What do you think?
Rate this book
Aladdin: Far from Agrabah
This stunning original novel will tell an all-new story set in the world of the new film, featuring Aladdin and Jasmine. A magic carpet ride full of adventure, suspense, and wonder written by New York Times best-selling author Aisha Saeed, this story will be a must-read for any Aladdin fans who find themselves drawn into and enchanted by the magical world of Agrabah and beyond.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2019
81 people are currently reading
2021 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
April 1, 2019
3.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and Disney Book Group for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
If you're familiar with the 1992 animated Disney film, you'll fall into this book fast. The story picks up after Aladdin and Genie have met, after Aladdin and Jasmine meet at the market, and once Aladdin has decided to dress up as Prince Ali of Ababwa. In fact, we're about to get on that magic carpet and venture into " a whole new world." Genie is able to think fast and create his fictional prince, a fictional kingdom in no time at all.
This book was a pleasant surprise because I really didn't find myself with a whole lot of expectations. I loved that Jasmine becomes this fuller character who wants to a good leader in her own kingdom. I enjoyed the tales that pepper this novel. Most importantly, I have a real craving to rewatch the film.
Thanks to Netgalley and Disney Book Group for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
If you're familiar with the 1992 animated Disney film, you'll fall into this book fast. The story picks up after Aladdin and Genie have met, after Aladdin and Jasmine meet at the market, and once Aladdin has decided to dress up as Prince Ali of Ababwa. In fact, we're about to get on that magic carpet and venture into " a whole new world." Genie is able to think fast and create his fictional prince, a fictional kingdom in no time at all.
This book was a pleasant surprise because I really didn't find myself with a whole lot of expectations. I loved that Jasmine becomes this fuller character who wants to a good leader in her own kingdom. I enjoyed the tales that pepper this novel. Most importantly, I have a real craving to rewatch the film.
April 26, 2025
Incredibly boring. Waste of 400 pg book
July 8, 2019
3.5 stars
So this is an original story based on the live action of Aladdin, I liked the adventure in this book, it brought more meaning to Aladdin and Jasmine's relationship and how they knew they are actually fit for each other .. it was a light read and I guess you will like it if you want more of the world of Aladdin, so glad I had the chance to read it :)
So this is an original story based on the live action of Aladdin, I liked the adventure in this book, it brought more meaning to Aladdin and Jasmine's relationship and how they knew they are actually fit for each other .. it was a light read and I guess you will like it if you want more of the world of Aladdin, so glad I had the chance to read it :)
August 17, 2019
This is the story of Aladdin and Jasmine a few days after they’ve met. It picks up right when Aladdin is taking Jasmine out on the magic carpet ride to Ababwa. The storyline followed the movie, which was a little frustrating as I wanted more. The whole book was about their time in Ababwa and it just dragged on and was boring and slow. The book would have been better if it was shorter. I finished the book as fast as I could so I could just move on to a better read. Unfortunately, I found the book to be mediocre, so one star from me for the story and one star for the beautiful cover.
November 23, 2019
“Appearances can be deceiving,” he said gently. “And I know you can’t see a better life for yourself than the one you have now, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible.”
Oh my god. This is so character-driven that I can’t help it but mark a few pages.
Oh my god. This is so character-driven that I can’t help it but mark a few pages.
March 23, 2019
It was a delight to take a magic carpet ride with Aladdin and Jasmine and visit the fictional kingdom of Ababwa. Included with their story were chapters telling of other kingdoms -- some characters crossed over to interact with Aladdin and Jasmine while some did not. It seemed a bit disorganized. Also since I was viewing an ARC I missed out on all the illustrations that would have elevated the effect of the narrative. Readers who love the story of Aladdin will fall in love with this tale, but it will not appeal as much to those who are not big fans.
A big thank you to Disney Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A big thank you to Disney Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2022
Reading this book took me to a whole new world full of magic and adventure. This story takes place a few days after Aladdin and Jasmine met and they have quite an adventurous trip together. In this book you alternate points of view between the Princess of Agrabah and the Prince of Ababwa and you really get to know more about how they met and fell for one another as their relationship developed. This is such a fun addition to the original story and is a delightful, quick read perfect for any Disney Aladdin fan.
November 19, 2024
This was a cute story that takes place on Jasmine and Aladdins carpet ride. I loved getting to see more of them together, and they were both written really close to how they were in the movie.
June 22, 2019
I think this book would have been a lot better if it was about 100 pages shorter. It just really dragged in the middle. The day they spent together in Ababwa just dragged on.
May 13, 2019
I was a little hesitant to pick this up because I didn't really care for the Beauty and the Beast one Lost in a Book. But I saw that this was a different author and I liked another book by her and also I LOVE princess Jasmine so I had to try it. I was much more satisfied with this book than BATB one. I felt like this side story of Aladdin and Jasmine visiting Abawa could even fit into the movie. Saeed kept Jasmine and Aladdin in character as much as possible while BATB struggled with that. I can say this because I read Aladdin live action novelization already. We got to see these two character's spend more time together and to really see their connection. Aladdin treated Jasmine as an equal in his kingdom and let her experience the true duties of a ruler that her father would never allow. Jasmine wishes she could share this story of Abawa with her father, but can not because of his strict rules since her mother was killed. Aladdin and Jasmine even connect and sympathize with one another on losing their mother and Aladdin's father. In this book Aladdin even realizes that he truly does love Jasmine. The connection they shared before is even more real than before with this shared experience. These two even encounter some serious problems on this journey that they are able to work together and solve with their quick wit teamwork. This book makes me even more excited for the film and I can not wait! I hope one day this story is made into a movie or even a short film because it is brilliant. Such a well done novel!
September 11, 2019
This is very much a book within the Disney realm. Everything works out for the best. Conflicts do arise but resolve much easier than they ever would. But, sometimes it's nice to read a book that idealizes how things could be. (Even though you know that isn't really true because real life is more complicated than that.)
The thing that took me most out of the story though was a lot of things that just felt like very modern ideas or ways of doing things. Maybe some of those things actually have been around and used by people for hundreds of years and we just think of them as more modern. So, maybe I need to update my reference for older time periods and how life was. Either way though, because of what I have learned and heard about earlier parts of history, some things did feel out of place in the novel.
Of course though, this is looking at the story through an adult's lens. I think most younger readers who love Aladdin will also love this book.
The thing that took me most out of the story though was a lot of things that just felt like very modern ideas or ways of doing things. Maybe some of those things actually have been around and used by people for hundreds of years and we just think of them as more modern. So, maybe I need to update my reference for older time periods and how life was. Either way though, because of what I have learned and heard about earlier parts of history, some things did feel out of place in the novel.
Of course though, this is looking at the story through an adult's lens. I think most younger readers who love Aladdin will also love this book.
April 9, 2019
3.5 stars, rounded up.
This is basically a tale of Aladdin and Jasmine’s date on the magic carpet during the singing of “A Whole New World.” I’ve always loved that part of the movie, and it was nice to see it expanded upon in book form. There was more dimension to Jasmine and I really liked that she wanted to be a good leader to the people of Agrabah. Aladdin really milked that first wish of being a prince - even getting the Genie to create the fictitious city of Ababwa! Lengthening their date made the romance more believable. It was cute and I liked it. I really want to rewatch the cartoon now!
This is basically a tale of Aladdin and Jasmine’s date on the magic carpet during the singing of “A Whole New World.” I’ve always loved that part of the movie, and it was nice to see it expanded upon in book form. There was more dimension to Jasmine and I really liked that she wanted to be a good leader to the people of Agrabah. Aladdin really milked that first wish of being a prince - even getting the Genie to create the fictitious city of Ababwa! Lengthening their date made the romance more believable. It was cute and I liked it. I really want to rewatch the cartoon now!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2019
Far from Agrabah was a fresh take on Disney's Aladdin. It's a fun addition to the original movie, and definitely a must-read for fans! I do wish that there would've been more scenes before the start and after the end of the book, though I definitely enjoyed what I read.
Full review will be up on my blog closer to release!
Full review will be up on my blog closer to release!
January 10, 2021
I received a copy of Aladdin: Far From Agrabah from Scholastic Books Australia in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own.
Let’s start with what I liked: Far From Agrabah, I thought, was initially quite clever in that the bulk of the book actually takes place in the Kingdom of Ababwa, which my fellow Disney enthusiasts would know to be the fictionalised realm where Prince Ali aka Aladdin rules. What really made me chuckle was when Genie was working his magic, seeing that the land of Ababwa was being illustrated onto the map right in front of Jasmine and Aladdin’s eyes, it just made for a completely awkwardly sweet moment and definitely made me think of the live action movie that this book was based on, which for most part I really enjoyed!
What initially started to throw me off though about Far From Agrabah were the chapters throughout the main story though, where the reader learns about some prestigious and noteworthy rulers and how they came to govern their lands and how their realm was able to flourish. In theory I thought that these would have been quite fun and fascinating to read about, but truth be told I was just wondering how they connected back to our main story, with some of the Sultans and people of note slightly getting lost on me!
Whilst I enjoyed the originality of Far From Agrabah, I did find myself feeling the pacing to be a little bit slow, well truthfully quite a lot slow, so much so that I actually procrastinated finishing it because there were moments throughout this book where I personally felt like not much happened at all! To me, it felt like there were a stream of pages where we’re treated to the description of the kingdom of Ababwa, which is all well and good, I appreciate being able to visualise it but sometimes the descriptions just went on a bit too long, I thought.
What I did find curious though was the long awaited reveal of the strange man that seemed to follow Jasmine and Ali around Ababwa, initially I wondered if by some sorcery, maybe it was Jafar? What I must say was completely clever was that in the fabricated kingdom of Ababwa, there seemed to be a young street rat (who was completely cheeky and sweet) and it really felt like Genie modelled on Aladdin himself. There were some lovely scenes with the young boy and Aladdin and Jasmine, it was so sweet to read their dynamic together!
It was interesting too, from Jasmine’s point of view, that she thought Prince Ali reminded her of Aladdin, but I did find it low-key frustrating that it took her so long to piece it together! Now, I understand that Far From Agrabah was travelling along the line of the 2019 film, but I just wish there had of been more of a reaction from Jasmine when she learnt the truth! In this book, Aladdin was thinking how he wasn’t worthy of a Princesses as he sees himself as a nobody, of course we know they’re lovely together, but upon the reveal of Ali being Aladdin, I just felt it was all glazed over a bit.
That being said though, it was quite an innovative idea having this novel set in the kingdom of Ababwa, I think younger readers may enjoy reading about that too, as well as seeing some familiar faces from Aladdin!
Let’s start with what I liked: Far From Agrabah, I thought, was initially quite clever in that the bulk of the book actually takes place in the Kingdom of Ababwa, which my fellow Disney enthusiasts would know to be the fictionalised realm where Prince Ali aka Aladdin rules. What really made me chuckle was when Genie was working his magic, seeing that the land of Ababwa was being illustrated onto the map right in front of Jasmine and Aladdin’s eyes, it just made for a completely awkwardly sweet moment and definitely made me think of the live action movie that this book was based on, which for most part I really enjoyed!
What initially started to throw me off though about Far From Agrabah were the chapters throughout the main story though, where the reader learns about some prestigious and noteworthy rulers and how they came to govern their lands and how their realm was able to flourish. In theory I thought that these would have been quite fun and fascinating to read about, but truth be told I was just wondering how they connected back to our main story, with some of the Sultans and people of note slightly getting lost on me!
Whilst I enjoyed the originality of Far From Agrabah, I did find myself feeling the pacing to be a little bit slow, well truthfully quite a lot slow, so much so that I actually procrastinated finishing it because there were moments throughout this book where I personally felt like not much happened at all! To me, it felt like there were a stream of pages where we’re treated to the description of the kingdom of Ababwa, which is all well and good, I appreciate being able to visualise it but sometimes the descriptions just went on a bit too long, I thought.
What I did find curious though was the long awaited reveal of the strange man that seemed to follow Jasmine and Ali around Ababwa, initially I wondered if by some sorcery, maybe it was Jafar? What I must say was completely clever was that in the fabricated kingdom of Ababwa, there seemed to be a young street rat (who was completely cheeky and sweet) and it really felt like Genie modelled on Aladdin himself. There were some lovely scenes with the young boy and Aladdin and Jasmine, it was so sweet to read their dynamic together!
It was interesting too, from Jasmine’s point of view, that she thought Prince Ali reminded her of Aladdin, but I did find it low-key frustrating that it took her so long to piece it together! Now, I understand that Far From Agrabah was travelling along the line of the 2019 film, but I just wish there had of been more of a reaction from Jasmine when she learnt the truth! In this book, Aladdin was thinking how he wasn’t worthy of a Princesses as he sees himself as a nobody, of course we know they’re lovely together, but upon the reveal of Ali being Aladdin, I just felt it was all glazed over a bit.
