"Fantasy icon Jane Yolen (The Devil's Arithmetic, Briar Rose, Sister Emily's Lightship) is adored by generations of readers of all ages. Now she triumphantly returns with this inspired gathering of fractured fairy tales and legends. Yolen breaks open the classics to reveal their crystalline secrets: a philosophical bridge that misses its troll, a spinner of straw as a falsely accused moneylender, the villainous wolf adjusting poorly to retirement....

Jakkin, a bond boy who works as a Keeper in a dragon nursery on the planet Austar IV, secretly trains a fighting pit dragon of his own in hopes of winning his freedom

In these twenty-eight magnificent tales, which include two Nebula Award winners, Jane Yolen puts a provocative spin on familiar storybook worlds and beloved fairy tale characters One of the most acclaimed and honored authors in science fiction and fantasy, Jane Yolen has been called "the Hans Christian Andersen of America" for her brilliant reimagining of classic fairy tales. In her first collection of short stories written for an adult audience (after...

After his family is evicted from their Scottish farm, fifteen-year-old Roddy forms an unlikely friendship with a notorious rogue who helps him outwit a tyrant landlord in order to find a family treasure and make his way to America

A foundling rediscovers his identity through the help of the falconer who adopts him

"An unlikely-and entirely unforgettable-tale of a most unusual friendship between Flora, an elephant calf stolen from her African home, and David, the circus impresario and magician, who adopts, trains, and ultimately liberates her in a tale freely inspired by actual events"--

A young apprentice wizard saves the wizard's training hall by trusting and believing in himself

It is the first day of school at Monster Academy, where all the monsters go, and the lesson for the day involves counting missing teeth, and Vic the vampire is sad because he still has both fangs--until Jo, a troublemaking student who whirls like a dervish but is actually a human, gives him an apple at lunch.

Twelve-year-old Atalanta discovers a home and friendship with a bear, misunderstanding from town-dwellers, and grudging respect from the great hunter Orion, as together they pursue mysterious creature that killed her father.

In Amherst, Massachusetts, in spring, 1834, young Emily Dickinson uses scraps of paper and a pencil nub to write a poem, before she even knows her ABCs, and shares it with her household and garden. Includes author's note about Dickinson's life and work.