Sunlight and Shadow: A Retelling of "The Magic Flute" (Once upon a Time Series)
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A new spin on "The Magic Flute" by an acclaimed author!In a time when the world was young and many things were quite commonplace that are now entirely forgotten, Sarastro, Mage of the Day, wed Pamina, the Queen of the Night. And in this way was the world complete, for light was joined to dark. For all time would they be joined together. Only the ending of the world could tear them apart. In other words, in the days in which my parents married, there was no such thing as divorce....Thus begins the tale of Mina, a girl-child born on the longest night of the darkest month of the year. When her father looked at her, all he saw was what he feared: By birth, by name, by nature, she belonged to the Dark. So when Mina turned sixteen, her father took her away from shadow and brought her into sunlight.In retaliation, her mother lured a handsome prince into a deadly agreement: If he frees Mina, he can claim her as his bride.Now Mina and her prince must endure deadly trials — of love and fate and family — before they can truly live happily ever after....Annette Wells - KLIATTThere's a princess in distress, characters that represent light and dark, a brave prince, a death-defying quest, and a happy ending. But that's where the parallels to a traditional fairy tale end. The women characters are strong: they speak their minds, they listen to their hearts, they need no rescuing. Most of the male characters aren't afraid to be vulnerable, recognizing that strength resides alongside fear. The characters speak directly to the reader, a wonderful way to appeal to an audience. The message is vital—that the song of one's heart is waiting for us to hear it. That true tragedy is when we fail to listen to its message or follow its path to our true destiny. The prince and princess do walk off into the sunset in the end, but readers of all ages will delight in this story that abandons classic gender stereotypes and expectations. Reluctant readers might struggle with changes in the point of view, for many people tell this tale. Most of the time this occurs with the change of a chapter, but once the characters are established, only a page break alerts us to a new voice. This is an excellent text for a class—it will appeal to males and females alike and serve as an excellent springboard into a discussion about what lies within the heart. KLIATT Codes: JS*—Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2004, Simon & Schuster, Pulse, 186p., Ages 12 to 18.
