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Twice Upon a Time #2
Sleeping Beauty: The One Who Took the Really Long Nap
The girl's been asleep for a hundred years. The boy's got issues of his own. There are two sides to every story....
It's not easy being Princess Rose. Especially when a fairy curses you and you find yourself avoiding all sharp objects . . . and then end up pricking your finger anyway, causing you to slumber for a hundred years or so.
And it's not easy being The Prince. Especially when your mother has some ogre blood and tends to chow down at the most unfortunate moments. A walk in the woods would help, you think. Until you find a certain hidden castle . . . and a certain sleeping princess. Happily ever after? Not until the prince helps the princess awaken . . . and brings her home to Mother.
Journey back to the days when fairy tales were true with this fun and fresh spin on a timeless tale!
It's not easy being Princess Rose. Especially when a fairy curses you and you find yourself avoiding all sharp objects . . . and then end up pricking your finger anyway, causing you to slumber for a hundred years or so.
And it's not easy being The Prince. Especially when your mother has some ogre blood and tends to chow down at the most unfortunate moments. A walk in the woods would help, you think. Until you find a certain hidden castle . . . and a certain sleeping princess. Happily ever after? Not until the prince helps the princess awaken . . . and brings her home to Mother.
Journey back to the days when fairy tales were true with this fun and fresh spin on a timeless tale!
176 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2006
57 people are currently reading
1801 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Mass
83 books3,688 followersWendy Mass is the author of thirty novels for young people, including A Mango-Shaped Space, which was awarded the Schneider Family Book Award, Leap Day, the Twice Upon a Time fairy tale series, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall, the Willow Falls, Space Taxi and Candymakers series. Wendy wrote the storyline for an episode of the television show Monk, entitled "Mr. Monk Goes to the Theatre," which aired during the show's second season. She tells people her hobbies are hiking and photography, but really they're collecting candy bar wrappers and searching for buried treasure with her metal detector. Wendy lives with her family in New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
July 6, 2014
Fun twist on a classic princess story!
January 2, 2021
I read this to my sister. The beginning was kinda slow, but once it got going It was awesome!
September 29, 2021
Another short book in this fast series, I like that these books are very short .. but the main characters barely meet to realize that they are in love !?
So in this book we will meet princess Rose, she is the apple of her parents eyes and she has so many gifts that makes her a great woman from her fairy godmothers, and that makes her lose sight of who really she is .. so in her sixteenth birthday she works with a spindle and bricks her finger and goes in a deep sleep for 100 years
and they we meet prince "The Prince" .. thats his name .. his mother is half Ogre and thats makes him so confused about the concept of love ( I wish if they explored the mother's arc more ) .. but the prophecy is only The Prince shall rescue the princess .. can he do it ?
I swear my review is longer than the book .. it was a very light read and if you are in the mood for these kind of short books go for it
So in this book we will meet princess Rose, she is the apple of her parents eyes and she has so many gifts that makes her a great woman from her fairy godmothers, and that makes her lose sight of who really she is .. so in her sixteenth birthday she works with a spindle and bricks her finger and goes in a deep sleep for 100 years
and they we meet prince "The Prince" .. thats his name .. his mother is half Ogre and thats makes him so confused about the concept of love ( I wish if they explored the mother's arc more ) .. but the prophecy is only The Prince shall rescue the princess .. can he do it ?
I swear my review is longer than the book .. it was a very light read and if you are in the mood for these kind of short books go for it
January 7, 2015
~Sleeping Beauty: The One Who Took the Really Long Nap is the second book in the Twice Upon A Time Series. Sleeping Beauty: The One Who Took the Really Long Nap is probably my favorite one of the Twice Upon A Time series because I like how she did Sleeping Beauty one chapter than the Prince one chapter, because you know each side of the story and what they thought.This book is filled with mysteries and humorous conversation. While reading this book I was on the edge of my seat. Wendy Mass is the reason keeping me reading over 30 minutes. She uses a lot of detail with her stories and also have some thinking involved. My favorite part is that she uses twist in her stories.
