you feel differently about first impressions and judging others?

has mastered the art of twisting fantasy and creating interesting characters that are likeable and somehow relatable to today's kids. Aza is smart, competent, and gifted in song, a highly honored and valuable means of communication in this society. She can also illuse, a method of throwing your voice to make it appear that someone else is singing. This skill becomes the tool for the newly married, beautiful young queen to win the hearts of the kingdom.

And so follows a story with adventure, love, and fantasy with a common thread to the tale of Sleeping Beauty , and a lesson about recognizing what true beauty is. This is an appropriate read for kids ages 10+ who enjoy fantasy and strong moral outcomes.

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