I have thoroughly enjoyed Morgan Matson’s previous works, including Save the Date, Since You’ve Been Gone, and Take Me Home Tonight. Following this experience, I am eagerly looking forward to Gradchanted. I particularly appreciated the narrative involving two contemporary adolescents becoming entangled in the Sleeping Beauty tale.
Stella, who harbors skepticism toward fairy tales and believes that love stories are fallacious following her recent breakup before the prom, contemplates forgoing the event. As an age-old tradition, Stella and her close friend Nisha opt to partake in pre-prom celebrations at Disneyland. They extend an invitation to Reece, a recent addition to their town. Despite initial friction between Stella and Reece, an inadvertent passage through a concealed doorway in Sleeping Beauty’s castle transports them into the actual story. They then bear the responsibility of ensuring the narrative adheres to its original course, failing which they risk being unable to find their way home.
The book closely hews to the classic Disney rendition of Sleeping Beauty from the 1959 film. I found the detailed descriptions impressive, thereby lending the story a live-action ambiance rather than an animated or cartoonish aspect. The characters of Rose (Aurora) and Phil (Phillip) are more intricately developed, affording insight into Rose’s time at the cottage in the week preceding her sixteenth birthday, evoking several moments of delight.
The narrative unfolds from Stella’s viewpoint, hence marking a surprising turn with the eventual introduction of Maleficent. The sole drawback discernible was the absence of chapters narrated from Reece’s perspective, which I believe would have enhanced the overall enjoyment of the story.
In summary, readers who admire the author's work, appreciate the trope of couples who initially clash but ultimately find love, or relish classic Disney stories infused with a contemporary twist are likely to find this book to be a gratifying read.
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