July 27, 2025
I enjoyed the prose and pace of this book but the premise is outdated. Getting to see the prince's vulnerabilities and skillset outside of what would be expected is nice. Aswell as the princess wanting to test who she was as a person outside of her gifts. This would be a four-star for me but the instant love felt icky. I can understand how "true loves" could have been helpful for young people who had to marry for family or monetary reasons, but it just does not work anymore. And I will never get over-the-kissing-a-sleeping-person thing. This definitely is not the worst depiction but after having watched the Snow-White remake, I don't have any reason to except these premises. (Also, the older cover of this book was way cuter than my copy)
July 19, 2022
an absolute banger. literally one of the most interesting books ive read to this day. would re read it again again and again for the nostalgia if i could find it at a library. beautifully done
July 19, 2017
I don't know why but I just loved his book! It's cute and happy and I just love it!💘😀💛
June 30, 2020
Do you love re-imagine fairy tales, like me? If so, the Twice Upon A Time series by Wendy Mass is for you! This younger middle grade series is full of fun twists and adventures!
January 8, 2015
The fairy tale sleeping beauty is the second book in the twice upon a time series and was written by Wendy Mass. The author Wendy Mass is a very detailed writer who can make you feel inside the book. Sleeping beauty, as you all should know, is a common children book or movie. But this version of sleeping beauty is different from all the others. by different I mean, has a little twist. Both main characters have a hard life. Its not easy for sleeping beauty to avoid all sharp objects in her life, or be cursed upon, but it happens anyway. But just like any other fairy tale a charming prince saves the day and they both live happily ever after!
July 26, 2010
I LOVE the twice upon a time books!!!! Its like funny versions to princess fairytales. It was interesting and grasped my attention with the whole journal aspect of it, and it was also cool how Wendy Mass made each character have their own perspective of the situation. If you are looking for a really good book to read I wouldn't recommend this one but if you're looking for a quick read, go out and buy this one.
January 20, 2017
This book was flat out amazing. Wendy Mass does a great job of transforming the original Sleeping Beauty tale into her own remix version. This book not only is told from the princess's point of view it is also told from the prince's. My sister is currently reading this book and she also loves it. This book targets a wide audience and has some low comedy humor. If you are looking for an amazing, unique fairy tale this is the book for you.
September 30, 2014
I thought that this book was amazing, I really loved how Wendy picked to do the princes part of view from his time and how the princesses point of view was during her time up to the day of when the prince gets into the castle.
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December 19, 2009This book is really good everyone who is a girl should read it in my opinion.
October 18, 2018
How did this manage to be a light-hearted book and have so many hard-hitting topics at the same time? Wendy Mass is an amazing writer. Probably a new favorite of mine.
April 1, 2020
I love this book soooo much! I love all the twists they added to the story. So READ THIS BOOK! please.
May 21, 2019
I have always loved the Sleeping Beauty story, and Wendy Mass’s retelling (which I didn’t know existed until a couple of months ago) is an enjoyable, quick take on it. It’s a pretty straightforward imagining of the original material, with some added elements and expansion on the characters; if you’re looking for a retelling that really twists the Sleeping Beauty story on its head, this is not it, but if you just want to experience this fairytale again through slightly different eyes, this is a wonderfully breezy way to do so. It’s even smart enough to engage with some of the more thought-provoking elements of the story—like, Who is Rose if so many of her traits were assigned to her at birth by fairies? or, How distraught would she be at losing her whole family?—rather than completely glossing over them.
The only problem with this book, really, is that its decision to acknowledge the dark, sad undercurrents of the fairytale doesn’t really gel with the overall fluffy and lighthearted tone. It would have been easy to just have the entire kingdom sleep with Rose for a hundred years (as they do in most versions) and alleviate this tragic element, but Mass only has Rose sleep and, as a result, she wakes up to a lot of loss and, while the horror of this is touched upon, it is largely skimmed over—which is hard to buy since anyone in that situation would clearly be having a full-on meltdown or, at the very least, not smiling at the prince and discussing marriage.
Mass’s book is pleasant, and there is nothing within it that I would dispose of, but its shortness and fun approach leave the story with a noticeable hole. I would have loved a longer version of this book where everything that Mass wrote still happens, but there would be an additional amount of time really detailing Rose’s grief—which is not the sort of thing that you snap out of in a couple of hours—as well as her recovery. I understand that that might be a bit much for middle grade readers (which this book is clearly aimed towards), and it’s highly possible that most people won’t feel this gap in the way that I do—I guess after being spoiled by Anna Sheehan’s incredible A Long, Long Sleep, I can’t read a Sleeping Beauty story without wanting to explore the story’s psychological ramifications. Still, some touches are better than none at all, and the book’s certainly short and sweet enough to please fairytale-lovers, especially those on the younger side.
