Almost There by Farrah Rochon - OPTIONAL

Almost There (Twisted Tale) by Farrah Rochon. 464 pages. Disney Hyperion. 2022. $13. 

Language: PG (6 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (Souls traded in exchange for powers with nothing explicitly described.); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In Disney's animated "The Princess and the Frog," 18yo Tiana successfully beats Dr. Facilier and marries Prince Naveen, but in "Almost There," Dr. Facilier manages to successfully manipulate Tiana into making a deal moments before she could ultimately vanquish him. The majority of the story continues a year following the deal. In this new ending and because of her deal with Dr. Facilier, Tiana's father is alive and runs a restaurant with her, Louis becomes human, and Naveen loses all memory of their time together. Even more, Tiana isn't allowed to fall in love with him. Naveen luckily didn't marry Charlotte and instead works for Charlotte's dad, but his constant presence keeps Tiana on edge and on the verge of constant heartache. Tiana works hard to make a name for herself, but her chances and opportunities are limited as a black woman in the 1920s. Worst of all, her deal with Dr. Facilier has welcomed a new kind of evil into New Orleans, and she must unite with her friends once more to vanquish the darkness that threatens to overtake the new life she's made for herself and the people she loves. 

Many of the "Twisted Tales" series change major plot points earlier in the story, but this one changed the ending. While that might have worked in its favor, I found that it ultimately forced the characters to regress a little or take on personality traits that weren't consistent with the beginning of the story. Most readers would need to be familiar with Disney's film "The Princess and the Frog" in order to understand what is happening in this version as there's only the briefest summation of events from the film. There are some plot holes as well, but I did enjoy how the novel tried to show the differences between Vodou as it should be used and the kind presented in pop culture. It also addresses a little more explicitly the racism Tiana would face at the time. It's a fun read, but it's a bit of a niche storyline for people who like Disney or twisted fairytales. Tiana, Naveen, and their families are black; Charlotte is white; and Louis's human form is never described.


Lisa J HS ELA Teacher