Finn, Alex. A Kiss in Time. HarperTeen, 2009. ISBN 9780060874209. $16.99. 371 p.
Reviewer: Larysa Bordner
Reading Level: Young adult
Rating: Dependable
Genre: Fiction; Fantasy fiction;
Subject: Princesses--Juvenile fiction; Blessing and cursing--Juvenile fiction; Family life--Florida--Juvenile fiction; Books--Reviews;
Most people are familiar with the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty. However, the story normally ends with the kiss and a happily ever after. A Kiss in Time focuses on what happens beyond the archetypal storybook ending. An American boy named Jack is the one to wake beautiful princess Talia from her deep sleep. He is not looking for true love, though, and he wants to leave Talia's kingdom with no attachments. But when Talia comes back to the United States with him, Jack gets much more than he ever imagined. Not only does he learn what a caring and thoughtful person Talia is, but they also fight many obstacles together while falling in love and finding their own "happily ever after." Although many assume that fairy tales are for women or girls, Finn brings a male's point of view to the story. A Kiss in Time is told from both Talia and Jack's point of view, but the male touch is laced throughout both characters' tales. The story is engaging and builds far beyond the well-known fairytale. This fun combination of past and present is a surefire way to keep readers glued to the pages. A Kiss in Time would be an excellent example of how to build onto a story and could be used to teach young writers about adding detail to their prose.
Volume 30, no. 3 (January/February 2010)
