Retelling

The Fire-Breathing Duckling / Frank Cammuso

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The Fire-Breathing Duckling
By: Frank Cammuso
Genre: Children’s, Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 40
Published: August 5, 2025
Publisher: TOON Books
Dates Read: January 19, 2026
Format: Library Book / Hardcover	ISBN: 9781662665332

In this retelling of the Ugly Duckling, instead of a swan, this little one is a dragon. And when their duckling siblings find themselves in trouble, this little dragon uses their fire-breathing skills to save the day.

I’m pretty sure I found this as an “extra” during a library catalog search and immediately put it on hold (thanks Bibliocommons!). Tell me you wouldn’t see this cover and immediately pick it up to see the illustrations?!

I may be thirty-three right now, but you can bet that I enjoyed this story about self-discovery and finding your own strength. This little dragon is adorable and the pond friends were funny in trying to help figure out what they were.

I mentioned before, the illustrations are definitely what made me pick it up, but it also kept me turning the page. Each panel was colorful and engaging and beautiful, perfect for those littles in first or second grade – though I think kindergarteners would also enjoy this with some help from a grownup. 

Overall, a charming and engaging book for all ages.

James / Percival Everett

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James
By: Percival Everett
Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 303
Published: March 19, 2024
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday
Dates Read: January 2, 2026 - January 10, 2026
Format: Hardcover		ISBN: 9780385550369

Trigger Warnings: slavery, racism, racial slurs, rape, violence, murder

A reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told through the voice of Jim.

When Jim overhears he’s about to be sold and separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can think of a plan to get his family together. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his abusive father. The two meet up while hiding and thus begin their adventure down the Mississippi River.

Full disclaimer, I have never read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn but I know of the story and generally what happens in it because it’s kind of hard not to, especially growing up in Kansas and now living in Missouri and the fact that Mark Twain is highly talked about. I have, however, read Tom Sawyer, so I knew a little going into this.

I put off reading this because I read The Trees by Percival Everett and just remembered I needed to really focus on it to understand it all. And, I’m going to be honest, this book started off a bit hard to read because of the dialect written in it first thing and I didn’t know if I was ready for it. But, it reminded me of one of my favorite sci-fi writers, P. Djélí Clark, and how I just need to not speedread it to fully enjoy it. I slowed down my reading and it finally “clicked” and I could enjoy it and appreciate it! Especially once you learn what that dialect really is.

I think one of the craziest parts of this was the blackface minstrel troupe… like, that was a real thing?? The history of racism really baffles me sometimes and what people had as “entertainment” back in the day would cause heart attacks nowadays.

Overall, I really enjoy this retelling/changed perspective of Huckleberry Finn. I don’t read a lot in this timeline but appreciate what this brought about freedom, race, and the enduring impact of slavery. 

Greta / J.S. Lemon

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Greta
By: J.S. Lemon
Genre: Middle Grade, Magical Realism
Number of Pages: 208
Published: September 10, 2024
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Dates Read: September 4, 2024 - September 7, 2024
Format: ARC / eBook

Trigger Warnings: Assault

In this reminiscent of Kafka’s Metamorphosis Greta Goodwin’s life is changing – not only is she moving across town and far away from her best friend, Lottie, she’s also starting middle school. Greta doesn’t feel like she’s up there with everyone else: she could care less about boys, makeup, and cafeteria food. Instead, Greta lives by the motto, “Do not call attention to yourself”. But, at her first party, a boy does pay attention to Greta. At first, it feels good, but then it feels awful. In the aftermath, Greta can’t make sense of what happened, she can’t talk about it, not even to Lotti. Then, Greta’s body begins to change, in a vastly different way than those around her.

I was immediately interested in this novel as soon as it said it was reminiscent of Kafka’s Metamorphosis. I’ve always loved Kafka and enjoyed retellings, reimaginings, or reminiscences of his works. I’ve never really read a Kafka inspired novel that was aimed towards Middle Grade readers, so I was curious to see how this one was written.

First off, I absolutely adored Greta and Lotti’s relationship and the love that they had for one another. It reminded me of my childhood girlfriends who were my ride and die growing up.

Secondly, I think J.S. Lemon did a fantastic job writing Greta’s “metamorphosis” after the incident at the party. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but the lesson at the end of the story is that one’s own skin (body) is their own. 

