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Whatever After #8
Once Upon a Frog
Ribbit ribbit! Siblings Abby and Jonah are in for a surprise when the magic mirror in their basement pulls them into the classic story of The Frog Prince. Abby knows how the tale goes: the princess kisses the frog, and he transforms into a handsome prince. Right? WRONG. Turns out the princess is spoiled and mean, and wants nothing to do with the kindly little frog. It's up to Abby and Jonah to help their new friend, the frog, while also making sure the story doesn't spin out of control. But things are never easy when you're fracturing fairy tales!
Audiobook
First published December 29, 2015
315 people are currently reading
1597 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Mlynowski
156 books3,337 followersSarah was born in Montreal, Canada. After graduating with an honors degree in English literature from McGill University, she moved to Toronto to work for Harlequin Enterprises. While she never met Fabio, she used her romance publishing experiences to fuel her first novel Milkrun.
Since then, Sarah has written four additional novels for adults: Fishbowl, As Seen on TV, Monkey Business, and Me vs. Me; the New York Times bestselling middle grade series Whatever After; the middle grade series Upside-Down Magic (with Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins); and the teen novels Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses, Spells & Sleeping Bags, and Parties & Potions (all in the Magic in Manhattan series), as well as Gimme a Call, Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have), Don't Even Think About It, Think Twice, and I See London, I See France. Along with Lauren Myracle and E. Lockhart, Sarah also wrote How to Be Bad, and along with Farrin Jacobs, she wrote See Jane Write, a guide to writing. Sarah also co-edited two bestselling charity collections (Girls' Night In and Girls' Night Out), and has contributed to various anthologies (American Girls About Town, Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday, 21 Proms, First Kiss (Then Tell), Fireworks, and Vacations from Hell).
Sarah is also a co-founder of OMG BookFest, a celebration of books aimed at the early to middle grade reader (ages 7-12) that brings together commercial and award-winning authors with underserved local communities for an exciting experience of books, games and activities.
Sarah's books have been translated into twenty-nine languages and optioned to Hollywood. She now lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.
Since then, Sarah has written four additional novels for adults: Fishbowl, As Seen on TV, Monkey Business, and Me vs. Me; the New York Times bestselling middle grade series Whatever After; the middle grade series Upside-Down Magic (with Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins); and the teen novels Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses, Spells & Sleeping Bags, and Parties & Potions (all in the Magic in Manhattan series), as well as Gimme a Call, Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have), Don't Even Think About It, Think Twice, and I See London, I See France. Along with Lauren Myracle and E. Lockhart, Sarah also wrote How to Be Bad, and along with Farrin Jacobs, she wrote See Jane Write, a guide to writing. Sarah also co-edited two bestselling charity collections (Girls' Night In and Girls' Night Out), and has contributed to various anthologies (American Girls About Town, Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday, 21 Proms, First Kiss (Then Tell), Fireworks, and Vacations from Hell).
Sarah is also a co-founder of OMG BookFest, a celebration of books aimed at the early to middle grade reader (ages 7-12) that brings together commercial and award-winning authors with underserved local communities for an exciting experience of books, games and activities.
Sarah's books have been translated into twenty-nine languages and optioned to Hollywood. She now lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
September 21, 2022
My oldest daughter read this to me. It is one of her favorites in the series so far. She loved the twist on the familiar tale. Full review below.
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This is the fifth book in this series that I have read with my oldest daughter. A few years ago when she was a reluctant reader. Back then when we read, I would read two pages for every page she read to me. But she has just read this book to me and read the whole thing in four sittings. She also read a few books in the series to her aunt and gram on a road trip last year. The whole family loves these stories from 8-year old’s to 79 year old’s. It is a wonderful series, and currently it is my oldest daughters favorite in the series.
Both my daughter and I give this story a solid 5/5 stars. We loved the twists on the old tale. We appreciated that Abby learned a lesson about judging people and applied it once out of the fairy tale and back at school. There are a few more twists in this story that in the other volumes we have read together.
My daughters thought: the plot twist when the prince turned back blew my mind. Realizing that things are not as they appear. And we need to figure out why people are doing what they are doing. Especially if it seems weird, rude or strange. And to make sure that our own reactions are not worse than what is being done to us.
The story is an excellent take on a familiar tale. And the fact that Jonah is infused with Maryrose’s memories. And that those memories help them to figure out why they went through the mirror this time. And to determine who the villain really is. Every time we read an adventure of Abby and Sarah we learn something.
The writings in these stories is excellent. My daughter and I love reading them together. And the retelling of the story of the Frog Prince was full of surprise. It really is one of the best in the series that we have read so far. It is an excellent book in a great series.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Sarah Mlynowski.
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.
.
This is the fifth book in this series that I have read with my oldest daughter. A few years ago when she was a reluctant reader. Back then when we read, I would read two pages for every page she read to me. But she has just read this book to me and read the whole thing in four sittings. She also read a few books in the series to her aunt and gram on a road trip last year. The whole family loves these stories from 8-year old’s to 79 year old’s. It is a wonderful series, and currently it is my oldest daughters favorite in the series.
Both my daughter and I give this story a solid 5/5 stars. We loved the twists on the old tale. We appreciated that Abby learned a lesson about judging people and applied it once out of the fairy tale and back at school. There are a few more twists in this story that in the other volumes we have read together.
My daughters thought: the plot twist when the prince turned back blew my mind. Realizing that things are not as they appear. And we need to figure out why people are doing what they are doing. Especially if it seems weird, rude or strange. And to make sure that our own reactions are not worse than what is being done to us.
The story is an excellent take on a familiar tale. And the fact that Jonah is infused with Maryrose’s memories. And that those memories help them to figure out why they went through the mirror this time. And to determine who the villain really is. Every time we read an adventure of Abby and Sarah we learn something.
The writings in these stories is excellent. My daughter and I love reading them together. And the retelling of the story of the Frog Prince was full of surprise. It really is one of the best in the series that we have read so far. It is an excellent book in a great series.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Sarah Mlynowski.
August 4, 2023
This one was so freaking good and actually had a slight little fractured fairytale twist to The Frog Prince story and without saying what it is, all I can say is I loved it and liked the twist Sarah Mlynowski came up with for part of a particular thing with another character and tying it into that character and now I'm wanting more! Though I'm finding these CAN be read out of order, it's actually best to read them IN ORDER since there's some recurring things on the side going on and it'll be super confusing, but overall, seriously a cute and fun series especially if you love and/or enjoy a good fractured and retelling fairytale story and for kids these are perfect for young ages even little boys who would absolutely love and would most likely relate to Abby's brother Jonah and same with the girls who can relate with Abby.
For any mom out there looking for a good book series for their kids or to read with/to your kids these are stories you don't want to miss and they're clean, fun, adorable, funny which I find myself laughing or chuckling every once in a while, and super enjoyable!
March 5, 2017
This a really cute kid's series and a super quick read. I love fairytale retellings and this series does them really well. Can't wait to read the next one!
February 3, 2017
I liked that in the books they go though a magic mirror into a different fairy tale
and end up messing it up every time then they get to fix it.
The lessen in the story is to not always trust people even if they seem so nice.
I don't like that before they go though the mirror it is slow and after they come back it is slow . At the end they find out that Maryrose is cursed which shoked me.
and end up messing it up every time then they get to fix it.
The lessen in the story is to not always trust people even if they seem so nice.
I don't like that before they go though the mirror it is slow and after they come back it is slow . At the end they find out that Maryrose is cursed which shoked me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2018
Cute. And a nice twist at the end too.
November 21, 2021
“Maybe sometimes mean people can be nice deep down ... And sometimes people you think are nice are actually mean deep down. I guess you never know until you dig deep down.”
Abby and Jonah travel to Frogland and run into the frog prince in a well. His name is Frederic and he tells them the story of being cursed by the fairy of his older, evil sister. Abby is determined is help him, but kissing doesn’t work ... throwing him against the wall doesn’t work. And Princess Coco, the only princess around, has just left the castle. Now what?
Some fun twists here.
Abby and Jonah travel to Frogland and run into the frog prince in a well. His name is Frederic and he tells them the story of being cursed by the fairy of his older, evil sister. Abby is determined is help him, but kissing doesn’t work ... throwing him against the wall doesn’t work. And Princess Coco, the only princess around, has just left the castle. Now what?
