Enchanted

Works Cited:

Kontis, Alethea. Enchanted. Boston: Harcourt, 2012. Print.

Summary:

Sunday Woodcutter, the youngest of seven sisters, befriends a talking frog during an afternoon visit to the forest. She does not realize that Grumble, the frog, is actually a prince who has been enchanted by a fairy. Sunday begins to fall in love with Grumble as the two continue to share stories over several afternoons. A kiss breaks the spell, but the transformation takes place once Sunday has left for the day. Prince Rumbold (Grumble) becomes determined to find Sunday after he returns to his castle and hosts three balls for the chance to see her once again and profess his love. The only problem is the fact that Sunday’s family very much dislikes the royal family due to some unfortunate events from the past.

Critical Analysis:

Enchanted incorporates so many different fairy tales in the story, it almost seems impossible to keep count. Each character represents some various tale most might recall from their childhood. The main character, Sunday Woodcutter, is the traditional heroine who might be seen in any Disney movie, complete with beauty, whit, and a few magical abilities. Many tales are woven throughout the novel including Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty to name a few. Author Alethea Kontis creates an imaginative world full of romance and sorcery and in true fairy tale fashion, naturally, leaves the reader with a happy ending.

While it can be fun picking out the various fairy tale references made as the story unfolds, it can also be overwhelming at times. The story seems to slow down when certain tales are mentioned. Following a storyline can be difficult when a reader is constantly going back and forth between a story and memory. At times, the story seems disorganized and is confusing. Following the plot might be difficult for some experiencing information overload from so many fairy tales mentions.