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Having decided that they no longer want to live the same stories over and over again, fairy-tale characters have escaped The Wild (where fairy tales are nurtured) to lead ordinary lives in the real world. In its compressed form, The Wild lives under Julie Marchen’s bed in her Massachusetts home, which is only just beginning to recover from its last incursion (Into the Wild, 2007). Julie and her mother, Rapunzel, realize that all is not well when Julie’s father, the Prince, emerges, intent on living out his tale in his new environment. An energetic series of events causes the Prince to fulfill his identity repeatedly (he saves a princess, fights a dragon, etc.) and in doing this, he causes The Wild to grow—threatening the entire United States. Julie becomes a hero by making smart choices, developing courage and hanging on to her moral compass. This puzzle-like yarn seamlessly spans time and space, reality and fantasy. Fairy-tale-savvy readers will enjoy the inside jokes and be impressed by the overall intelligence of the writing. (Fantasy. 10-14)