Some fun twists here.
January 14, 2024
one step closer to reading every book i own 💪
December 3, 2017
I think this was a great book! I rated it 5 stars because I never wanted to put the book down! This book is about a girl named Abby and her brother Jonah who have a magic mirror in their basement. They realize that they are in the fairy tale "The Princess and the Frog" after they messed up the story! The frog prince is so nice at the beginning of the story, but they realize that he's not the nice person he says he is, he's mean! Like REALLY mean! He tries to kill his own sister just to be king! He also tries to take Abby and lock her up in the dungeon! But Abby can't get away! Will they be able save the princess's life before the prince gets to her? Or will they be able to save Abby before it's too late? Read the book and you'll find out!
February 27, 2016
This was honestly so amazing. For the first time we got to see why Maryrose sent Abby and Jonah through the mirror- and we left with a major cliffhanger, too! I can not wait for Genie in a bottle- I neeeeed answers. Who cursed Maryrose????!!!
I'm way too obsessed with these books.
But really, these books are so enjoyable, while targeted at middle grade and being a bit cheesy, I enjoy them a lot- to the point where I'm going to stalk for updates about book 9.
Fantastic and cute. I never want this series to end!!
I'm way too obsessed with these books.
But really, these books are so enjoyable, while targeted at middle grade and being a bit cheesy, I enjoy them a lot- to the point where I'm going to stalk for updates about book 9.
Fantastic and cute. I never want this series to end!!
May 17, 2016
YES I WANT TO READ THE NINTH!!
August 9, 2016
This series is terrifically popular at the elementary school. Convoluted but with a certain charm. Tolerably twee. Perfect for the intended audience.
October 18, 2016
Loved it, just like all the other books in this adorable series!
March 20, 2017
I think this is a well written book. It has such a plot twist, and makes you rethink everything you have found out so far. I would give this a perfect score, and I would recommend it to anyone.
February 7, 2018
Abby and Jonah have promised their parents that they wouldn't play in the basement at night, but they have burning questions to ask Maryrose, their home's magic mirror. So one night, they sneak into the basement, knock on the mirror and find themselves once again sucked into fairy tale land.
They seem to have found them selves in the story of The Frog Prince, with a talking frog for a companion and a mean princess who refuses to help change the frog back into a prince. But, appearances aren't what they seem, and soon they find themselves questioning their first impressions of the land.
My children are very fond of these Whatever After books, and they are the kind of books that they would usually read independently. However, we started reading the Whatever After books long before any of my children were independent readers, so we still continue to read them together for fun.
Abby and Jonah's continued deception of their parents irks me as a parent, but when they tried to come clean with their parents a few books ago, Maryrose removed their parents' memories of their knowledge of fairy tale lands. They continue to trust Maryrose and see her as a good guy, and I suppose from the evidence of the books that she is. However, because of the prevalence of "bad guys" in the world, I do not like the idea of someone (even a magic mirror) making sure that Abby and Jonah conceal their actions from their parents.
Beyond that, these stories are silly and harmless enough. Jonah and Abby always mess up the fairy tale, and they always have to figure out how to reach a happy ending before they can come home. They usually find that the happy ending that they reach is not the traditional storybook ending, but everyone ends up happy anyway.
Even better, Abby usually finds some sort of life lesson in the fairy tale to help her in real life. In this book, the message is one of the pain that is often behind the actions of a bully. It's not a deep lesson, but I think it is one that many children can relate to.
They seem to have found them selves in the story of The Frog Prince, with a talking frog for a companion and a mean princess who refuses to help change the frog back into a prince. But, appearances aren't what they seem, and soon they find themselves questioning their first impressions of the land.
My children are very fond of these Whatever After books, and they are the kind of books that they would usually read independently. However, we started reading the Whatever After books long before any of my children were independent readers, so we still continue to read them together for fun.
Abby and Jonah's continued deception of their parents irks me as a parent, but when they tried to come clean with their parents a few books ago, Maryrose removed their parents' memories of their knowledge of fairy tale lands. They continue to trust Maryrose and see her as a good guy, and I suppose from the evidence of the books that she is. However, because of the prevalence of "bad guys" in the world, I do not like the idea of someone (even a magic mirror) making sure that Abby and Jonah conceal their actions from their parents.
