Retelling Well Known Stories

Posted on June 28, 2012 by nobles

Today in assembly we heard from Madeline Miller, the author of The Song of Achilles, a brilliant retelling of Homer’s Illiad.  Miller tells the story from the point of view of Patroclus, a character who is mentioned in the Illiad but whose story we have not learned until now.

Miller is not the first author to retell a well-known story in an innovative and interesting way. Here are some more retellings you might enjoy!

Wicked by Gregory Maguire (The Wizard of Oz)

This novel (and subsequent Broadway musical) tells the story of Elphaba, more commonly known as the Wicked Witch of the West, and why she might not be as evil as we thought.  The novel and its sequels focus mainly on Elphaba’s story, while the musical focuses on her friendship with Glinda the Good Witch.

This Dark Endeavor (Frankenstein) by Kenneth Oppel

This young adult novel is a prequel to Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and tells the story of twin brothers Victor and Konrad Frankenstein and Victors search for the elixir of life to help cure his ailing brother.

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (Peter Pan)

Orphaned Peter, his friend Molly and a group of boys set sail on the Neverland, fighting pirates and protecting treasure in the process.

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor (Alice in Wonderland)

What would happen if the story of Alice in Wonderland was real? Alyss is the heir to the throne in Wonderland, but she leave her home to save her life.  She ends up in London where she meets an author and tells him her story.  However, he gets a few key facts wrong and Alyss’ bodyguard Hatter Madigan must track her down so she can reclaim what is rightfully hers.

Abandon by Meg Cabot (the story of Persephone)

In Greek mythology Persephone is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter and the Queen of the Underworld after Hades kidnaps her and makes her his bride.  In this retelling Persephone is seventeen-year-old Pierce and Hades is the mysterious John Hayden who was there the first time Pierce died.  Pierce just wants to live a normal life but she can’t escape her inexplicable need for John. Will she end up in the Underworld forever?

Ash by Malinda Lo (Cinderella)

Ever since her father died, Ash has lived a miserable life with her violent stepmother. Ash finds an escape in the fairy tales she reads and dreams of being taken away by fairies. Her wish comes true when the fairy prince Sidhean comes and takes her, but Ash falls in love with Kaisa, Sidhean’s female huntress which angers Sidhean and causes a battle where the winner gets Ash.

Once Upon a Time (TV series) (many fairy tales characters and more!)

Currently in season two on ABC (come check out season one in the library!) Once Upon a Time imagines a world where all the fairy tale characters live together in fairy tale land under the horrible rule of the evil queen Regina (the evil queen from Snow White.) Regina is angry at Snow White for a variety of reasons (that you learn over the course of the season) so she curses everyone in fairy tale land to forget their true identities and relocates them to the present day rural Maine town of Storybrooke. The show cuts back and forth between the fairy tale characters in fairy tale land (including Snow White, Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin, Belle, Little Red Riding Hood and more) and their Maine counterparts, including Emma, the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming who escaped the curse and grew up not knowing her true history and ultimately destiny as the one who might eventually break the curse.