Overall, I believe Middle Grade readers will get a good understanding of the message(s) Lemon writes about and will hopefully bring attention to how they may interact within their own lives.

*Thank you Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Red / Annie Cardi

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red

By: Annie Cardi

Genre: YA, Contemporary 

Number of Pages: 256

Published: January 30, 2024

Publisher: Union Square & Co.

Dates Read: January 9, 2024 - January 15, 2024

Format: ARC / eBook

Trigger Warnings: abortion, misogyny, religious bigotry, grooming, adult/minor relationship

After Tess’s mom loses her job, the two move in with her grandparents in Hawthorne. The one condition is that the two must attend church. Tess’s mom isn’t too happy about it, but Tess enjoys the community and quickly finds a place among the youth group and choir.

But after a very personal decision becomes public, Tess faces both harassment and rejection from the church community. After meeting some kids in the band room during lunch – the only place she’s able to find solitude, she learns to find her voice again with their support.

I like that this book had a religious theme, but it wasn’t overly preachy. Tess had a relationship with God before and she spends the duration of the book talking about that and how she wants to reconnect but isn’t sure how to do so.

I appreciated the fact that Annie Cardi addressed the subject of abortion and how it can still be considered controversial today but that it’s not so black and white that some people think it is. The fact that characters changed their views throughout the story was authentic and felt right – now granted, some still had a hard time “accepting” Tess’s decision but it was still nice to see.

This novel also shows how the act of grooming and abuse aren’t always so easily detectable. Predators can be anyone.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. This is unfortunately something that young women can go through and I feel like this will help a lot of girls feel seen.

*Thank you Union Square & Co. for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Herc / Phoenicia Rogerson

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Herc
By: Phoenicia Rogerson
Genre: Fantasy
Number of Pages: 384
Published: September 5, 2023
Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Dates Read: October 31, 2023 - November 6, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover / Audiobook

Trigger Warnings: violence, death, murder, (ya know, Greek Gods’ stuff)

Herc is a retelling of Hercules told by the people around him and how he impacted their lives – for better or worse.

So, upon reading this, I realized that I only knew the Disney version of Hercules – totally and absolutely so much different. <spoiler> It was the children’s killing that made my jaw hit the floor </spoiler>

I mostly listened to this in an audiobook and it had a whole ensemble of characters and voices, which was great because it helped with keeping everyone straight. It also gave Hercules a layered and complicated life (again, one I did NOT know about because I knew only of the Disney version). The different voices also gave way to some humor with it too because everyone obviously had different experiences with him through his life.

Overall, I’m going to be recommending this to quite a few people, especially those who like mythology and retellings. Also, this is such a nice twist of the telling of Hercules because it’s not really about him, but more about the people he had interactions with throughout his life.

*Thank you Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

The Song of Us / Kate Fussner

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The Song of Us
By: Kate Fussner
Genre: Middle Grade, Novel in Verse
Number of Pages: 208
Published: May 20, 2023
Publisher: HarperCollin/Tegen
Dates Read: July 7, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

The Song of Us is a middle grade, novel in verse about love at first sight for seventh graders Olivia and Eden. Olivia is capital P, Poet and started a Poetry Club at her school, and Eden is the new girl in school who thinks she wants to be a musician. When Eden walks into the Poetry Club one day, everything changes.

Eden isn’t out and there are rules Olivia needs to follow: don’t call, don’t tell her friends, and don’t let anyone know.

But when jealousy waves its ugly head, Olivia’s words are what push Eden away. As Eden tries to find herself in this new school, Olivia begins the journey of getting back to Eden – using her most powerful weapon; her poetry.

This book is aimed for Middle Grade readers, but I’m 31 and I absolutely devoured it a single day in two settings (the curse of work).

I’m not usually one for romance stories in YA, yet alone Middle Grade, but this one was super cute and about your first crush/love. The novel even touches on the fact that they are seventh graders, and yea, most likely relationships won’t last, but it doesn’t mean the feelings being felt aren’t real. Even though the sections were shorter than your typical prose novel, the author was still able to develop both characters well and through their verses, you were able to connect with them. The pacing was good and everything felt realistic. 

Overall, this is an amazing, tender debut novel-in-verse about first love and finding the right words that I can see everyone who’s looking for a sweet romance would enjoy.

*Thank you HarperCollin/Tegen and Edelweiss+ for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review