Once Upon Another Time
#1 in The Half Upon a Time Trilogy Series
on Goodreads (325)
What’s inside...
Storybook characters collide in this first book in a new trilogy of twisted fairy tales from James Riley, set in the world of his popular Half Upon a Time series! Five and a half feet might seem pretty tall for a twelve-year-old, but it’s not when your parents are giants. Lena has kept the fact that she’s a tiny giant secret, using magic to grow when out in the giant village. But hiding who she is has always felt wrong, even though she knows the other giants might not accept her. Fortunately, Lena has friends down in the Cursed City who understand that looking different doesn’t make her less of a giant. Someone who knows not to judge by appearances is Jin, a young genie currently serving one thousand and thirty-eight years of genie training that requires him to fulfill the wish of whoever holds his magical ring. In Jin’s case, it’s the power-hungry Golden King. At least the king only has two wishes left, one of which is for Jin to go to the Cursed City and capture its protector, the Last Knight—one of Lena’s closest friends. What Lena and Jin don’t know is how close the Golden King’s plans are to coming together, between his dark magic and his horrible Faceless knights. If Jin does find the Last Knight and bring him to the Golden King, why, that could doom the entire fairy-tale world. …This sounds like it’ll end badly, doesn’t it?
Discussion points
What do you think the world was like before everything in the story happened?
How did the characters feel when they encountered something new or unexpected? Have you ever felt the same?
What do you think the main message of the story is? Why is it important?
Can you think of a time when you had to make a difficult decision, like the characters in the book?
What would you have done differently if you were in the story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the story, affirming their ideas to build confidence.
Compare elements of the story to real-life examples or experiences your child may have encountered to deepen their understanding.
Ask your child to draw or act out their favorite part of the book, which can lead to further discussion about the themes.
Create a comfortable and distraction-free reading environment to help your child focus and engage more deeply with the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience through change
Explanation: The story illustrates how characters adapt to new challenges and environments, promoting a spirit of resilience.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to embrace changes in their own lives, such as moving to a new school or making new friends, by understanding that change can lead to positive outcomes.
Example Lesson: Importance of friendship
Explanation: The characters in the book rely on each other, showcasing the value of having friends to share experiences with.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to build and maintain friendships, fostering social skills and emotional support networks.
Example Lesson: Courage to explore
Explanation: Adventurous themes encourage characters to explore the unknown, teaching children the virtue of curiosity and bravery.
Real-World Application: Kids are inspired to explore their own world, ask questions, and learn from their surroundings, promoting active engagement and learning.
Example Lesson: Appreciation of the past
Explanation: The narrative incorporates elements from different times, helping children understand and value historical perspectives.
Real-World Application: This can help children develop respect for history and culture, enriching their understanding of how the past shapes our present.
Example Lesson: Creativity and imagination
Explanation: The book’s fantastical elements ignite the imagination, showing how creativity can lead to discovery and innovation.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to use their creativity in problem-solving and expressing themselves through art, writing, or play.