Fairest

Gail Carson Levine's 'Fairest' is a captivating retelling of Snow White, set in the enchanting world of Ayortha, a kingdom where singing and beauty are highly prized. The story follows Aza, an adopted innkeeper's daughter with an unconventional appearance but a magically captivating voice. When the vain Queen Ivi discovers Aza's unique talent for 'illusing' voices, she blackmails Aza into becoming her secret singing voice. This forces Aza on a perilous journey of self-discovery, confronting her insecurities, navigating royal intrigue, and ultimately embracing her true identity, including her gnome heritage. The book beautifully explores themes of self-acceptance, inner beauty, and the dangers of vanity, making it a rich read for children aged 8-11, though younger children may enjoy it as a read-aloud.

This is a retelling of the fairy tale Snow White. From the Author: The fairy Lucinda has once again given a dreadful gift. This time it's a mysterious magical mirror. The gift is disastrous when it falls into the hands of Aza, who never looks in a mirror if she can help it. In the Kingdom of Ayortha, Aza is most definitely not the fairest of them all. Many spurn her. Many scoff at her. She keeps out of sight. But in a land of singers, Aza has her own gift, one she's come by without fairy intervention: a voice that can do almost anything, a voice that captivates all who hear it. In Ontio Castle, merry Prince Ijori is drawn to it, and vain Queen Ivi wants to use it for her own ends. Queen Ivi would do anything to remain the fairest in the land.