Almost There: A Twisted Tale

This "Twisted Tale" reimagines Disney's The Princess and the Frog, setting it in a vibrant 1920s New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Tiana, a determined African American woman, makes a desperate bargain with the sinister Dr. Facilier to protect her family and community from his schemes. The story delves into the complex aftermath of this deal, exploring themes of love, sacrifice, and the fight against evil forces. With alternating perspectives from Tiana, Prince Naveen, and Facilier, the narrative weaves in elements of Vodou and addresses compelling social justice issues relevant even today. It's a suspenseful and empowering read for young adults, offering a fresh, darker take on a beloved story.

A young African American woman’s love for her family and community leads her to make a bargain with unforeseen consequences in this retelling inspired by Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. It’s Mardi Gras in 1920s New Orleans, and Tiana, a young African American woman, is running out of time. She is in possession of an amulet that Facilier, the Shadow Man, got one of his minions inside Prince Naveen’s inner circle to steal; it allows its wearer to impersonate the prince. He was trying to use it to gain access to the fortune of Eli LaBouff, the richest man in New Orleans, by wooing LaBouff’s daughter, Charlotte, who dreams of marrying into royalty. Facilier uses a conjuring trick to force Tiana to make a deal that will help her protect the people she loves. Her end of the bargain is to put a concoction made by the Shadow Man into the gumbo served at her restaurant, a deal that surely cannot end well: Even though Tiana seems to have everything she wants, evil forces are clearly at play. The setting is richly steeped in the history and culture of New Orleans. Chapters alternate between the third-person perspectives of Tiana, Naveen, and Facilier, with each having a distinct voice. This appealing twist on the classic fairy tale “The Frog Prince” creates space for examining different aspects of Vodou and compelling social justice issues that still affect people today.