3.25 stars.
The only problem with this book, really, is that its decision to acknowledge the dark, sad undercurrents of the fairytale doesn’t really gel with the overall fluffy and lighthearted tone. It would have been easy to just have the entire kingdom sleep with Rose for a hundred years (as they do in most versions) and alleviate this tragic element, but Mass only has Rose sleep and, as a result, she wakes up to a lot of loss and, while the horror of this is touched upon, it is largely skimmed over—which is hard to buy since anyone in that situation would clearly be having a full-on meltdown or, at the very least, not smiling at the prince and discussing marriage.
Mass’s book is pleasant, and there is nothing within it that I would dispose of, but its shortness and fun approach leave the story with a noticeable hole. I would have loved a longer version of this book where everything that Mass wrote still happens, but there would be an additional amount of time really detailing Rose’s grief—which is not the sort of thing that you snap out of in a couple of hours—as well as her recovery. I understand that that might be a bit much for middle grade readers (which this book is clearly aimed towards), and it’s highly possible that most people won’t feel this gap in the way that I do—I guess after being spoiled by Anna Sheehan’s incredible A Long, Long Sleep, I can’t read a Sleeping Beauty story without wanting to explore the story’s psychological ramifications. Still, some touches are better than none at all, and the book’s certainly short and sweet enough to please fairytale-lovers, especially those on the younger side.
3.25 stars.
November 15, 2017
The book Sleeping Beauty: The One Who Took the Really Nap by Wendy Mass was a great exciting bookmark that was one of my favorites. In the first half of the book it was talking about what happened before Princess Rose fell into a deep sleep. Her mother was always watching over her and keeping her away from everything sharp. She ever banashed everything sharp form the whole town. On the other hand the Prince was trying to stay alive from his mother who has ogre blood in her. When The Prince finds Princess Rose in the tower they have to faces The Princes parents to accept Princess Rose and they live happily.
My personal opinion about this book is that I loved it! It was a lovely, exciting twist on the usual fairytale. I loved that it had before Princess Rose fell asleep, and before The Prince found her sleeping. The book put a fun, unusual twist to this old fairytale the everyone knows. One thing I did not enjoy as much was that it talked about Princess Rose 100 years before she fell into a deep sleep while it was talking about The Prince 100 years in the future. Other than that I loved this book. I am definitely going to read the other books in this series. I loved this book!
I would recommend this book to anyone who like the original fairytale turned into a new fresh book. If you are like me you like fairytales a more modern twist on them, then you should look into this one. Anyone can read it and enjoy it as much as I did even boys who don't like fairytales can like it just a little more than they think. I loved this book and I think anyone can too.
My personal opinion about this book is that I loved it! It was a lovely, exciting twist on the usual fairytale. I loved that it had before Princess Rose fell asleep, and before The Prince found her sleeping. The book put a fun, unusual twist to this old fairytale the everyone knows. One thing I did not enjoy as much was that it talked about Princess Rose 100 years before she fell into a deep sleep while it was talking about The Prince 100 years in the future. Other than that I loved this book. I am definitely going to read the other books in this series. I loved this book!
I would recommend this book to anyone who like the original fairytale turned into a new fresh book. If you are like me you like fairytales a more modern twist on them, then you should look into this one. Anyone can read it and enjoy it as much as I did even boys who don't like fairytales can like it just a little more than they think. I loved this book and I think anyone can too.
May 20, 2018
{My thoughts} – Prince and Princess Rose have two different stories. They both are written in the past leading up to when their lives merge together. They begin as their own separate stories and then they become one. There are always two sides to every story and this series allows you to see both sides.
Prince has been obsessed with a certain place in the woods by his castle. He couldn’t explain why or what the deal was just that he had an overwhelming desire to be there in that place and was wondering why. One day he got a glimpse of what was hidden there and he became more obsessed. Especially after he’d discovered that it appeared to be an exact replica of the castle he and his family lived it, however, it was hidden under impenetrable vines.
When his father and mother went on a business trip Prince had a gathering with all the elders in their village. He asked them questions and he learned of Princess Rose and her families history. He then searched the library and other places to try and find more information. In the end he’d concluded that Princess Rose was hidden away in that hidden Castle.
If you’d like to know what happens you’ll need to read the book. Does he get to her? Do they have a happy ever after? All of those can be learned by reading the book.