Beyond that, these stories are silly and harmless enough. Jonah and Abby always mess up the fairy tale, and they always have to figure out how to reach a happy ending before they can come home. They usually find that the happy ending that they reach is not the traditional storybook ending, but everyone ends up happy anyway.
Even better, Abby usually finds some sort of life lesson in the fairy tale to help her in real life. In this book, the message is one of the pain that is often behind the actions of a bully. It's not a deep lesson, but I think it is one that many children can relate to.
October 9, 2019
This story is a little different from the others in the series. In each book, Abby and Jonah travel to a fairy tale. They end up messing up the ending in some way, such as preventing Sleeping Beauty from falling asleep. However, in this one, they intentionally try to change the ending.
In the original story of the frog prince, the princess is so mean that she throws the frog against a wall which makes him turn back into a prince. Abby didn’t want this frog prince to have the same fate, so she stops the princess from rescuing him, and instead tries to change him back into a human. This doesn’t end as she planned, when it turns out that the prince is actually evil!
Abby was able to apply what she learned about the mean prince in the fairy tale to her real bully at school. This shows that kids can learn things from fairy tales, even if they aren’t set in real life.
I love this series! I can’t wait to read the next one which is based on Aladdin!
In the original story of the frog prince, the princess is so mean that she throws the frog against a wall which makes him turn back into a prince. Abby didn’t want this frog prince to have the same fate, so she stops the princess from rescuing him, and instead tries to change him back into a human. This doesn’t end as she planned, when it turns out that the prince is actually evil!
Abby was able to apply what she learned about the mean prince in the fairy tale to her real bully at school. This shows that kids can learn things from fairy tales, even if they aren’t set in real life.
I love this series! I can’t wait to read the next one which is based on Aladdin!
May 10, 2017
This is #8 in the popular Whatever After Series in which a brother and sister discover a magical mirror that transports them into fairy tales. In this installment, Abby and Jonah end up in the Princess and the Frog tale. One thing that I appreciated was that Mlynowski references familiar versions of the fairy tale to make this story approachable to modern readers, especially since this tale is less widely known than the fairy tales visited earlier in the series. I also felt that the story would be appealing to both boys and girls as well as to fans of fairy tales or The Magic Treehouse Series. I recommend this title to both school and public libraries as a great series to move readers into longer, more developed chapter books.
June 4, 2021
This series is amazing though I liked this book a bit less than the others.
I've been reading the books to my 6 and 9 year old grandsons, sometimes in person while visiting them in MA (I live in Washington) and sometimes online using Skype on my phone (pointing it to my laptop) and the ebook on my laptop.
Each book has a different twist as the siblings Abby (age 10) and Jonah (age 7) travel into fairy tales via a magic mirror in their basement, mess up the story a bit but help to make a better ending and learn a lot about themselves and their behavior. This book has some nastier turns than earlier ones....which makes the series all the more interesting as they don't follow a single pattern.
I've been reading the books to my 6 and 9 year old grandsons, sometimes in person while visiting them in MA (I live in Washington) and sometimes online using Skype on my phone (pointing it to my laptop) and the ebook on my laptop.
Each book has a different twist as the siblings Abby (age 10) and Jonah (age 7) travel into fairy tales via a magic mirror in their basement, mess up the story a bit but help to make a better ending and learn a lot about themselves and their behavior. This book has some nastier turns than earlier ones....which makes the series all the more interesting as they don't follow a single pattern.
September 24, 2024
Love taking a break from heavier reads to sneak in a fractured fairy tale. Emily Eiden as narrator is once again my portal to the Whatever After series.
This time the fairy tale at the center is "The Frog Prince." The fact that this particular tale has many versions leads to some humorous and at times alarming ideas. Abby has to follow Jonah and their dog Prince through the mirror and finds herself in a well with a talking frog. Now what?!
Although the story seems to be spoiled by the disjointed entry, Abby and Jonah will find a way to leave the land of Birdtopia(?) better than when they first got there. And the real world gets an improvement from what they learn in the fairy tale world.
Looking forward to checking out Book #9 soon.