That being said though, it was quite an innovative idea having this novel set in the kingdom of Ababwa, I think younger readers may enjoy reading about that too, as well as seeing some familiar faces from Aladdin!
April 3, 2019
Aladdin: Far From Agrabah begins with Prince Ali trying to impress Princess Jasmine and follows them through the magic carpet ride which allows her to get to know him and totally changes how she feels about him. It’s mostly off-script from the original story, something that could have happened in a deleted scene.
In the original animated movie, we don’t really get to know Jasmine very well. We learned about her desire to marry for love and her frustration at being kept apart from her kingdom. But in this book, we get to know her much more deeply. She dreams of things much bigger than marriage. She wants to lead her people. Jasmine wants to make a difference in their lives. She has ideas she wants to try if only someone would give her a chance.
Aladdin treats her as his equal, and never acts as though this is noteworthy. He wants to impress her with his wealth and prestige, but clearly considers her thoughtful and worthy of his respect. They make a great team, and the story really captures that partnership dynamic to their relationship.
Interspersed through the story are snippets from a history that Jasmine studies about great leaders. I liked how the story tied the lessons from history into the present through the moral lessons the leaders learned. It wasn’t preachy at all, but made the book seem like so much more than a fairy tale.
Aladdin fans, especially fans of Princess Jasmine, won’t want to miss this deeper look into the fabulous magic carpet ride that took Jasmine and her prince into a whole new world.
In the original animated movie, we don’t really get to know Jasmine very well. We learned about her desire to marry for love and her frustration at being kept apart from her kingdom. But in this book, we get to know her much more deeply. She dreams of things much bigger than marriage. She wants to lead her people. Jasmine wants to make a difference in their lives. She has ideas she wants to try if only someone would give her a chance.
Aladdin treats her as his equal, and never acts as though this is noteworthy. He wants to impress her with his wealth and prestige, but clearly considers her thoughtful and worthy of his respect. They make a great team, and the story really captures that partnership dynamic to their relationship.
Interspersed through the story are snippets from a history that Jasmine studies about great leaders. I liked how the story tied the lessons from history into the present through the moral lessons the leaders learned. It wasn’t preachy at all, but made the book seem like so much more than a fairy tale.
Aladdin fans, especially fans of Princess Jasmine, won’t want to miss this deeper look into the fabulous magic carpet ride that took Jasmine and her prince into a whole new world.
April 10, 2019
Aladdin: Far from Agrabah is a fun take on the story we know and love. It picks up right when Aladdin is taking Jasmine out on their magic carpet ride – but it turns out that there’s a lot more to this quick trip around the world than meets the eye. Aladdin and Jasmine will learn a lot not only about themselves but the world around them during the adventures they take.
I loved Aisha Saeed’s take on the characters. To put your own spin on classic characters who are well loved by fans is not an easy task, but Aladdin and Jasmine feel like the people I know while still having some new and interesting sides to them. Jasmine in particular is extremely intelligent and ambitious, with dreams of being sultana and ruling her kingdom justly.
In some ways it reminded me of the Beauty and the Beast novel, Lost in the Book. It takes a story we are already familiar with and inserts a new tale that we didn’t realize could be happening. In Lost in a Book it’s Belle’s adventures in the library, and in Far from Agrabah it’s Aladdin and Jasmine’s magic carpet ride. This story could fit in right in the middle of the movie and doesn’t really disrupt the canon at all, which is pretty cool.
As a children’s librarian I was familiar with Aisha Saeed’s work, particularly with the novel Amal Unbound. That’s been a popular one, so I’m definitely excited to add Far from Agrabah to our library collection as well!
I loved Aisha Saeed’s take on the characters. To put your own spin on classic characters who are well loved by fans is not an easy task, but Aladdin and Jasmine feel like the people I know while still having some new and interesting sides to them. Jasmine in particular is extremely intelligent and ambitious, with dreams of being sultana and ruling her kingdom justly.
In some ways it reminded me of the Beauty and the Beast novel, Lost in the Book. It takes a story we are already familiar with and inserts a new tale that we didn’t realize could be happening. In Lost in a Book it’s Belle’s adventures in the library, and in Far from Agrabah it’s Aladdin and Jasmine’s magic carpet ride. This story could fit in right in the middle of the movie and doesn’t really disrupt the canon at all, which is pretty cool.
As a children’s librarian I was familiar with Aisha Saeed’s work, particularly with the novel Amal Unbound. That’s been a popular one, so I’m definitely excited to add Far from Agrabah to our library collection as well!
March 25, 2019
Aladdin Far From Agrabah tells the tale of Aladdin's second wish. Will Jasmine recognize Prince Ali on their travels on the magic carpet? This is a sweet story. Princess Jasmine is definitely a smart young woman who is not necessarily looking for love. She is refreshing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for the ARC.
July 12, 2019
Loved it!! It is everything I ever wanted. I love that Jasmine has agency (finally)
This is fun and sweet.
I highly recommend to every Jasmine and Aladdin fan.
This is fun and sweet.
I highly recommend to every Jasmine and Aladdin fan.
November 2, 2019
Very interesting, romantic and different take on the famous magic carpet ride. The world is well built, mythology is awesome. Loved it
March 25, 2019
So, first off I want to thank NetGalley and Disney Press for granting me the privilege to read an eARC of this in exchange for honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Currently set for release: April 2nd 2019
Now, for the review.
I want to start off by saying that this book has a rough start that I was concerned with, BUT I completely understand why it did, now that I've finished it - more about this later. To give you kind of a synopsis, this is NOT a retelling of Aladdin. This is actually a story that takes place in Aladdin. For that reason, it reads kind of like a short story even though it's a novel. Aside from the first few chapters, this entire book takes place during the magic carpet ride that Aladdin takes Jasmine on.
The book goes on to show us in a little more detail, what exactly happened that night. Including, a chance to see Ababwa (Aladdin's Prince Ali's "Kingdom"). It's a whole new adventure that doesn't interrupt the original story and I LOVED it for that. Instead of worrying about the story I love being twisted around in ways that didn't make sense, this book adds something new and creative to the story that can be believed in addition to the original tale. I think the idea for this was so clever.
Now back to my point about the rocky beginning. The book starts after Jasmine has already met both Aladdin and "Prince Ali". We hear her briefly speak of the encounters from memory, but we don't get to see Aladdin save Jasmine in the streets or cringe through Jasmine rejecting Prince Ali after his obnoxious entrance - which I was disappointed about. I felt like I was missing the first few chapters of my book, mind you, I thought this was more of a full retelling. Then I just felt awkward during character interactions, because although I have seen Aladdin and I know how it starts, I didn't read it in this book. So I felt like the author was building on our common knowledge of the story of Aladdin, which is fine, but there wasn't enough info for anyone who hasn't seen the movie to know what's happening. Speaking of which, NOTE: IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ALADDIN OR DO NOT KNOW THE STORY, YOU WILL BE CONFUSED. However, once I realized that this was not a full retelling and just a story of the night of the carpet ride, I understood why the author made this choice, but I still think we should have started the story at a different earlier point and developed character relationships a bit. Either that, or just skipped ahead more and picked up practically immediately before the carpet ride.
Despite all that, the storytelling of the adventure was great. An entire story that takes place during a scene that's just a song in the movie. Who knew there was even a story to tell there? Literally, A Whole New World.
There isn't much more I can tell you without spoiling it, but know that this story is new and exciting with the same characters we know and love. The genie takes a backseat and we really get to focus on who Aladdin and Jasmine are. In the fake city of Ababwa, we see the heart of what makes them who they are, we see their relationship grow (which makes the original story all the better and not as rushed if you believe this is how they fall in love), and we get to see Aladdin attempt to keep his composure under a lie that just about crushes him. There is a new villain on hand and a new adventure to unfold. I HIGHLY recommend this if you enjoy Aladdin.
Note 2: There are sections that are stories from a book Jasmine reads about past rulers, as irrelevant as they seem at first, DO NOT SKIP THEM. Some of the characters and their stories play a major role and these small sections give you some backstory so you can further understand.
Now for some spoiler things!
Currently set for release: April 2nd 2019
Now, for the review.
I want to start off by saying that this book has a rough start that I was concerned with, BUT I completely understand why it did, now that I've finished it - more about this later. To give you kind of a synopsis, this is NOT a retelling of Aladdin. This is actually a story that takes place in Aladdin. For that reason, it reads kind of like a short story even though it's a novel. Aside from the first few chapters, this entire book takes place during the magic carpet ride that Aladdin takes Jasmine on.
