Book: Wild Orchid: A Retelling of "The Ballad of Mulan" by Cameron Dokey
Age-range: 10 and up
This was our June book club book. I won't say too much about it since I'll be discussing it in-depth tomorrow night with the girls. I will say that I loved the fact that this focused on Mulan and not on the love story. This was 100% her story. I'm sure this book was inspired first and foremost by the Disney movie, but I think Ms. Dokey made a lot of great choices about what to change. All in all a fun, quick read.
Happy reading!
Showing posts with label Cameron Dokey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cameron Dokey. Show all posts
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
May Book Review #10
Book: Golden by Cameron Dokey
Age-range: 8 and up
Recommended: Yes
Rapunzel has no hair. No, that's not the punchline to a joke, it's the truth. In Cameron Dokey's Golden, anyway. When Rapunzel is born with no hair her mother gives her away to the sorceress next door. The book tells the story of their life together.
Don't worry, there's still a tower, still a rope of hair to climb, still a visiting prince. But this is a G-rated version of the tale. There's no rape, no blindness, no bearing twins in the desert.
I am sometimes critical of the books in the Once Upon a Time series for ending too abruptly. This book was well-done and ended perfectly. With a happily ever after, of course.
Age-range: 8 and up
Recommended: Yes
Rapunzel has no hair. No, that's not the punchline to a joke, it's the truth. In Cameron Dokey's Golden, anyway. When Rapunzel is born with no hair her mother gives her away to the sorceress next door. The book tells the story of their life together.
Don't worry, there's still a tower, still a rope of hair to climb, still a visiting prince. But this is a G-rated version of the tale. There's no rape, no blindness, no bearing twins in the desert.
I am sometimes critical of the books in the Once Upon a Time series for ending too abruptly. This book was well-done and ended perfectly. With a happily ever after, of course.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Book Review #23
Book: Belle by Cameron Dokey
Age-range: 8 and up
Recommended: Yes
Yet another book in the Once Upon a Time series, this time a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. This book was VERY similar to another Beauty and the Beast re-telling I've read, but I can't remember what one it was. My chief complaint of the story is there is not enough time spent with the Beast. You don't even meet him until three-fourths through the book and that's just not right. There is also a complete lack of roses in the main story and that was disappointing too. But other than that...
This was the story of a youngest daughter named Belle with two older sisters who are beautiful with a capital B. Her father is a merchant and he loves her best. One interesting thing about this story is the fact that Belle carves wood. I've never seen a female fairy tale protagonist who carved wood before, but I liked it. Anyway, Belle's family moves from the city to the country and her father ends up getting lost in a storm and meets the Beast. Unlike other stories, he doesn't take anything that doesn't rightfully belong to him, but he still ends up having to make the bargain with the Beast that Belle will come back in his place.
And you know the rest. But you don't read fairy tale re-tellings for the surprise ending, you read them for a new journey to your favorite destination: happily ever after.
Age-range: 8 and up
Recommended: Yes
Yet another book in the Once Upon a Time series, this time a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. This book was VERY similar to another Beauty and the Beast re-telling I've read, but I can't remember what one it was. My chief complaint of the story is there is not enough time spent with the Beast. You don't even meet him until three-fourths through the book and that's just not right. There is also a complete lack of roses in the main story and that was disappointing too. But other than that...
This was the story of a youngest daughter named Belle with two older sisters who are beautiful with a capital B. Her father is a merchant and he loves her best. One interesting thing about this story is the fact that Belle carves wood. I've never seen a female fairy tale protagonist who carved wood before, but I liked it. Anyway, Belle's family moves from the city to the country and her father ends up getting lost in a storm and meets the Beast. Unlike other stories, he doesn't take anything that doesn't rightfully belong to him, but he still ends up having to make the bargain with the Beast that Belle will come back in his place.
And you know the rest. But you don't read fairy tale re-tellings for the surprise ending, you read them for a new journey to your favorite destination: happily ever after.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Book Review #22
Book: Winter's Child by Cameron Dokey
Age-range: 8 and up
Recommended: Yes
This is a re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Snow Queen." It isn't one that you see re-written very often. It was excellent.
I've decided not to go as in-depth with my reviews since I'm pretty sure no one reads them. But I do want to keep the list going, if only for my own benefit.
Age-range: 8 and up
Recommended: Yes
This is a re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Snow Queen." It isn't one that you see re-written very often. It was excellent.
I've decided not to go as in-depth with my reviews since I'm pretty sure no one reads them. But I do want to keep the list going, if only for my own benefit.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Book Review #20
Book: Beauty Sleep by Cameron Dokey
Age-range: 8 and up
Recommended: Yes
Yet another book in the Once Upon a Time series. I think I enjoy reading these because I know I can get through them quickly and they almost always give me good story ideas as I'm reading (not directly related to the book, but inspiration for the stories I'm working on). I was able to finish this one in a matter of hours as I was flying to Pittsburgh today.
If you couldn't guess from the title this is a re-telling of Sleeping Beauty. While there were parts that were incredibly predictable, for the most part it was an amazing take on the tale. I didn't feel there were loose ends or quick endings, the way there are in other books in this series.
All in all, it was excellent. Happy reading!
Age-range: 8 and up
Recommended: Yes
Yet another book in the Once Upon a Time series. I think I enjoy reading these because I know I can get through them quickly and they almost always give me good story ideas as I'm reading (not directly related to the book, but inspiration for the stories I'm working on). I was able to finish this one in a matter of hours as I was flying to Pittsburgh today.
If you couldn't guess from the title this is a re-telling of Sleeping Beauty. While there were parts that were incredibly predictable, for the most part it was an amazing take on the tale. I didn't feel there were loose ends or quick endings, the way there are in other books in this series.
All in all, it was excellent. Happy reading!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Book Review #6
Book: The Storyteller's Daughter by Cameron Dokey
Age-range: 8 and up (with mama's permission)
Rating: 9 out of 10
This is another book in the Once Upon a Time series. All of the books I've read in this series have been good, some better than others of course. This one was amazing! I literally read it during my son's nap, even though I was exhausted and wanted to take a nap of my own. I just couldn't put it down.
This is a story about Shahrazad, the teller of the Arabian Nights. I've read one other book about her, but I prefer this one. It was written so well. There's no sex, very little violence, and it's an amazing love story! There were times when I got chills reading certain passages. The writing was just so beautiful!
So the 9 out of 10 is because some of the stories within the story got a little dull. I just wanted to know what was going to happen to Shahrazad, I didn't care about the story she was telling. But that only happened once or twice, so don't let that deter you.
Read this book!
Age-range: 8 and up (with mama's permission)
Rating: 9 out of 10
This is another book in the Once Upon a Time series. All of the books I've read in this series have been good, some better than others of course. This one was amazing! I literally read it during my son's nap, even though I was exhausted and wanted to take a nap of my own. I just couldn't put it down.
This is a story about Shahrazad, the teller of the Arabian Nights. I've read one other book about her, but I prefer this one. It was written so well. There's no sex, very little violence, and it's an amazing love story! There were times when I got chills reading certain passages. The writing was just so beautiful!
So the 9 out of 10 is because some of the stories within the story got a little dull. I just wanted to know what was going to happen to Shahrazad, I didn't care about the story she was telling. But that only happened once or twice, so don't let that deter you.
Read this book!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
May Book #1
Book: Before Midnight by Cameron Dokey
The best Cinderella re-telling I've ever read (besides Ella Enchanted).
The best Cinderella re-telling I've ever read (besides Ella Enchanted).
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