15: What do you think a “were-rabbit” is? 11: Would you hunt fairy wings for profit? 8: Would you like a school where you have to pass “the princess test”? What would you have done differently to pass the test? How would you design a princess test? 23 POINTEDLY - on purpose, and wanting to be noticedĭiscussion topics for during/after reading:ĭuring reading it may help to read aloud the characters of both Jack and May as if they are teenagers who are a bit surly and sarcastic. 2 BLUNT PROP SWORD - a realistic-looking, but fake (harmless) sword, used in plays. Then read aloud the inside cover for a quick overview of the book (which will hopefully intrigue and set up the kids for the story). What common fairy tale phrase is that a play on? Does that title tell them anything about the book? Does the title seem serious or funny? Start by asking why they think the book is titled “Half Upon a Time”. But Jack and May have more in common than they realize-and together, they embark on a hilarious and wild adventure in this highly accessible, modern middle grade fantasy novel. May is from our world, and she's utterly confused to find herself in the midst of the fairy tale characters she has read about. He finds the perfect opportunity when a 'princess' lands in front of him, apparently from the land of Punk, as her Punk Princess t-shirt implies. He's the son of the infamous Jack who stole the magic beans from the giant, and he's working hard to restore his family's reputation. Recommended by Pamela Thompson, Library Media Specialist.Grade Level: 5th (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)

Even children who have only seen the Disney movies are sure to enjoy Half Upon a Time. Readers will delight with the stories they know and the ones that are a little twisted. Masterful storytelling will keep the pages turning long into the night.

The three run into all kinds of storybook trouble and May needs Jack's help to find her truth. They enlist the help of a real prince along the way. Jack realizes that May is the granddaughter of no other than the famous queen Snow White. May and Jack set out to rescue her grandmother who has been kidnapped. And then there's this beanstalk and Jack's missing father. Trolls, magic, and talking animals, legends and lore and much, much more. In Jack's world, there are dragons, and evil queens, and giants. May wants nothing to do with this princess thing, but soon realizes she is totally out of her element. Jack is pushed into rescuing a princess-any princess- and when he meets May who happens to fall into his world-she is wearing a t-shirt that says 'Punk Princess.' Jack, of course, thinks she's the real thing and goes about kissing her to wake her up from her 'sleep.' A cute take-off on well-known fairy tales, this novel is sure to please young readers.

Half upon a time