Parents' Guide to

Whatever After Series

By Carrie Kingsley, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Plot twists in beloved fairy tales make spirited stories.

Book Sarah Mlynowski Fantasy 2012
Whatever After Series Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 7+

Based on 2 parent reviews

kelkey
kelkey Adult
May 25, 2019
age 7+

Sweet and Funny... and a little feminism

This series is really cute, I’ve read the books with my younger daughter (6) and my 9 year old enjoys them as well. The main characters Abby and Jonah find a magic mirror that takes them into fairy tales - and through a series of comical mishaps, the kids rewrite the story to something that makes a little more sense than fairy tale instant marriages and happily ever after.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
kristinw3
kristinw3 Adult
September 1, 2017
age 6+

A fun series to read with your daughter

My daughter and I have been reading this series together since she was 5. These books are cute and very positive. The main character is strong but recognizes her mistakes.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In the WHATEVER AFTER series, siblings Abby and Jonah discover that a magic mirror in the basement of their new home transports them into fairy tales their nana used to read to them. Lonely and homesick in their new town, they find friends and adventures when they're dropped into "The Frog Prince," "Snow White," "Cinderella," "Rapunzel," "The Little Mermaid," and more. Abby is smart and tenacious, never giving up on what is right and being a protective, kind big sister; Jonah is an adventurous, kind little brother, impish and brave. Together, they enter the world of fairy tales, trying to save princesses and rescue princes -- but not to disrupt the details of the stories they love -- all while making it home to their beds by 7a.m., when their unknowing parents will wake them for school.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (15):

These stories are fun to read. While most of us are familiar with the basic plots of most fairy tales, Whatever After puts all our known endings in doubt, because after Jonah and Abby prevent Snow White from eating the poison apple, how will the prince save her with a kiss and marry her for a happily-ever-after? The plots stay tense with Abby and Jonah's antics, witty writing, and new twists in every chapter. By updating the fairy tale enough for, say, Snow White to say she's only 16 and wants to focus on running her kingdom, not on getting married, these books offer a fresh, funny, empowering look at stories young readers love.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how fairy tales are treated in the Whatever After series. Why are fairy tales handed down generation after generation? What are some of your favorites?

  • When Abby and Jonah decide how to preserve the fairy tale in Whatever After and still make it home before their parents wake up, what do they decide is most important to save, and what are they OK with changing?

  • What other books are different versions of familiar fairy tales?

Book Details

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