2012, Juvenile Fiction
WISE Score
A magic mirror in the basement sucks two siblings into the Snow White story, where they accidentally stop her from eating the apple and ruin the entire plot.
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If you're looking for the book that finally turns a 'maybe' reader into an 'every night' reader, this is it. It’s funny, the stakes are real but manageable, and it makes dusty old stories feel fresh and slightly ridiculous.
Sarah Mlynowski hits a specific sweet spot here: it’s clean enough for a second grader but snarky enough that a fifth grader won't feel like they're reading a 'baby' book. It’s the literary equivalent of a Saturday morning cartoon that’s actually well-written.
Perfect for the 7-10 crowd. It’s written with a punchy, modern voice that bridges the gap between early chapter books and more complex middle-grade novels.
The sibling dynamic between Abby and Jonah is the heart of the book. It models a supportive (if occasionally bickering) relationship where they have to work together to fix their mistakes.
The 'fractured fairy tale' concept is executed brilliantly here. It encourages kids to think about story structure and the 'what ifs' of classic narratives.
It's a Scholastic middle-grade staple. The peril is strictly of the fairy-tale variety—poison apples and grumpy dwarves—with zero mature content or linguistic red flags.
It builds strong verbal reasoning. The protagonist has to use logic to 'repair' a plot she accidentally broke, which is a great stealth lesson in cause and effect.
Fairest of All kicked off a massive trend in middle-grade fiction for a reason. By 2012, fairy tale retellings were everywhere, but most were aimed at teens or adults. Mlynowski brought that 'what if' energy down to the elementary school level without losing the wit.
The magic of this series—which is now over 15 books deep—is that it treats the classic stories with a mix of affection and skepticism. When Abby and Jonah realize that Snow White is actually kind of a pushover, they don't just mock her; they try to help her develop some backbone.
If your kid is struggling to move past Dog Man or Captain Underpants, this is a great transition. The chapters are short, the dialogue is snappy, and the plot moves at a clip. It doesn't get bogged down in flowery descriptions. It's high-concept but low-friction.
It’s also a fantastic read-aloud. If you're doing the voices, the interaction between the modern, savvy kids and the traditional, slightly confused fairy-tale characters provides plenty of comedy. It’s one of those rare series where the quality stays remarkably consistent as the siblings move on to tackle Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, and Sleeping Beauty.
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