The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors-REVIEW

Emmaline was cast away at birth because of a deformed foot. Miraculously saved by a group of cows Emmaline has had a special relationship with them since her birth. An outcast among her people the dirt-scratchers of Root it seems that Emmaline's only friends are the cows.

Tragedy strikes Root when soldiers come and take all of the single men away. They are told they are being taken to fight in a war, but what is really happening is they are enslaved to dig in pits for gold to line the kings pockets. While the king and queen of Anglun live in splendor their people are starving. Taxes are continually raised to support the king and queen with no regard for the people that are serving them.

When a flood washes the village of Root away Emmaline is once again saved by a cow. Owen Oak finds her along the banks of a river with one of his family's dairy cows standing watch over her. His family help her back to health and provide for her. Owen and Emmaline find that she has the power to churn cream into chocolate. Chocolate is the stuff of legends among the people of Anglun. Emmaline hopes to use her gift to rescue her people from the pits that the king has put them in. Before she can do that though she is kidnapped by Peddler for his own gain.

Peddler hopes to sell Emmaline for his own profit. Fearing that Owen is dead, Emmaline doesn't stop trying to find a way to escape Peddler so she can go to the king and queen to negotiate the return of her people. What she finds though is that they too will stop at nothing to be in control of the chocolate that only Emmaline seems to be able to make.

This story is a retelling of The Ugly Duckling which I have never read so I don't know how it compares. This was a sweet story of one girl who rises above her own disability in order to save her country and become beloved by all. I enjoyed it very much.

I received my copy at ALA in January. The book will be published in August of 2012.

DUST CITY by Robert Paul Weston-REVIEW

Henry Whelp lives in a reformatory for troubled boys called the Home for Wayward Wolves. He’s been there since his father was thrown in jail for killing Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother. He’s been mad at his father ever since and embarrassed when people bring it up. He doesn’t like people thinking he is going to twist off and go on a killing spree like his dad, but everyone thinks killing is in his blood.




Henry lives in Dust City, a dark and dangerous place known for its black market dust. Dust is a mind-altering drug that has the entire population addicted. The wolves, foxes, ravens, and hominids all crave dust to make them feel better and heal their sicknesses. At one time, the dust was a good and magical thing – actual fairy dust given out by the fairies themselves in order to make people live up to their potential. Something has happened to all the fairies though. They have disappeared without a trace and the only way to fill the need is for the thaumaturgical companies to create synthetic dust to push on the public.


Henry has always tried to stay away from dust and only accepts it when administered by medical personnel. He is afraid it will turn him into a killer like his father, but when there is a murder at the Home where he lives, Henry is forced to hunt for the truth about it, what really happened the night his father killed Little Red and her grandma, and what happened to the fairies. With the help of Fiona, a beautiful she wolf, Henry jumps into the world of the black market, hoping he can find his way out again.


DUST CITY is so creative. The mix of different fairy tale characters and story lines is amazing. Cindy Ella is the headmaster at the Home for Wayward Wolves. The policeman on Henry’s case is Detective White (Snow White) and Jack (Beanstalk) is Henry’s best friend. As soon as I read the first page I was hooked. These wolves aren’t the typical wolves we’ve seen in fantasy novels lately so if you are in the mood for something unique, give this one a try.

BEASTLY by Alex Flinn - REVIEW

A modern day Beauty and the Beast. I thought it was pretty good. Before being turned into a Beast Kyle Kingsbury was a total jerk. Hence the reason for turning him into a beast. Through his time as a Beast he learned to put others before himself. He learned to love others besides himself. Of course it was the fairy tale ending…which is what I love! I really enjoyed this book.