Best Teen & Young Adult Country & Ethnic Fairy Tales & Folklore Books
Here you will get Best Teen & Young Adult Country & Ethnic Fairy Tales & Folklore Books For you.This is an up-to-date list of recommended books.
1. Girl, Serpent, Thorn
Author: by Melissa Bashardoust
Published at: Flatiron Books (July 7, 2020)
ISBN: 978-1250196149
Melissa Bashardoust’s Girl, Serpent, Thorn is an alluring feminist fairy tale (Kirkus) about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch and who discovers what power might lie in such a curse. There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch.
But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it’s not just a story. As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time.
Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison.
Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming…Human or demon. Princess or monster.
2. Summer of the Mariposas
Author: by Guadalupe Garcia McCalll
Published at: Tu Books; Reprint edition (October 1, 2015)
ISBN: 978-1620140109
When Odilia and her four sisters find a dead body in the swimming hole, they embark on a hero s journey to return the dead man to his family in Mexico. But returning home to Texas turns into an odyssey that would rival Homer s original tale.
With the supernatural aid of ghostly La Llorona via a magical earring, Odilia and her little sisters travel a road of tribulation to their long-lost grandmother s house. Along the way, they must outsmart a witch and her Evil Trinity: a wily warlock, a coven of vicious half-human barn owls, and a bloodthirsty livestock-hunting chupacabras.
Can these fantastic trials prepare Odilia and her sisters for what happens when they face their final test, returning home to the real world, where goddesses and ghosts can no longer help them? Summer of the Mariposas is not just a magical Mexican American retelling of The Odyssey, it is a celebration of sisterhood and maternal love.
Check out the Vamos a Leer Educator’s Guide for Summer of the Mariposas created by the staff at the Latin American & Iberian Institute (LAII). Read the first three chapters of Summer of the Mariposas online here. Check out Why Culturally Responsive Literature Matters in Middle and High School for Summer of the Mariposas.
3. Wicked Fox
Author: by Kat Cho
Published at: Penguin Books; Reprint edition (July 21, 2020)
ISBN: 978-1984812360
An addictive fantasy-romance set in modern-day Seoul. Eighteen-year-old Gu Miyoung has a secret-she’s a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who must devour the energy of men in order to survive. Because so few believe in the old tales anymore, and with so many evil men no one will miss, the modern city of Seoul is the perfect place to hide and hunt.
But after feeding one full moon, Miyoung crosses paths with Jihoon, a human boy, being attacked by a goblin deep in the forest. Against her better judgment, she violates the rules of survival to rescue the boy, losing her fox bead-her gumiho soul-in the process.
Jihoon knows Miyoung is more than just a beautiful girl-he saw her nine tails the night she saved his life. His grandmother used to tell him stories of the gumiho, of their power and the danger they pose to men.
He’s drawn to her anyway. When he finds her fox bead, he does not realize he holds her life in his hands. With murderous forces lurking in the background, Miyoung and Jihoon develop a tenuous friendship that blossoms into something more.
4. Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales
Author: by Nelson Mandela
Published at: W. W. Norton & Company; Illustrated edition (October 17, 2007)
ISBN: 978-0393329902
A cause for celebration, and a landmark work that gathers in one volume many of Africa’s most cherished folktales. In these beloved stories we meet a Kenyan lion named Simba, a snake with seven heads, and tricksters from Zulu folklore; we hear the voices of the scheming hyena, and we learn from a Khoi fable how animals acquired their tails and horns.
Creation myths tell us how the land, its animals, and its people all came into existence under a punishing sun or against the backdrop of a spectacularly beautiful mountain landscape. Whether warning children about the dangers of disobedience or demonstrating that the underdog can, and often does, win, these stories, through their depiction of wise animals as well as evil monsters, are universal in their portrayal of humanity, beasts, and the mystical.
Translated from their original languagesKaranga, Nguni, Xhosa, and many othersthese folktales are a testament to the craft of storytelling and the power of myth.
5. A Knight for a Queen
Author: by Hannah B Olsen
Published at: Wise Valley Press (March 2, 2021)
ISBN: 978-1734166040
Chara is Mittelan’s princess and last living heir. Her war-ravaged country is just weeks away from surrendering control to Norrfalt through Chara’s arranged marriage to the enemy prince-unless she can somehow get to the borderlands and expose the treacherous plot forcing her down the aisle…
Elliot is a peasant boy and a formidable fighter. His abusive stepfather has taken everything from him, but he’s got a plan to use his skills with a blade to earn back what is rightfully his… Seeking a capable champion to guide her to the border, Chara disguises herself and enters the Woodland Games, a clandestine tournament where peasants fight for honor and glory-and hefty payouts.
There, she discovers Elliot and persuades him to join her. But as Chara’s deception spirals out of control, she and Elliot both must decide how far they are willing to go-and who they are willing to betray-in their intertwined quests for freedom.In Hannah B.
Olsen’s dazzling, gender-swapped take on Cinderella, Chara must navigate an intricate web of duty, deceit, survival, and sacrifice to save those she loves and the country she’s fated to protect.
6. d'Aulaires' Book of Norwegian Folktales
Author: by Ingri d’Aulaire
Published at: Univ Of Minnesota Press; Illustrated edition (July 15, 2016)
ISBN: 978-0816699322
From the authors who wrote and illustrated Ola, Leif the Lucky, and Children of the Northlights comes their collection of Norwegian folktales. First printed in 1938, this selection of timeless stories returns to enchant audiences all over again. Experience Norway’s magical world of cinderlads, princesses, and trolls throughout the pages of d’Aulaires’ Book of Norwegian Folktales.
7. Never Look Back
Author: by Lilliam Rivera
Published at: Bloomsbury YA (September 15, 2020)
ISBN: 978-1547603732
“Expertly blends reality and fantasy to explore what’s behind love and loss, what it takes to heal.” – Randy Ribay, author of National Book Award finalist Patron Saints of NothingAcclaimed author Lilliam Rivera blends a touch of magical realism into a timely story about cultural identity, overcoming trauma, and the power of first love.
Eury comes to the Bronx as a girl haunted. Haunted by losing everything in Hurricane Maria-and by an evil spirit, Ato. She fully expects the tragedy that befell her and her family in Puerto Rico to catch up with her in New York.
Yet, for a time, she can almost set this fear aside, because there’s this boy … Pheus is a golden-voiced, bachata-singing charmer, ready to spend the summer on the beach with his friends, serenading his on-again, off-again flame. That changes when he meets Eury.
All he wants is to put a smile on her face and fight off her demons. But some dangers are too powerful for even the strongest love, and as the world threatens to tear them apart, Eury and Pheus must fight for each other and their lives.
8. Vicious Spirits
Author: by Kat Cho
Published at: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (August 18, 2020)
ISBN: 978-1984812377
New romance and dangers abound in this companion to the crowd-pleasing Wicked Fox. After the events of Wicked Fox, Somin is ready to help her friends pick up the pieces of their broken lives and heal. But Jihoon is still grieving the loss of his grandmother, and Miyoung is distant as she grieves over her mother’s death and learns to live without her fox bead.
The only one who seems ready to move forward is their not-so-favorite dokkaebi, Junu. Somin and Junu didn’t exactly hit it off when they first met. Somin thought he was an arrogant self-serving, conman. Junu was, at first, amused by her hostility toward him until he found himself inexplicably drawn to her.
Somin couldn’t deny the heat of their attraction. But as the two try to figure out what could be between them, they discover their troubles aren’t over after all. The loss of Miyoung’s fox bead has caused a tear between the world of the living and the world of the dead, and ghosts are suddenly flooding the streets of Seoul.
9. Brick Greek Myths: The Stories of Heracles, Athena, Pandora, Poseidon, and Other Ancient Heroes of Mount Olympus
Author: by Amanda Brack
Published at: Skyhorse (October 14, 2014)
ISBN: 978-1629145228
Meet the Greek gods and goddesses as you have never seen themin LEGO form! Enjoy these fascinating myths, reimagined through elaborate scenes and colorful LEGO bricks in one thousand color photographs! This book shares a unique retelling of some of the most widely known and loved Greek myths, from the stories of Athena, Poseidon, and Pandora to the twelve labors of Hercules.
Watch Athena spring from the head of ZeusSee Poseidon as he rules the seas with his mighty tridentMaintain hope with Pandora as her curiosity gets the best of herBeware the Nemean Lion as Hercules repents for his misdeeds. Be awestruck by the amazing Mount OlympusAnd much moreall created with LEGO bricks!
These exciting retellings of ancient tales are consistent with the mythology behind them, while also capturing the creativity and whimsy of the stories with elaborate brick scenery. Brick Greek Myths will be a delight for LEGO tinkerers of all ages, a fun introduction to the tales for young readers, and an enchanting return to the stories for even the most devoted admirer of mythology.
10. Night of the Dragon (Shadow of the Fox, 3)
Author: by Julie Kagawa
Published at: Inkyard Press; First Time Trade edition (January 5, 2021)
ISBN: 978-1335091406
In the epic finale to New York Times bestselling author Julie Kagawa’s Shadow of the Fox trilogy, the scroll has been taken, and no one is safe. To save everyone she loves from imminent death, kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko gave up the final piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers.
Now she and her ragtag band of companions must make one desperate final effort to stop the Master of Demons from using the scroll to call the Great Kami Dragon and make the wish that will plunge the empire into chaos.
Shadow clan assassin Kage Tatsumi has regained control of his body and agreed to a true deal with the devilthe demon inside him, Hakaimono. They will share his body and work with Yumeko to stop a madman, and to separate Hakaimono from Tatsumi and the cursed sword that trapped the demon for nearly a millennium.
