Wednesday, February 24, 2016

A Whole New World by Liz Braswell - ADVISABLE

Braswell, Liz A Whole New World, 376 pages.  Disney, 2015.  $18.  Language: PG (5 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (deaths, one violent, bloody beheading).

What if Jafar tricked Aladdin and escaped the Cave of Wonders with the lamp and took over Agrabah for himself?  What would happen to Jasmine and Aladdin and the entire kingdom then?   Probably reign bloody terror over everyone, right?  And who would be left to be the opposition – Jasmine, Aladdin, and the Street Rats, of course!

Missing the whole “Twisted Tales” subheading, I felt that I was reading a junior novelization of the Disney movie up to the moment that Aladdin got left behind in the Cave.  When Jafar ripped the flying carpet to shreds on a toture rack , the point was really driven home.  Disney movies already have a little darkness to them, but Braswell’s reinterpretation, which I did love, brings the dark to the front and gives  it a chance to run rampant before it ultimately falls. Interesting concept.  I can’t wait to see if my middle school students pick this up.  I wouldn’t give this to elementary students, though.

MS – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library teacher

No comments: