The Wide-Awake Princess / E. D. Baker / 261 pages / Fairy Tale Challenge

This is a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale.  Princess Gwendolyn is Sleeping Beauty and is cursed as related in the traditional version by this name.  In this version, however, Sleeping Beauty has a younger sister, Annabelle.  Her parents fear that she, too, will be cursed at her Christening so they send for Moonflower Glade, the wisest of all the fairies.  She bequeaths one magical gift - "From this day on, no magic shall touch you or bring you harm.  You'll have to survive on your natural charm."  Annie can detect magic and is instrumental in ridding the kingdom of cursed spinning wheels.  The inevitable happens, although in a unique way.  The entire castle save Annie fall asleep.  Annie and Liam, not in the castle at the time of the curse fulfillment, journey to find a prince to kiss her sister awake and the fairies involved in the original Christening curse.  Along the way they encounter numerous fairy tale characters and/or their stories;  Little Red Riding Hook, Hansel & Gretel (although by different names), The Frog Prince, Snow White, Rapunzel, The Princess and the Pea, etc.  This is a captivating story of true love, happily ever after, and non-stop adventure.  The cover art is deceptive.  Cartoon princesses are featured, yet the book has a grounded, in the real world feel.