10 Reviews: Best Fairy Tale Books for Tweens (Apr 2024)

This captivating series about a young girl whose paintings come to life combines aspects of Indian mythology and adventure to produce a story that will stay with the audience long after they have finished watching it. After being dragged into the realm of her sketchbook, Kiki must figure out how to defeat an old god, save the monarchy, and return to her own reality. All of this must be accomplished before she can return home.

"My 4th grade daughter loved this book! We can’t wait for the next one in the series!"

by W B

Poor Rump, he was given serious consideration in the magic world that isn’t very prominent, and as a direct consequence of this, he doesn’t really have many friends there as a result of this. On the other side, things may start to look up for him in the near future with the support of his closest friend Red Riding Hood and a recently discovered aptitude for converting straw into gold. Or maybe not.

"My 11 year old and I can't put this down, we love it! I'm excited to read more from this author."

by Kindle Customer

This story of Hansel and Gretel as they wander in and out of various classic stories will appeal to those who enjoy the original, darker versions of Grimm’s fairytales. The magic-filled adventures of the Grimm children’s younger siblings continue in In a Glass Grimmly and The Grimm Conclusion. Those children who simply cannot get enough of this series may also check out the animated version that is available on Netflix.

"This a different retelling of Hetzle & Grettle. It's the perfect dark and grim for middle grade readers. There is even dark humor belive it or not. I read this in a few hours in one sitting . It's a fun read."

by Tara K.

Winnie anticipates a mouthwatering dessert when she makes mooncakes from the recipe book that belonged to her grandmother for a school bake sale. Instead, she manages to reawaken an ancient creature that wreaks havoc on her world. This first installment of a new series is very readable and is based on Chinese mythology. Therefore, it has a great combination of magic, Chinese cuisine, and exciting adventures.

"Winnie will make you laugh and cheer out loud as she saves the world with mooncakes. Super fun! Just make sure you finish your homework first because you aren’t going to want to put it down!"

by Kelly A Van Kirk

June is a frustrated middle school student who makes “small white lies” to her friends and family in order to make everyone happy. Nevertheless, after receiving an honest enchantment from her fairy godmother, June finds herself compelled to tell harsh realities to everyone, despite the fact that she does not wish to do so. For anyone who enjoyed Ella Enchanted, it is highly recommended to pick up this fragmented fairy tale.

" This is probably one of my favorite middle grade books of 2021! I absolutely loved the magical realism of this book (it’s small, but there) and I loved how the book normalized puberty and normalized stress. ..."

by Paige G.

Your young child who enjoys fairytales should go on an adventure to Neverland, where they will encounter pirates, monsters, and plenty of opportunities to use their imagination. Peter Pan has a plan to bring Wendy Darling’s great-great-grandchildren back to Neverland with him, despite the fact that Wendy Darling has long since grown up. This contemporary retelling of the Peter Pan narrative follows Clover and Fergus as they go on a journey that will change their lives forever.

"This fresh take on a timeless classic is a wonderful ride for readers of all ages. Magic and friendship abound as siblings Clover and Fergus adventure through Neverland and meet a whole new cast of whimsical characters. An absolute joy!"

by Jessica

This engaging fragmented fairy tale for preteens and teenagers features Baba Yaga exchanging places with a wolf. Zima, the wolf that is imprisoned within Baba Yaga’s body, discovers that her forest is in danger and forms an alliance with a little girl in order to protect it. Therefore, this book will be hard to put down for any reader who enjoys reading tales that involve animals, witches, and magic.

"Well written and an original tale. A wonderful read. I shared it with my 11-year-old daughter who enjoyed it as well. It is obvious the author knows a lot of lore and legend. Highly recommend this book."

by Kari A. Triplett

Emily Winfield Martin has written a beautiful retelling of a fairy tale. When their family experiences poverty, Snow and Rose go with their mother to a modest home close to the woods. The girls come into magic, peril, and a fantastical world as they explore the woods. Therefore, this beautiful fairy tale is a must-read for tweens because of the stunning full-color graphics that appear throughout the book.

"My 10 y/o daughter always wants us to read to her, which can be hard after a long day. This book was so physically beautiful, with such lovely writing, it was a pleasure I looked forward to with her. Poetry."

by GreenlakeJess

The second book in the Pages & Co. series, which has become an international best seller, takes readers on an adventure to Paris with two of the series’ main characters, Tilly and Oscar. They find themselves in a book of French fairytales, where the tales are all intertwined with one another and lack any semblance of order. Someone has muddled up this story, and it is the children’s obligation to put a stop to whoever is responsible before that person causes an even worse disaster.

"Our daughter loves it! Real page turner. She loves the reference to other books she’s read and is curious about the ones that she hasn’t."

by SmithsonianGeek

Have you ever given any thought to what transpired after Sleeping Beauty awoke after having been inactive for a hundred years? The main character of this mangled version of a fairy tale is Princess Briony, who is actually her younger sister. She is the one who discovers the real reason for the curse that is placed on the spindle. Not only does it consist of Sleeping Beauty’s retelling, but it can be the prequel to this fairy tale.

"I bought this book for my granddaughter. She thinks the book is fantastic and cannot get over that I knew EXACTLY what kind of book she loves. I am now the best grandmother."

by Razy Katz