Sleeping Beauty, a mid-century fairy tale, by David Roberts and Lynn Roberts-Maloney

We've all heard the story of Sleeping Beauty, right? Girl, cursed by an evil witch, pricks her fingers on a spinning wheel needle and can only be awoken by true love's kiss.

Ahh, yes. That old gem, a prince saves the day.

Well not this time!

Sleeping Beauty, a mid-century fairy tale, has a different spin on the ill-fated Beauty, telling instead the story of Annabel who is raised happily by her two aunts, Rosalind and Flora. Annabel loves science fiction and dreams of what the future will bring.

But on her first birthday, an evil neighbour, jealous of the sweet trio, casts a spell that Annabel will prick her finger when she turns 16 and die. The aunts are devastated, but Flora - a smart witch - changes the spell, so that if Annabel pricks her finger she'll sleep for a thousand years rather than die. However, what she doesn't tell Rosalind is that she must be woken up by the stroke of midnight after the thousand years, or she will die.

Although the aunts keep a careful eye over their beloved and science-loving child, they can't escape fate - and a tempting present sent on her 16th birthday. She pricks her finger on the needle of a record player and falls into a thousand year sleep.

In a move that makes me weepy, the broken hearted Flora, unable to leave Anabel, transforms Rosalind into a giant rose bush - to protect their child - and herself into a light, to keep her company through her sleep.

via vintage frills

A thousand years later, a girl named Zoe is researching the mysterious giant rose tree. When she finds and old and dusty book called Sleeping Beauty, she realises the old story is true...but will she make it to Annabel to save her in time?

This is such a great retelling of an old tale and puts the power firmly in the camp of the all-female protagonists of the story. Annabel has two mums, and is saved by a girl, which is incredibly refreshing and would make it a great book for LGBTQ families and single mums/guardians. It's a beautiful reminder that families come in all shapes and sizes.

The illustrations, from the genius artist behind Rosie Revere, Engineer and Ada Twist, Scientist, are gorgeously retro-cool and as always in his work, it's great to see diversity in characters.

A great book for mighty girls and the women who are raising them.

the book and the bea x