The Wishing Spell
Published in 1990, The Wishing Spell is a witch fiction and fae fiction novel by Chris Colfer. The story is set in Corner Kingdom and Sleeping (or Eastern) Kingdom, in Fairy Tales. Characters include Red Riding Hood, Snow White and Frog Prince. Readers will find themes of fairy tales, magic, brothers and sisters and youths' writings.
Open Library readers give it an average of 4.3 out of 5 from 24 ratings, and 262 more have it on their want-to-read list. It has been published in 38 editions across 6 languages. It appeared on the New York Times Chapter Books bestseller list in 2012.
At about 448 pages, most readers finish it in 8–9 hours.
About The Wishing Spell
Frustrated by all the happy goofy representations of fairy tales? (Note: Chris began the concept for this book in his late high school years, which were much earlier than the copyright date of 2012.) Well, so was Chris. So, he decided to mix them up a little. This book has several of the standard fairy tale characters, such as Red Riding Hood, the witch who liked to eat children (Hansel & Gretel), Snow White, the Frog Prince, and more. The thing is, the Frog Prince is in hiding; Red Riding Hood is a snippy warrior-type (bounty hunter, if I remember correctly) on a mighty steed, Snow White is pregnant and rules over a very troubled kingdom of territories that the two children who hold the book that transported them to this crazy land must navigate to get to Snow White's castle. Most of the territories are extremely dangerous. This book is both hilariously witty (much like Chris himself) and thrilling (but not too scary). It is a delight for all ages.
Awards & lists
- 📰New York Times bestseller list — Chapter Books, 2012
- 📰New York Times bestseller list — Childrens Middle Grade, 2013
Quick answers
Who wrote The Wishing Spell?
The Wishing Spell was written by Chris Colfer and first published in 1990.
What genre is The Wishing Spell?
It is usually shelved as Witch Fiction and Fae & Fairy Fiction.
How long is The Wishing Spell?
The median edition has 448 pages, about 8–9 hours of reading at 250 words per minute.
What books are similar to The Wishing Spell?
Readers who like it often enjoy The 10th Kingdom, Politically Correct Bedtime Stories and The Sleeper and the Spindle.
More by Chris Colfer
All books →
The Enchantress Returns
Chris Colfer
A Grimm Warning
Chris Colfer
A Tale of Sorcery
Chris Colfer
Beyond the Kindgoms
Chris Colfer
Worlds Collide
Chris Colfer
An Author's Odyssey
Chris Colfer, Christopher Colfer
Books like The Wishing Spell
The 10th Kingdom
Kathryn Wesley
Politically Correct Bedtime Stories
James Finn Garner
The Sleeper and the Spindle
Neil Gaiman
Fairest
Gail Carson Levine
The Girl in Red
Christina Henry
Mirror, Mirror
Jen Calonita