Enchanted

by Alethea Kontis

Reviewed by 

Elizabeth Mosolovich

Sunday is the youngest of the Woodcutter's daughters, named for the day she was born. Sunday loves to tell stories, but they have a nasty habit of coming true sometimes, which is why she prefers writing them down in a book when she is outside.

And it is outside where she meets her friend the frog. He talks, of course, and claims to be a prince cursed to amphibian form. For a while Sunday doesn't believe him, but eventually she gives him a kiss to see what happens — and to the disappointment of both, nothing does, at first. But Sunday's frog actually was a prince — Rumbold, Crown Prince of Arilland, Sunday's own homeland. However, the Woodcutter family despises the king and prince for the harm they caused their son and brother, Jack, and wants nothing to do with them or their politics or fancy balls. But in a twisted Cinderella fashion, Rumbold decides to throw a ball to see if he can find his old friend, and present himself to her as a man and not a creature.

This rather fast-paced and humorous story is a mashed-up retelling of so many different fairy tales and nursery rhymes, it's almost ridiculous. But, as the title suggests, it's also magical and thrilling and very enchanting. For a while there's the mystery of what happened to Jack, and when Sunday will realize that Rumbold is actually her frog-prince. Each of Sunday's sisters (named the rest of the way from Monday to Saturday) has a distinct personality and adds a nice touch to the story, and morose Wednesday has a big part to play as well.

For those who enjoy different interpretations of folk stories, fairy tales, and nursery rhymes, then this book is definitely for you. Pick it up and get ready for an enchanting adventure!