This time the fairy tale at the center is "The Frog Prince." The fact that this particular tale has many versions leads to some humorous and at times alarming ideas. Abby has to follow Jonah and their dog Prince through the mirror and finds herself in a well with a talking frog. Now what?!
Although the story seems to be spoiled by the disjointed entry, Abby and Jonah will find a way to leave the land of Birdtopia(?) better than when they first got there. And the real world gets an improvement from what they learn in the fairy tale world.
Looking forward to checking out Book #9 soon.
October 6, 2023
I enjoy these books, but I feel they get a little old after a while, and they start getting less fun compared to the first ones. I would put more time spaced between reads, but they reference too many of the previous books that I get confused if I wait too long. So I'm just going to keep plugging along and finish the series.
The moral of this story is even if someone seems mean, they may not be inside and vice versa.
And this series doesn't seem to have any story arcs stretched over several books, instead they have one connecting thread between one book to the next these last few I've read. They leave something open at the end of one book to figure out in the next book.
The moral of this story is even if someone seems mean, they may not be inside and vice versa.
And this series doesn't seem to have any story arcs stretched over several books, instead they have one connecting thread between one book to the next these last few I've read. They leave something open at the end of one book to figure out in the next book.
November 18, 2023
I love Whatever After books but I think this one could be my favourite so far. So Jonah and Abby just want to talk to their mirror but they do wind up going on an adventure now the princess in this story has to turn this frog named Fredrick back into a handsome prince. When they do though they see his true colors and he is just a handsome and arrogant prince. Now all they have to do is... Sneak into a palace, Canoe over a waterfall, climb out of a smelly well and change him back to a frog by kissing him.
February 10, 2023
This one was okay
Didnt love most of the characters in this one. Both the princess seemed rude and irritating and the Frog Prince also had a nasty personality.
But the plot itself was overall decent and Abby learned that not everyone is as they seem. Sometimes we have to dig deeper. And while having a rough time doesn't excuse a bully's behavior, it is a step toward understanding and hopeful resolution 😊
Didnt love most of the characters in this one. Both the princess seemed rude and irritating and the Frog Prince also had a nasty personality.
But the plot itself was overall decent and Abby learned that not everyone is as they seem. Sometimes we have to dig deeper. And while having a rough time doesn't excuse a bully's behavior, it is a step toward understanding and hopeful resolution 😊
November 8, 2020
Abby has bullied a boy named Brandon and abyss's brother is getting Maryrose memories so they go tell her. She sends them to the story of the frog prince and they try to help him become a prince. They discover is he is evil and the abby is captured by him. Her friends help her and go back to Mayrose.....
September 25, 2017
Another cute story about Abby and Jonah being sucked into a fairy tale, this one being the Frog Prince. I enjoy the touch of modern that the author often adds to these books. And the theme that not everyone is as they seem on the surface.
December 3, 2017
Not as good as its predecessor but still quite good. I'm really liking this series! So glad I bought it for my classroom (and yes, I'll get back to reading more adult books shortly- as soon as I start catching up some more to my reading goal for the year!).
May 9, 2019
Such a fun story! But beyond the delightful read, I loved the message of not judging people on first appearance, to look past their actions to what might be really going on. It's such a great message every kid (and adult!) needs to hear. Great book and can't wait to read more in the series.
November 21, 2021
I love when these end WITHOUT the princess’s happily ever after involving the prince. In fact, in this one, the prince was AWFUL! So rude. But I do love the constant mention of my girl Tiana.
Annoying that I didn’t know about the dead mom though.
Annoying that I didn’t know about the dead mom though.
January 18, 2022
The narrator’s voice for the frog is quite funny. Not a huge fan of all the times kids call others stupid and dumb in this particular book, but I did like how it showed that sometimes kids might be in pain under their hurtful behaviors.
September 25, 2023
I admit I don't remember the original story of The Frog Prince so I very much enjoyed hearing Abby share all the variations and doing her best to help the prince. Always nice to see how the author ties lessons learned during the fairy tale to real life.
August 17, 2024
Love that The Frog Prince got a book in this series! And wow the stakes were higher for Abby and Jonah too. I’m really into what’s going on in these short novels, even though they’re aimed at children.
July 13, 2017
I loved this book but I thought it was kind of confusing at times but overall it was so amazing!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews