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Parents' Guide to

Snow, Glass, Apples

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Fairy tale favorite gets dark, violent, sexy makeover.

Book Neil Gaiman Graphic Novel 2019
Snow, Glass, Apples Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 2 parent reviews

LaurenColsby
LaurenColsby Adult
October 9, 2019
age 14+

Different Perspective

Not a horrible book for children overall, and if your child is exceptionally mature before the age of 14 I think that it would be perfectly fine for them to read this as well. It does not lie however when it mentions this book has several scenes of nudity and sex. Most of them do not show complete nudity however one scene shows the fully uncovered upper body of a woman. This book also is big on themes that some younger readers might not even pick up on which is another reason why I feel this is meant for older audiences. On the violence side it wasn’t too shocking for me, though I’ve personally never been afraid of gore. The main thing parents need to think about with this book though is the sexual and bodily content. Like I said earlier, great book overall, it packs a huge punch in the span of a few pages.
cmadler
cmadler Adult
August 18, 2020
age 16+

Beautiful illustrations, creepy story, not for kids!

It's a creepy retelling of "Snow White" by Neil Gaiman, beautifully illustrated by Colleen Doran. It also includes graphic violence, explicit sex, and is generally not for children.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

As SNOW, GLASS, APPLES opens, the King takes a beautiful new lover and makes her his queen. Gradually, the King and the kingdom wither away, and the Queen suspects it has something to do with her stepdaughter, a strange young woman with sharp teeth. As those she loves grow weaker, the Queen decides upon a drastic course of action, one that will reverberate across the years.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Everyone thinks Snow White is a folktale hero, but this erotically charged retelling shows her darker side. Neil Gaiman tells the tale from the perspective of the wicked witch, who struggles mightily to protect her king and their subjects from a strange, blood-drinking little girl. Sensitive readers may be overwhelmed by Colleen Doran's erotic artwork and by frank discussions and depictions of sex. Older, more sophisticated readers may appreciate the intricacies of the art and prose and be chilled by the ending. Gaiman and Doan are a formidable artistic team, and Snow, Glass, Apples finds them in top form.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Snow, Glass, Apples makes an old story new. Why do readers remain interested in old folktales and myths?

  • How do some people use sex to gain power over others? How is sex depicted on television and in the movies?

  • Why is it important to maintain control of your own personal story? What happens when you let someone else tell your story?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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