By Norah Jewett ’25
Poisoned by Jennifer Donnelly is a unique retelling of the classic story of Snow White that I’ve read for the second time, it’s just that good. We all know the story of Snow White: the girl is chased out of the castle by the Evil Queen, is taken in by seven dwarfs, eats a poisoned apple and is awoken with a kiss from her prince. Well, not this story. Instead, not even a page in, our main character Sophie is brutally stabbed as the huntsman cuts her heart out of her chest. Definitely not the sweet tale I remember from my childhood. It’s no surprise, though, as Sophie has been constantly reminded that kindness is a weakness, something one should never show. With the help of the seven dwarfs, she manages to survive her deadly fate. But there may be someone else that played a part in her attack—someone other than her stepmother. Sophie must now face enemies that wish to see her gone from the face of the earth and prove that kindness can be one of the most powerful strengths one can use.
Not only is this book cleverly written, each character is fleshed out to make them their own unique self. Characters we never get to see the layers of are beautifully crafted in a way that sucks you in and keeps you reading. Heck, even Sophie is one of the best written takes on classic princesses I’ve read in a while. The development of her character stretches until the final few pages. Aspects of the original tale make an appearance in the story that we never get to see in the Disney film, making this story all the more enjoyable. If you’re looking for your next book to read, I highly recommend this fun retelling of a classic story!
