Welcome to a plethora of wonderful children’s and teen books of fiction perfect for gift-giving. There were so many to choose among I engaged the assistance of my granddaughter, Eleanor, who has discerning taste, to select the books for this column. Glass: A Cinderella Tale Kathryn Lasky, Harper, 2024, 213 pages, $19.
99 Do fairy godmothers just appear, 50-ish, plump and gray-headed, or do they have a youth? Glass: A Cinderella Tale (Kathryn Lasky, Harper, 2024, 213 pages, $19.99) answers that question by introducing Bess, youngest daughter in a family of glassblowers. Bess rebels against her family, who are cruel, and runs to live in the forest with her animal friends.
Estrella takes her place, and Bess must find a way to save her. Turning the trope of the Cinderella tale on its head, Lasky creates a stunning version sure to appeal to young teens. Legends of Lotus Island: The Guardian Test Christina Soontornvat, illustrated by Kevin Hong, Scholastic Press, 2024, 147 pages, $16.
99 It is helpful to get in on the beginning of a new series. Legends of Lotus Island: The Guardian Test (Christina Soontornvat, illustrated by Kevin Hong, Scholastic Press, 2024, 147 pages, $16.99) by an award-winning Texas author, introduces the main characters of a new series by describing the tests they must endure to transform into magical beings who are sworn to be the Guardians of the natural world.
Very different personalities begin to coalesce into a force for good, and subtle foreshadowing hi.