I recommend this book for any child that enjoys fairytales. I strongly believe that they will enjoy reading about Rapunzel and the Prince. It’s a well written retelling that doesn’t take much time at all to read through. I look forward to reading the rest of the series in the future.
Prince has been obsessed with a certain place in the woods by his castle. He couldn’t explain why or what the deal was just that he had an overwhelming desire to be there in that place and was wondering why. One day he got a glimpse of what was hidden there and he became more obsessed. Especially after he’d discovered that it appeared to be an exact replica of the castle he and his family lived it, however, it was hidden under impenetrable vines.
When his father and mother went on a business trip Prince had a gathering with all the elders in their village. He asked them questions and he learned of Princess Rose and her families history. He then searched the library and other places to try and find more information. In the end he’d concluded that Princess Rose was hidden away in that hidden Castle.
If you’d like to know what happens you’ll need to read the book. Does he get to her? Do they have a happy ever after? All of those can be learned by reading the book.
I recommend this book for any child that enjoys fairytales. I strongly believe that they will enjoy reading about Rapunzel and the Prince. It’s a well written retelling that doesn’t take much time at all to read through. I look forward to reading the rest of the series in the future.
March 15, 2018
SLEEPING BEAUTY: THE ONE WHO TOOK THE REALLY LONG NAP is the second book in Wendy's Twice Upon A Time Series. The story alternates POVs between Princess Rose and The Prince. It also flashes between her time and his.
The Prince hasn't lived a princely life full of grace and beauty. Instead, anything nice looking has been removed from the castle because his mom (the queen) is part-ogre and cannot tolerate it. To escape the dull and lonely palace life, the Prince has taken on a quest to find the missing castle in the woods. It eventually leads him to Princess Rose. In the flashes to Rose's time, we learn that she has been put under a curse by an evil fairy. Instead of killing her, it was altered and Princess Rose would sleep for one hundred years.
I really liked how this story strays from the traditional one. The prince isn't the most handsome and graceful in all the land and the princess wants faults in herself instead of perfection. The princess also feels as if she's taking a nap rather then simply unconscious.
Final Verdict: Fans of fairytale retellings will enjoy this one, especially those who prefer middle grade fiction.
The Prince hasn't lived a princely life full of grace and beauty. Instead, anything nice looking has been removed from the castle because his mom (the queen) is part-ogre and cannot tolerate it. To escape the dull and lonely palace life, the Prince has taken on a quest to find the missing castle in the woods. It eventually leads him to Princess Rose. In the flashes to Rose's time, we learn that she has been put under a curse by an evil fairy. Instead of killing her, it was altered and Princess Rose would sleep for one hundred years.
I really liked how this story strays from the traditional one. The prince isn't the most handsome and graceful in all the land and the princess wants faults in herself instead of perfection. The princess also feels as if she's taking a nap rather then simply unconscious.
Final Verdict: Fans of fairytale retellings will enjoy this one, especially those who prefer middle grade fiction.
March 23, 2017
I read Sleeping Beauty: The One Who Took the Really Long Nap by Wendy Mass. It's a retelling of the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty. But this story is told from both the Prince and Princess Rose's sides. And unlike the classic, these royals have problems. The Prince's mother is part ogre and literally cannot stand beauty of any kind. Also, on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, she has to feed- sometimes, on humans. So the Prince comes with baggage. And Princess Rose, with all her talents, doesn't actually know who she is, what she likes. Plus, when she wakes up, she doesn't realize what happened!
The theme of the story is that love isn't perfect, and you don't have to be perfect to fall in love. When the Prince and Princess Rose meet, both have problems. Together, though, everything will be easier.
I thought this book would be better for younger readers, especially girls. It's a simple, classic love story that is written for little kids. Personally, I thought it was slow and predictable. But that's the beauty of it, I guess.
The theme of the story is that love isn't perfect, and you don't have to be perfect to fall in love. When the Prince and Princess Rose meet, both have problems. Together, though, everything will be easier.
I thought this book would be better for younger readers, especially girls. It's a simple, classic love story that is written for little kids. Personally, I thought it was slow and predictable. But that's the beauty of it, I guess.
August 20, 2022
“It’s not easy being Princess Rose. Especially when a fairy curses you and you find yourself avoiding all sharp objects… and then end up pricking your finger anyway, causing you to slumber for a hundred years.