But even with their combined skills and powers, this unlikely team of heroes knows the forces of evil may be impossible to overcome. And there is another player in the battle for the scroll, a player who has been watching, waiting for the right moment to pull strings that no one even realized existeduntil now.
11. A Thousand Beginnings and Endings
Author: by Ellen Oh
Published at: Greenwillow Books; Reprint edition (January 14, 2020)
ISBN: 978-0062671165
Sixteen extraordinary authorsincluding New York Times bestsellers Melissa de la Cruz, Rene Ahdieh, and Julie Kagawareimagine the folklore and mythology of East and South Asia in short stories that are by turns enchanting, heartbreaking, romantic, and passionate. This exquisite paperback anthology includes an original bonus story from Ellen Oh.
In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called A Thousand Beginnings and Endings a must-read. This young adult novel is an excellent choice for accelerated tween readers in grades 7 to 8, especially during homeschooling. It’s a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom.
A mountain loses her heart. Two sisters transform into birds to escape captivity. A young man learns the true meaning of sacrifice. A young woman takes up her mother’s mantle and leads the dead to their final resting place. Bestselling and award-winning authors explore the timeless themes of East and South Asian lore in sixteen original stories that will appeal to every reader.
12. Shadow Spinner (A Jean Karl Book)
Author: by Susan Fletcher
Published at: Aladdin Paperbacks; Reprint edition (November 1, 1999)
ISBN: 978-0689830518
Every night, Shahrazad begins a story. And every morning, the Sultan lets her live another day – providing the story is interesting enough to capture his attention. After almost one thousand nights, Shahrazad is running out of tales. And that is how Marjan’s story begins….
It falls to Marjan to help Shahrazad find new stories – ones the Sultan has never heard before. To do that, the girl is forced to undertake a dangerous and forbidden mission: sneak from the harem and travel the city, pulling tales from strangers and bringing them back to Shahrazad.
But as she searches the city, a wonderful thing happens. From a quiet spinner of tales, Marjan suddenly becomes the center of a more surprising story than she ever could have imagined.
13. The Lost Coven (The Lost Cove Darklings)
Author: by Bekah Harris
Published at: Twisted Vine Press (September 4, 2020)
ISBN: 978-1953658005
Felicity Hawthorne has never been superstitious. Coming from a long line of Appalachian healers, she’s helped Nan cast grounding spells and left gifts of candy and moonshine for the fair folk, but was any of it real?Not likely. But when Felicity spots a mysterious boy at school that no one else can see, she begins to question the true origins of her family’s beliefs, as well as her place within it.
Could magic really exist? Were all of Nan’s stories true? Were her parents really who they seemed to be? Desperate for answers, Felicity follows the boy deep into the forest to discover a secret world lost to time itself. Too late, Felicity realizes the truth has consequences, that her search may come with a price she is unwilling to pay.
Lured into a deadly world where blood is more valuable than precious stones, Felicity must call upon the hidden magic inside her if she has any hope of surviving in this dangerous new realm where the supernatural reigns. Filled with magic, folklore, and romance, The Lost Coven is the first book in Bekah Harris’ captivating new series, The Lost Cove Darklings.
14. Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children
Author: by Michael J. Caduto
Published at: Fulcrum Publishing; First Printing edition (August 1, 1997)
ISBN: 978-1555913854
Beginning with Native American stories, this invaluable resource provides hands-on activities that inspire children to understand and appreciate Native American cultures and the Earth.
15. Wayward Witch (Brooklyn Brujas)
Author: by Zoraida Córdova
Published at: Sourcebooks Fire (September 1, 2020)
ISBN: 978-1492650683
The witches of New York are back! In the epic conclusion to the award-winning series, the final Mortiz sister’s story is told. Infused with Latin American traditionthe Brooklyn Brujas series follows three sistersand brujasas they develop their powers and battle magic in their hometown and worlds beyond.
Rose Mortiz has always been a fixer, but lately she’s been feeling lost. She has brand new powers that she doesn’t understand, and her family is still trying to figure out how to function in the wake of her amnesiac father’s return home.
Then, on the night of her Deathday party, Rose discovers her father’s memory loss has been a lie. As she rushes to his side, the two are ambushed and pulled through a portal to the land of Adas, a fairy realm hidden in the Caribbean Sea.
There Rose is forced to work with a group of others to save Adas. Soon, she begins to discover the scope of her powers, the troubling truth about her father’s past, and the sacrifices he made to save her sisters.
16. Native Plant Stories
Author: by Joseph Bruchac
Published at: Fulcrum Publishing; Illustrated edition (March 1, 1995)
ISBN: 978-1555912123
These mythical stories draw upon legends from eighteen Native American tribes and illustrate the importance of plant life in Native American traditions.
