Common Sense Media Review
By Stephanie Morgan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Female-forward retelling of Snow White falls flat; some sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In SNOW & POISON, a Bavarian duke's daughter, Sophie, is overjoyed when her father falls in love and remarries. Soon she finds herself building a tenuous relationship with her new stepmother and, after a chance encounter, possibly falling in love herself. But all is not as it seems, and Sophie soon finds herself in danger, forced to flee to the forest and take shelter with seven unlikely saviors.
Is It Any Good?
This retelling of the classic Snow White fairy tale falls short due to lackluster male characters, dull dialogue, and a rushed romance. Snow & Poison's clever updates to the classic story -- especially the wicked stepmother -- could have turned a decidedly chauvinistic tale into a female-driven exploration of social inequality and the responsibilities of the privileged. Sadly, that potential isn't fully realized. Additionally, the insta-love story between Snow White and the prince lacks chemistry and witty banter, making it both unconvincing and unsatisfying. The only redeeming feature of the book is author Melissa De La Cruz's re-imagination of the Seven Dwarfs as children who are forced into manual labor in the copper mines, a poignant subplot that arrives too late in the story to salvage it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether Sophie's father was a hero or a villain in Snow & Poison. How did he treat Sophie and Claudia, and how did he treat the village people under his care? Discuss how no one is all good or all bad.
How do Sophie and Claudia demonstrate empathy? Why is this an important character strength?
What are some of the main differences between Snow & Poison and the classic Snow White story? How is the relationship between Snow White and her stepmother different? Who else is different? Why do you think the author chose to make these changes?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : April 18, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 287
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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