Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

I’ve heard Shades of Milk and Honey described if “Jane Austen wrote fantasy stories.” I can see where this idea comes from, for this book is a regency novel that reminds me some of the best of Austen’s work. In it accomplished young ladies know how to apply glamours to make the world seem slightly better than the actual surroundings. Music can have magical light dancing through the air, a room can look like a forest. The ever practical plain Jane is the true glamourist in the family, but it is Melody who attracts the men due to her pretty face. When unscrupulous men try to manipulate Melody in order to get her dowry, it is up to Jane to stop them and perhaps find a love of her own.

The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

Do you love Sherlock Holmes? Then you’ll love this classic Disney take on the great detective. Basil of Baker Street (named after Basil Rathbone who many consider the greatest actor to play Holmes) is the mouse that lives in Holmes’ house. He and his companion, Dr. Dawson must solve the mysteries of Mousedom and save the queen from the evil Professor Rattigan. A fun example of a great classic!!

Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack by Shannon Hale

Rapunzel’s Revenge is a graphic novel version of the classic tale. It places Rapuzel in a Old West setting where she is imprisoned in a massive tree instead of a tower. She breaks out all on her own and uses her cunning and mastery of her way too long hair to get revenge on Mother Gothel and free her real mother from the mines where she works for Gothel. On the way she meets a boy named Jack. He had some problems with some giants and beanstalks back east… 

The second book, Calamity Jack, is Jack’s story. In it Rapunzel and Jack return back east to confront the giants and save the day. Both are fun examples about how you can take a fairy tale and rewrite it in your own way.

The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)

The Forbidden Kingdom is one of the few Kung Fu movies I actually enjoy, although I do admit that I haven’t really seen a lot of them. This is the story of Jason Tripitakas, a modern Boston teenager, who is sent back to Ancient China by a magical staff in order to free the Monkey King. He meets legendary Kung Fu masters Jackie Chan and Jet Li along the way which teach him real Kung Fu. It is a fun contemporary view of an ancient myth, Jason’s last name hinting at the original monk in the Journey to the West.