Water Song: A Retelling of "The Frog Prince" (Once Upon a Time (Simon Pulse))
Grade 5 Up—Setting this retelling of "The Frog Prince" in World War I Belgium is an interesting idea that didn't work out very well. Emma, a British citizen, is stranded on her family's estate after her mother is killed by a bomb. Their home is requisitioned as a garrison for the German army. To compound her trauma, her fiancé has broken off their engagement and, in a fit of pique, Emma throws the golden ball-shaped locket with his photo into the well—an action she immediately regrets. When she tries to retrieve it, she discovers an American who's been fighting with British forces hiding in the water in an attempt to counter the effects of a gas attack. He's a good swimmer, his skin is blistered, and his eyes are bulging and swollen from the gas. As soon as he is able to see Emma, he wants her to kiss him. Readers are meant to understand that he is the frog prince. All that might plausibly be worked into a satisfying historical novel cum fantasy, but when Weyn overburdens the narrative with the "frog's" complicated Louisiana mixed-race backstory involving Natchez magic, a history as a runaway, a stint in the merchant marines, and more, the narrative sinks under the weight. In this case, less would be more.—Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.