And it’s not easy being The Prince. Especially when your mother has some ogre blood and tends to chow down at the most unfortunate moments. A walk in the woods would help, you think. Until you find a certain hidden castle… and a certain sleeping princess. Happily ever after? Not until the prince helps the princess awaken… and brings her home to Mother. Journey back to the days when fairy tales were true with this fun and fresh spin on a timeless tale!”
I was sorting through some old unread books I had lying around, and decided to read this one for a laugh before I donated it. I think I’ll keep it though!
This book was incredibly enjoyable and very well written, even though it’s written for a younger audience. I love the way the characters speak and the story is just so innocent and romantic! I found I simply could not put it down! I love the classic fairy tales and this was such a wonderful version. I loved the characters(except horrid Percival of course) and loved the ending incredibly.
I do not this there is anything I really didn’t like!
I rate this book a 10/10 and recommend it to anyone over the age of 10(but that’s just my opinion).
And it’s not easy being The Prince. Especially when your mother has some ogre blood and tends to chow down at the most unfortunate moments. A walk in the woods would help, you think. Until you find a certain hidden castle… and a certain sleeping princess. Happily ever after? Not until the prince helps the princess awaken… and brings her home to Mother. Journey back to the days when fairy tales were true with this fun and fresh spin on a timeless tale!”
I was sorting through some old unread books I had lying around, and decided to read this one for a laugh before I donated it. I think I’ll keep it though!
This book was incredibly enjoyable and very well written, even though it’s written for a younger audience. I love the way the characters speak and the story is just so innocent and romantic! I found I simply could not put it down! I love the classic fairy tales and this was such a wonderful version. I loved the characters(except horrid Percival of course) and loved the ending incredibly.
I do not this there is anything I really didn’t like!
I rate this book a 10/10 and recommend it to anyone over the age of 10(but that’s just my opinion).
September 28, 2024
“’You are not special and wonderful and admired and loved because a bunch of fairies gave you some gifts. You are special and wonderful and admired and loved because you are YOU. A funny, charming, generous, loving girl with a unique spirit all your own. True, you have some advantages others do not. But that is not why you shine. You shine because of who you are inside.’”
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I read this a long time ago and don’t remember it. I think I like this one more than the first book. The ending was really cheesy.
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I read this a long time ago and don’t remember it. I think I like this one more than the first book. The ending was really cheesy.
July 23, 2025
Wendy Mass puts a fun and clever twist on the classic fairy tale in Sleeping Beauty: The One Who Took the Really Long Nap. Told with humour and heart, the story alternates between the perspectives of Princess Rose and the prince. Mass modernizes the tale with witty dialogue and relatable characters, making it perfect for all ages of middle grade readers. It's a light, entertaining read that adds depth and laughs to a familiar story while still keeping the magic intact.
February 24, 2019
The first half kind of dragged, but really picked up once we got to Rose's experience in slumber and forward on. Reading this book gave me the vibe that I'd already read it, but I know this was one I always had a hard time getting my hands on.
Would recommend to the age group on the back: 3-5th graders.
Would recommend to the age group on the back: 3-5th graders.
December 12, 2022
This was SO cute! I loved both Rose and the Prince and how hard he worked to save her 😍
His parents weren't exactly helpful but I really liked the ending. It was the most conclusive out of the series.
This one kept the 100 year version of her sleep. Not sure what made him HER Prince, but the fairy must have known because they were adorable together haha
His parents weren't exactly helpful but I really liked the ending. It was the most conclusive out of the series.
This one kept the 100 year version of her sleep. Not sure what made him HER Prince, but the fairy must have known because they were adorable together haha
December 6, 2016
This book is mostly about princess, and i don't really like that. but for the most part of the book it was good. i mean if you are like maybe at least 8-10 because this book is really girly and all of that but if you are into this kind of book you should read some of theses books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2019
i read this when i was 10-11. i remember loving it and getting soya sauce on a page because i couldn't put it down so i had to eat while reading. 10-12 year old me would obviously give it 5 stars. le livre that i hold close to my heart..
June 4, 2020
A wonderful story that tells us more about this classic fairy tale outside of the castle, and with different people too! It's a fun book that has lots of love! I recommend reading this book and reading the other books in this series!
May 29, 2021
Retelling of Sleeping Beauty that I read when I was much younger and remember being absolutely delightful. Well, reading it now as an adult...it’s fine. It’s not nearly as funny or charming as I remember, but it’s and interesting enough retelling.
September 1, 2017
very well written, kept me in suspense
Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews