Status
Available
Call number
Publication
HarperTeen (HarperCollins)
Pages
371
Description
Folklore. Young Adult Fiction. HTML: Talia fell under a spell . . . . Jack broke the curse. I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic. . . . I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind. I awakened in the same place but in another time �?? to a stranger's soft kiss. I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn't know this would happen. Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner! Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels. . . . The good news: My parents will freak! Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all �?? even time… (more)
Description
Talia fell under a spell. . . .
Jack broke the curse.
I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic. . . .
I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.
I awakened in the same place but in another time—to a stranger's soft kiss.
I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn't know this would happen.
Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner!
Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels. . . . The good news: My parents will freak!
Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all—even time?
Retelling of Sleeping Beauty.
Jack broke the curse.
I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic. . . .
I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.
I awakened in the same place but in another time—to a stranger's soft kiss.
I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn't know this would happen.
Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner!
Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels. . . . The good news: My parents will freak!
Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all—even time?
Retelling of Sleeping Beauty.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2010-04-27
Physical description
371 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
9780060874216
Similar in this library
Lexile
610L
User reviews
LibraryThing member Wombat
Lady Wombat says:
I was expecting something with a bit more depth, so was disappointed by the cardboard (and really unpleasant) teenage characters and the lack of cleverness in the re-envisioning of Sleeping Beauty.
I was expecting something with a bit more depth, so was disappointed by the cardboard (and really unpleasant) teenage characters and the lack of cleverness in the re-envisioning of Sleeping Beauty.
LibraryThing member MickyFine
A re-telling of Sleeping Beauty. Talia is about to turn 16 and is eager to do so because for her entire life she's been living under the threat of falling under a curse if she ever touches a spindle. 300 years later, Jack is bored out of his mind on his bus tour of Europe and when he sneaks away
I was prepared to like this book but it was a bit of disappointment. I'd really hoped for a fresh take on the fairy tale but I was underwhelmed by the effort. The characters weren't as well-developed as they had the chance of being and the plot wasn't fantastic either. Talia was set up with the potential of being a strong female character and then she just wasn't. Jack was a blah hero. The plot resolution was too neat.
That said, I did read the entire book over the course of an afternoon and evening, so I did like it enough to blitz through it. Some of my review is probably coloured by my opinions about the ending which was... cheesy. An easy read that teens would probably enjoy more than I did, but not fantastic for adults who enjoy YA.
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and finds a town where all the inhabitants are asleep including a really hot girl in a tower things get even weirder.I was prepared to like this book but it was a bit of disappointment. I'd really hoped for a fresh take on the fairy tale but I was underwhelmed by the effort. The characters weren't as well-developed as they had the chance of being and the plot wasn't fantastic either. Talia was set up with the potential of being a strong female character and then she just wasn't. Jack was a blah hero. The plot resolution was too neat.
That said, I did read the entire book over the course of an afternoon and evening, so I did like it enough to blitz through it. Some of my review is probably coloured by my opinions about the ending which was... cheesy. An easy read that teens would probably enjoy more than I did, but not fantastic for adults who enjoy YA.
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LibraryThing member ethel55
Another enjoyable fairy tale meets present day story, this one harking back to Sleeping Beauty. Talia is almost sixteen and like any teen, is tired of being bossed around by her parents and never being left alone. Everyone is so sure that spindle curse from her christening is going to come true.
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(anytime you snub a witch with "Mal" in her name, good things just aren't going to happen). Sure enough, as Talia is searching for gowns for her sixteenth birthday, an old seamestress lets her touch her spinning wheel. Three hundred years later, Jack and his friend Travis, while on a European trip designed to pad their college applications, stumble across a thick bramble while searching for a beach. After they make their way through, confused to the state of the people at the castle, they find Talia asleep. While Travis is off trying on the royal jewels, Jack kisses Talia, which awakens the kingdom. Talia's father is furious at her disobedience, eventually resulting in Talia's escape to Miami, where the fish out of water story then continues. Show Less
LibraryThing member pocketmermaid
Flinn does it again. She manages to make these fairy tale retellings like candy for me, and I nom them like candy. This Sleeping Beauty retelling was a tasty morsel and I ate it up.
LibraryThing member yearningtoread
Pages: 371
Release Date: April 28th, 2008
Date Read: 2011, May 14th-18th
Received: Own
Rating: 4/5 stars
Recommended to: 15+
Reviewed for Fairy Tale Fortnight.
Summary -
Spindles are an illegal device not to be had. At least, not in Euphrasia. Euphrasia is a small country near Belgium, and its princess,
Until the day when Jack, an attention-starved high-schooler from Miami, Florida, happens upon the hedge of briars during his boring and uneventful trip to Europe. When he enters the castle and finds Talia, he feels the unexplainable urge to kiss her - not to mention he suddenly knows her name. When he does kiss her, she wakes in his arms and he is forced to help her - and save his own hide from her angry father, the King-No-More of Euphrasia. But with Talia convinced he is her true love, he won't be getting rid of her very easily. At least it'll make his parents mad...
My thoughts -
I devoured this book easily. It wasn't that the writing was easy to read (however, that is also true), but more so that the story flowed so well I couldn't put it down. There was no break in the character development or story-line. I was entranced in the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty as though I hadn't heard it a hundred and one times before.
I was absolutely surprised at how much I liked this book. Jack and Talia are both memorable characters; the events of the story are well-placed; it is very original for being yet another retelling of a fairytale. I was amazed at how much I enjoyed the present tense, first person standpoint, which normally really bothers me. But not this time. This time I was thoroughly engrossed and loved feeling as though I was there. And on top of that, this book is funny. And I mean FUN. NY! Laugh out loud, giggly, hilarious, whatever you want to call it. It pretty much made me laugh all the time. (Especially Talia's reaction to telephones and TV's...and Jack's reaction to the clothes she gives him from her time-period. They were both so confused!)
Alex Flinn does a great job at comparing and contrasting the culture Talia comes from and the culture that she has now been thrust into. The innocence of the 16, 17, and 18oo's is greatly played upon. Talia is disgusted by all the almost-all-the-way naked women at the beach, and is shocked by the half-naked women around town (compared to floor length dresses and covered bosoms...yah, they were practically naked). She hates how the young girls are flaunting themselves in Jack's presence; how Jack's friends treat each other and themselves (which is terrible); how Jack feels like he can't talk to his parents or sister. (What a culture we live in, to not know how to use the power of speech! Talia's point on this is quite driving and really struck me as serious and realistic.)
There was only one (literally, only one) drawback in this story for me. The love story. I know, I know. Sucks, doesn't it?
Well, the love story was good. It was sweet and innocent.......but a bit choppy. It wasn't until I was half of the way finished when I realized this. Nothing much, except the first kiss at the beginning and Talia being beautiful, happened that would make the characters love each other. (And that's not even very convincing, sorry!) No deciding factors, no developing thoughts about it. Just, half-way through: "I think I'm falling for him." and "I think I'm falling for her." Jack's attempts to save Talia from her curse (read it to know what I mean!) were great but still...there was something missing. And their moment of discovering that they truly love each other had no spark, no firecrackers. It was just... "Yay, they love each other." Not: "Oh my GOSH they are so in love and are so passionate about each other!!!" Which kind of disappointed me, since I know Alex Flinn has that capacity. She did it masterfully in Beastly. I just wish there had been more of that in A Kiss in Time.
My favorite character -
Jack. He was great and real. Easy to get along with, but kind of a push over. Passionate about things, but afraid to tell his parents what he wants to do with his life. Blind to his faults, but when they are presented to him, he wants to change... These are all things that make a character real and human and just plain awesome.
My favorite aspect of the story -
Tali'a's innocence. Now, she may know that she's drop-dead-gorgeous, but she knows this in a...young kind of way. The way her "newness" affects the story and Jack's life and makes him a better person is just phenomenal. I loved that and applauded her when the story was over.
One word I would use to sum up this book (and final thoughts) -
Cute. So, so cute. Everything about it was cute, even the romance. I think the lack of "passion" in the romance was what made it "cute". I will most definitely be reading this book again, and hopefully soon. I am officially a huge Alex Flinn fan and recommend this book to ages 15/16 and up.
For the parents - Teenage boys will be teenage boys... About 10-15 short references throughout the book to hot girls, their sizes, and what they're wearing. But the biggest thing is the party: drinking and girls. A bunch of underage high schoolers get together to drink and make out (and possibly more, though it wasn't even referenced to). Talia is taken unawares when this guy from Jack's school gives her too much to drink and he tries to take her clothes off once he gets her further away from the party. It's a very quick scene (with minimal description - nothing much happens 'cause the dude doesn't get very far before Talia lashes out), during which Talia realizes her folly, Jack realizes his stupidity in bringing her as a way to get back at his ex, and both learn a huge lesson in maturity.
Release Date: April 28th, 2008
Date Read: 2011, May 14th-18th
Received: Own
Rating: 4/5 stars
Recommended to: 15+
Reviewed for Fairy Tale Fortnight.
Summary -
Spindles are an illegal device not to be had. At least, not in Euphrasia. Euphrasia is a small country near Belgium, and its princess,
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Talia, has been put under a spell. A spell that says she will prick her finger on a spindle before her sixteenth birthday, and she will die. The good fairies tried to change the spell, so now the entire kingdom will fall asleep upon Talia's spindle-pricking. Until a prince, Talia's true love, comes to the castle and kisses her awake. Talia's parents have done all they can to secure that Talia would not prick her finger on a spindle, but when the evil witch's curse comes to pass anyway, the entire kingdom passes into a deep sleep, a hedge grows around their small country, and the rest of the world forgets there ever was a Euphrasia...Until the day when Jack, an attention-starved high-schooler from Miami, Florida, happens upon the hedge of briars during his boring and uneventful trip to Europe. When he enters the castle and finds Talia, he feels the unexplainable urge to kiss her - not to mention he suddenly knows her name. When he does kiss her, she wakes in his arms and he is forced to help her - and save his own hide from her angry father, the King-No-More of Euphrasia. But with Talia convinced he is her true love, he won't be getting rid of her very easily. At least it'll make his parents mad...
My thoughts -
I devoured this book easily. It wasn't that the writing was easy to read (however, that is also true), but more so that the story flowed so well I couldn't put it down. There was no break in the character development or story-line. I was entranced in the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty as though I hadn't heard it a hundred and one times before.
I was absolutely surprised at how much I liked this book. Jack and Talia are both memorable characters; the events of the story are well-placed; it is very original for being yet another retelling of a fairytale. I was amazed at how much I enjoyed the present tense, first person standpoint, which normally really bothers me. But not this time. This time I was thoroughly engrossed and loved feeling as though I was there. And on top of that, this book is funny. And I mean FUN. NY! Laugh out loud, giggly, hilarious, whatever you want to call it. It pretty much made me laugh all the time. (Especially Talia's reaction to telephones and TV's...and Jack's reaction to the clothes she gives him from her time-period. They were both so confused!)
Alex Flinn does a great job at comparing and contrasting the culture Talia comes from and the culture that she has now been thrust into. The innocence of the 16, 17, and 18oo's is greatly played upon. Talia is disgusted by all the almost-all-the-way naked women at the beach, and is shocked by the half-naked women around town (compared to floor length dresses and covered bosoms...yah, they were practically naked). She hates how the young girls are flaunting themselves in Jack's presence; how Jack's friends treat each other and themselves (which is terrible); how Jack feels like he can't talk to his parents or sister. (What a culture we live in, to not know how to use the power of speech! Talia's point on this is quite driving and really struck me as serious and realistic.)
There was only one (literally, only one) drawback in this story for me. The love story. I know, I know. Sucks, doesn't it?
Well, the love story was good. It was sweet and innocent.......but a bit choppy. It wasn't until I was half of the way finished when I realized this. Nothing much, except the first kiss at the beginning and Talia being beautiful, happened that would make the characters love each other. (And that's not even very convincing, sorry!) No deciding factors, no developing thoughts about it. Just, half-way through: "I think I'm falling for him." and "I think I'm falling for her." Jack's attempts to save Talia from her curse (read it to know what I mean!) were great but still...there was something missing. And their moment of discovering that they truly love each other had no spark, no firecrackers. It was just... "Yay, they love each other." Not: "Oh my GOSH they are so in love and are so passionate about each other!!!" Which kind of disappointed me, since I know Alex Flinn has that capacity. She did it masterfully in Beastly. I just wish there had been more of that in A Kiss in Time.
My favorite character -
Jack. He was great and real. Easy to get along with, but kind of a push over. Passionate about things, but afraid to tell his parents what he wants to do with his life. Blind to his faults, but when they are presented to him, he wants to change... These are all things that make a character real and human and just plain awesome.
My favorite aspect of the story -
Tali'a's innocence. Now, she may know that she's drop-dead-gorgeous, but she knows this in a...young kind of way. The way her "newness" affects the story and Jack's life and makes him a better person is just phenomenal. I loved that and applauded her when the story was over.
One word I would use to sum up this book (and final thoughts) -
Cute. So, so cute. Everything about it was cute, even the romance. I think the lack of "passion" in the romance was what made it "cute". I will most definitely be reading this book again, and hopefully soon. I am officially a huge Alex Flinn fan and recommend this book to ages 15/16 and up.
For the parents - Teenage boys will be teenage boys... About 10-15 short references throughout the book to hot girls, their sizes, and what they're wearing. But the biggest thing is the party: drinking and girls. A bunch of underage high schoolers get together to drink and make out (and possibly more, though it wasn't even referenced to). Talia is taken unawares when this guy from Jack's school gives her too much to drink and he tries to take her clothes off once he gets her further away from the party. It's a very quick scene (with minimal description - nothing much happens 'cause the dude doesn't get very far before Talia lashes out), during which Talia realizes her folly, Jack realizes his stupidity in bringing her as a way to get back at his ex, and both learn a huge lesson in maturity.
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LibraryThing member GaylDasherSmith
Interesting and likable
LibraryThing member Kr15tina
What I Liked
Sleeping Beauty
I do enjoy new versions of fairy tales. This version takes the old story and puts a modern spin on things. Making the princess sleep for 100 years and the boy be anything but a charming prince, more like a selfish modern day boy. The heart of Sleeping Beauty still remains
Not My Favorite
Characters
Princess Talia: Spoiled, selfish brat and she stays this way for a long time, Only when she it taken away from the castle and people don't know she is a princess does her attitude finally change and she becomes a more likeable character.
Jack: I would consider him a privileged kid that is crying out of attention by causing issues. He likes to party and is obsessed with his ex-girlfriend who cheated on him. He too also makes a turn around when he realized he is responsible for Talia's safety.
By The End
I did come to like the characters and I was rooting for them to be together. I enjoyed the new twist that was added and I like how everything turned out.
Sleeping Beauty
I do enjoy new versions of fairy tales. This version takes the old story and puts a modern spin on things. Making the princess sleep for 100 years and the boy be anything but a charming prince, more like a selfish modern day boy. The heart of Sleeping Beauty still remains
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within the story, a curse, pricked by a spindle, sleeps for a long time, awakens by loves 1st kiss and than things get a little different.Not My Favorite
Characters
Princess Talia: Spoiled, selfish brat and she stays this way for a long time, Only when she it taken away from the castle and people don't know she is a princess does her attitude finally change and she becomes a more likeable character.
Jack: I would consider him a privileged kid that is crying out of attention by causing issues. He likes to party and is obsessed with his ex-girlfriend who cheated on him. He too also makes a turn around when he realized he is responsible for Talia's safety.
By The End
I did come to like the characters and I was rooting for them to be together. I enjoyed the new twist that was added and I like how everything turned out.
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LibraryThing member eheinlen
I loved this book. I didn't think I would. I thought I would like it, but I didn't think I would love it. It is such a brilliant twist on an old story. The only part I didn't really like was the end because it felt kinda rushed, but the characterization and the way that the book was written from
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both Jack and Talia's points-of-view really made the story come alive. A quick and fun read! Show Less
LibraryThing member cherierj
In the beginning I did not care for Talia or Jack. They were each so selfish and spoiled in their own way but they show so much growth throughout the story. I found myself growing to care about them and hoping they could work things out. I also like how everything was wrapped up in the end.
LibraryThing member KarenBall
Another fractured fairy tale from Alex Flinn! This time, it's Sleeping Beauty that gets the modern-day treatment from Flinn. Talia is the princess, and she's no Disney sweetheart. The only child of the King and Queen of Euphrasia in the 1700s, Talia has had the required christening that went bad,
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with the "prick-your-finger-on-a-spindle" curse from the uninvited witch Malvolia. Talia is whiny, spoiled and selfish -- almost makes you root for the witch! Three hundred years later, Talia is awakened by Jack O'Neill, an American teenager who accidentally discovers the sleeping kingdom of Euphrasia while trying desperately to ditch his boring European tour group. A kiss from Jack, and Talia awakens -- to find her father mad at her, and Jack not interested in marrying her! The modern world collides with the medieval when Jack and Talia escape and run off to Miami... where Jack's parents aren't too happy with him either (along with his sister and his ex-girlfriend). This one isn't as fluffy as the cover would lead you to believe. It's got a good plot and some fun surprises, and it'll be a good beach read for the summer! 7th grade and up. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rose2332
Its basically about the old story sleeping beauty only this time its
told modernized to the new generation of book readers.
told modernized to the new generation of book readers.
LibraryThing member ewyatt
Jack is bored on his European tour and decides to sneak off to the beach. Instead of the beach, he ends up in a forgotten land where he encounters a sleeping princess, Talia. His kiss wakes her after 300 years and the two of them are back to America in order to discover if they are indeed in love
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and the curse may be broken. Cute. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookwormygirl
In Ms. Finn's modern retelling of Sleeping Beauty, we meet Jack and Talia. Jack is a young, handsome, strapping boy living in the 21st century. Talia has been sleeping for three hundred years and upon Jack's kiss is awakened to a whole new world... one she could ever envision. Jack never thought
I thought this was such a cute, funny and really enjoyable version of the popular fairytale I know and love. I loved the fireworks between Talia and Jack. Their relationship was a pleasure to read about. It was not love at first sight, nor was it happily ever after from the get go. They both had their reservations toward each other... at one point they couldn't even stand each other. But what I truly enjoyed was how they both grew and matured and eventually their feelings toward each other blossomed into something much more meaningful. I loved experiencing the world through Talia's eyes - everything was new, shiny and electronic.
On a personal note, one other aspect that I found enjoyable - Jack is from Miami and soon they are on adventure through streets and places that I drive through on a weekly basis (me being a Miami-an and all). I couldn't help but love this in particular about this story.
I thought the ending felt a bit rushed, but with that said, I truly enjoyed how it all wrapped up. This is a fast, light read, and anyone looking for a sweet, romantic fairytale will definitely enjoy this.
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that by escaping his tour group he'd actually find himself living a real life fairytale. I thought this was such a cute, funny and really enjoyable version of the popular fairytale I know and love. I loved the fireworks between Talia and Jack. Their relationship was a pleasure to read about. It was not love at first sight, nor was it happily ever after from the get go. They both had their reservations toward each other... at one point they couldn't even stand each other. But what I truly enjoyed was how they both grew and matured and eventually their feelings toward each other blossomed into something much more meaningful. I loved experiencing the world through Talia's eyes - everything was new, shiny and electronic.
On a personal note, one other aspect that I found enjoyable - Jack is from Miami and soon they are on adventure through streets and places that I drive through on a weekly basis (me being a Miami-an and all). I couldn't help but love this in particular about this story.
I thought the ending felt a bit rushed, but with that said, I truly enjoyed how it all wrapped up. This is a fast, light read, and anyone looking for a sweet, romantic fairytale will definitely enjoy this.
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LibraryThing member tiamatq
Princess Talia has spent her life being warned to avoid spindles, all because of a witch's curse. But how is she to avoid one when when she doesn't even know what a spindle looks like? When willful Talia ditches her governess to find the perfect dress for her 16th birthday, she finds out just what
This was an intriguing retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story. While it seemed to start a bit slowly, once Talia and Jack step out into the present time and begin to interact, the story takes off. Both characters evolve, a touch too quickly, as they begin to see themselves through the other's eyes. Jack abandons his "party boy" attitude and finally acknowledges the things he cares about, including his parents' opinions. Talia changes from a stubborn, self-centered princess, and takes joy in helping Jack and his family rebuild their relationships. This all takes place over the course of several days, which is fairly implausible... though is it more so than waking a 316-year-old princess with a kiss? For any fans of retellings or light romances, this is a fun read.
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a spindle is.... Flash forward 300 hundred years and Jack has spent the last three weeks on a dull tour of Europe. When he and his friend ditch the tour for a trip to the beach, they stumble across Talia's kingdom and the sleeping princess. Jack wakes her, but both quickly realize that this is not true love. However, Talia is desperate to travel and escape a kingdom that will surely be furious with her when they realize 300 years have passed. She leaves with Jack to go to Florida, his home, and plans to make Jack fall for her, because only true love will actually break the witch's curse.This was an intriguing retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story. While it seemed to start a bit slowly, once Talia and Jack step out into the present time and begin to interact, the story takes off. Both characters evolve, a touch too quickly, as they begin to see themselves through the other's eyes. Jack abandons his "party boy" attitude and finally acknowledges the things he cares about, including his parents' opinions. Talia changes from a stubborn, self-centered princess, and takes joy in helping Jack and his family rebuild their relationships. This all takes place over the course of several days, which is fairly implausible... though is it more so than waking a 316-year-old princess with a kiss? For any fans of retellings or light romances, this is a fun read.
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LibraryThing member ChristianR
Alex Flinn also wrote Beastly, and this book follows the same format: a modern rewriting of a well known fairy tale. However, where Beastly got it right, A Kiss in Time falls flat. Princess Talia has beauty, intelligence, and other fairy given qualities (no one thought to give her a good
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personality, though) but she also was given the curse that she would prick her finger and sleep until her true love wakes her with a kiss. Three hundred years after the prick, she is woken by Jack, an American touring Europe who also is unpleasantly self-centered. The convoluted way that the book brings them to real love is a stretch. Show Less
LibraryThing member bell7
Everyone knows the story of Sleeping Beauty: girl gets pricked by spindle, girl and castle and everyone fall asleep, dashing prince kisses said girl 1000 years later and voila! Happily ever after. But in this retelling, the kiss is only the beginning. The narrative shifts between Jake and Talia,
I often enjoy fairy tale retellings, but this one fell a little flatter than I expected. Part of it was that the characters didn't really change much, and I felt Jake could have been fleshed out more. Another part was that the modernization struck me as a little too self-conscious. Mostly, though, I think that because loved _Beastly_, another fairy tale retelling by the same author, so much my expectations were extremely high and I was mentally comparing the two stories. A quick and fun read, but probably not a reread.
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each telling the reader their story. Talia fell asleep when Virginia was a colony and suddenly has to cope with the change of centuries - iPods and airplanes and whatnot. Jake was just a regular guy from Miami until he had this princess tagging along - and who would believe the truth anyways?I often enjoy fairy tale retellings, but this one fell a little flatter than I expected. Part of it was that the characters didn't really change much, and I felt Jake could have been fleshed out more. Another part was that the modernization struck me as a little too self-conscious. Mostly, though, I think that because loved _Beastly_, another fairy tale retelling by the same author, so much my expectations were extremely high and I was mentally comparing the two stories. A quick and fun read, but probably not a reread.
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LibraryThing member cdelli
The best way I can describe the book "A Kiss in Time" would be to say that it is a modern day Sleeping Beauty with sass.
Princess Talia of Euphrasia is pricked by a spindle the day before her 16th birthday and is only awaken some 300 years later by a modern day boy named Jack who is from Florida but
Talia is presented as a spoiled Princess with an attitude, but once the spell is cast and she and all those in the Kingdom are introduced to modern life, things begin to change.
Jack is somewhat neglected by his parents and is bored by the bus trip that takes him from one tourist museum to the next. Breaking the rules by going off on his own in search of a beach, he stumbles upon the closed off city of Euphrasia and wakes the princess. He ends up taking her back to Florida and well, I don't want to spoil anything else.
I thought that the book was well written and the characters really grew on you. Both Talia and Jack were funny and I really enjoyed their different perspectives of everyday things, as one was from the 1600s and the other from an American teenager and yet the former's perspective wasn't stuffy or formal as many things were in that time period (compared to modern day) but were shown from a fum and sassy way while still following the cultural norms and ideals of the 1600s.
I thought the book was a bit long however, as the element of magic towards the end of the book, that is, the way that he ends up saving the princess from the evil witch (for a second time) seemed kind of redundant to me, but I supposed it had to different from the original story.
All in all, it was a funny book that I really enjoyed. I have never been a big fan of Sleeping Beauty myself, so it was really nice to take a look at a newer version of the story and see it jazzed up a bit.
Princess Talia of Euphrasia is pricked by a spindle the day before her 16th birthday and is only awaken some 300 years later by a modern day boy named Jack who is from Florida but
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was forced on a summer trip through Europe by his somewhat absent parents. Talia is presented as a spoiled Princess with an attitude, but once the spell is cast and she and all those in the Kingdom are introduced to modern life, things begin to change.
Jack is somewhat neglected by his parents and is bored by the bus trip that takes him from one tourist museum to the next. Breaking the rules by going off on his own in search of a beach, he stumbles upon the closed off city of Euphrasia and wakes the princess. He ends up taking her back to Florida and well, I don't want to spoil anything else.
I thought that the book was well written and the characters really grew on you. Both Talia and Jack were funny and I really enjoyed their different perspectives of everyday things, as one was from the 1600s and the other from an American teenager and yet the former's perspective wasn't stuffy or formal as many things were in that time period (compared to modern day) but were shown from a fum and sassy way while still following the cultural norms and ideals of the 1600s.
I thought the book was a bit long however, as the element of magic towards the end of the book, that is, the way that he ends up saving the princess from the evil witch (for a second time) seemed kind of redundant to me, but I supposed it had to different from the original story.
All in all, it was a funny book that I really enjoyed. I have never been a big fan of Sleeping Beauty myself, so it was really nice to take a look at a newer version of the story and see it jazzed up a bit.
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LibraryThing member 2wonderY
Having read Flinn's Beastly,I was looking forward to something sophisticated and sassy. Perhaps the narrators of the audio book do it an injustice, but I was glad to send it back not finished. After three discs, I saw no redeeming sympathy for any character. All pretty much one dimensional and
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predictable - and clueless. Show Less
LibraryThing member MichelleL_15
The rating for this book is between 3.5 and 4 stars.
This is my first Alex Flinn book. It's a modern retelling of Sleeping Beauty where Sleeping Beauty is a spoiled princess and her Prince Charming kissed her because she's hot. Sounds like a fun story, right?
Talia, our Sleeping Beauty, was gifted
My favorite character was definitely Talia. She was smart and kind and also a little naive because she's suddenly 300 years into the future. Jack was a great character too. Not the most memorable protagonist, but he was tolerable. We don't learn much about the rest of the characters. A plus for this story is that the characters aren't instantly in love. Their relationship develops throughout the novel.
If you like fairy tale retellings, I recommend you read this book. It's light and fun and only took me a day to read.
This is my first Alex Flinn book. It's a modern retelling of Sleeping Beauty where Sleeping Beauty is a spoiled princess and her Prince Charming kissed her because she's hot. Sounds like a fun story, right?
Talia, our Sleeping Beauty, was gifted
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with many things like beauty and intelligence. But then she is cursed by a witch and falls aseep for 300 years. Jack, her Prince Charming, was looking for the beach when he stumbled upon her castle. There's a hot, unconscious girl on the floor and what does he do? He kisses her. And madness and love ensues.My favorite character was definitely Talia. She was smart and kind and also a little naive because she's suddenly 300 years into the future. Jack was a great character too. Not the most memorable protagonist, but he was tolerable. We don't learn much about the rest of the characters. A plus for this story is that the characters aren't instantly in love. Their relationship develops throughout the novel.
If you like fairy tale retellings, I recommend you read this book. It's light and fun and only took me a day to read.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Jack wakes Talia up after 300 years of sleep. She is amazed to find herself in the 21st century but her father is livid and blames her for the ruination of his nation. Talia runs away with Jack but fears that because he doesn't seem to love her she may be put back to sleep. Jack is on a European
I really loved this book even though it took me a while to get going because of real life getting in the way. The book goes back and forth between Talia and Jack and I loved getting to watch them fall for each other and how much they each grew as individuals.
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tour when he tries to sneak of to the beach and ends up in an old castle where he wakes a sleeping princess. He takes her home to Florida with him and introduces her to the 21st century.I really loved this book even though it took me a while to get going because of real life getting in the way. The book goes back and forth between Talia and Jack and I loved getting to watch them fall for each other and how much they each grew as individuals.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Jack wakes Talia up after 300 years of sleep. She is amazed to find herself in the 21st century but her father is livid and blames her for the ruination of his nation. Talia runs away with Jack but fears that because he doesn't seem to love her she may be put back to sleep. Jack is on a European
I really loved this book even though it took me a while to get going because of real life getting in the way. The book goes back and forth between Talia and Jack and I loved getting to watch them fall for each other and how much they each grew as individuals.
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tour when he tries to sneak of to the beach and ends up in an old castle where he wakes a sleeping princess. He takes her home to Florida with him and introduces her to the 21st century.I really loved this book even though it took me a while to get going because of real life getting in the way. The book goes back and forth between Talia and Jack and I loved getting to watch them fall for each other and how much they each grew as individuals.
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LibraryThing member LaneLiterati
More enjoyable than some of Flinn's other novels.
LibraryThing member martyna108
I loved this book😊❤️One of my few favorites. I think that this book portrays the good side of a teen and then the bad side. I love it. I wish that there was a movie made after it. Maybe in the future
LibraryThing member bluesalamanders
Modern(ish) retelling of Sleeping Beauty.
In this day and age, there is no justification for kissing an unconscious stranger, so from the beginning Jack was a less-than-ideal hero, and for someone who is supposed to have magically-enhanced intelligence, Talia is uninteresting and not particularly
In addition to the character issues, the writing is not very good. I might have enjoyed this when I was an adolescent, but I don't recommend it to adult readers.
In this day and age, there is no justification for kissing an unconscious stranger, so from the beginning Jack was a less-than-ideal hero, and for someone who is supposed to have magically-enhanced intelligence, Talia is uninteresting and not particularly
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bright for most of the story. Both of their parents are awful (and often unreasonable) for most of it as well.In addition to the character issues, the writing is not very good. I might have enjoyed this when I was an adolescent, but I don't recommend it to adult readers.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Jack wakes Talia up after 300 years of sleep. She is amazed to find herself in the 21st century but her father is livid and blames her for the ruination of his nation. Talia runs away with Jack but fears that because he doesn't seem to love her she may be put back to sleep. Jack is on a European
I really loved this book even though it took me a while to get going because of real life getting in the way. The book goes back and forth between Talia and Jack and I loved getting to watch them fall for each other and how much they each grew as individuals.
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tour when he tries to sneak of to the beach and ends up in an old castle where he wakes a sleeping princess. He takes her home to Florida with him and introduces her to the 21st century.I really loved this book even though it took me a while to get going because of real life getting in the way. The book goes back and forth between Talia and Jack and I loved getting to watch them fall for each other and how much they each grew as individuals.
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Awards
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — 2012)
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2012)
Call number
YA B Fli