The book goes on to show us in a little more detail, what exactly happened that night. Including, a chance to see Ababwa (
Now back to my point about the rocky beginning. The book starts after Jasmine has already met both Aladdin and "Prince Ali". We hear her briefly speak of the encounters from memory, but we don't get to see Aladdin save Jasmine in the streets or cringe through Jasmine rejecting Prince Ali after his obnoxious entrance - which I was disappointed about. I felt like I was missing the first few chapters of my book, mind you, I thought this was more of a full retelling. Then I just felt awkward during character interactions, because although I have seen Aladdin and I know how it starts, I didn't read it in this book. So I felt like the author was building on our common knowledge of the story of Aladdin, which is fine, but there wasn't enough info for anyone who hasn't seen the movie to know what's happening. Speaking of which, NOTE: IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ALADDIN OR DO NOT KNOW THE STORY, YOU WILL BE CONFUSED. However, once I realized that this was not a full retelling and just a story of the night of the carpet ride, I understood why the author made this choice, but I still think we should have started the story at a different earlier point and developed character relationships a bit. Either that, or just skipped ahead more and picked up practically immediately before the carpet ride.
Despite all that, the storytelling of the adventure was great. An entire story that takes place during a scene that's just a song in the movie. Who knew there was even a story to tell there? Literally, A Whole New World.
There isn't much more I can tell you without spoiling it, but know that this story is new and exciting with the same characters we know and love. The genie takes a backseat and we really get to focus on who Aladdin and Jasmine are. In the fake city of Ababwa, we see the heart of what makes them who they are, we see their relationship grow (which makes the original story all the better and not as rushed if you believe this is how they fall in love), and we get to see Aladdin attempt to keep his composure under a lie that just about crushes him. There is a new villain on hand and a new adventure to unfold. I HIGHLY recommend this if you enjoy Aladdin.
Note 2: There are sections that are stories from a book Jasmine reads about past rulers, as irrelevant as they seem at first, DO NOT SKIP THEM. Some of the characters and their stories play a major role and these small sections give you some backstory so you can further understand.
Now for some spoiler things!
January 2, 2020
I really loved this book. I did not get to seethe movie yet, so I cannot compare them. However, I really liked the story and I loved the depth of the characters--we see a lot more of Jasmine and Aladdin and their inner thoughts. Basically, this is during the Whole New World song when they travel the world in like five minutes lol.
I loved how Jasmine is a strong leader just itching to get out there and help her people! And I love how Jasmine and Aladdin, despite the deception of the whole prince/royalty identity thing, actually do have a very good, respectful relationship that prioritizes consent and the opinions of both of them. I also loved how basically Aladdin's perfect world is a place that invests in its people, and that he genuinely listens to Jasmine's suggestions, and Jasmine gains confidence in herself as a leader.
Granted, I did not see the movie, so maybe I'm missing something. I thought it was odd that the bad guy was some legendary dude from old books. I honestly thought it was going to be Jafar in disguise, since he was disguised as an old man in the original animation, I thought it would be a play on that.
With that said, I thought it did drag and slow down a bit once they were looking for carpet. That part was just slow and drawn out, in my opinion. It did not amp up the stakes or suspense for me. I did not need to see their failed attempts in finding Carpet and their despair that he was lost. I would have been okay with a quick summary of "they searched for hours but found nothing, until...." you know? A brief bit of telling/summarizing would have been okay.
Also, I believe this is in the movie (I don't know since I haven't seen it, so...) but the way they were saved by the bees????What???? I thought Jasmine was going to save them!!! I mean she kind of did....but I thought the being saved by the bees from earlier was really weird and random. I would have preferred it if Jasmine saved everyone herself with a clever plan. However, if this is a part of the movie, then the author had no choice. Maybe it makes more sense in the movie, but for me it didn't work.
This book did an excellent job of capturing the magic, imagination, and feeling of possibility and limitless creativity as in the animated film that I still love as an adult.
Overall I think this is more of a Middle Grade novel, which is perfectly fine! I was just surprised because I only saw it in the Young Adult section, and to me this was more Middle Grade--which again, both are fine, but it is a different set of expectations for the reading level.
Overall I really liked this and I'm glad I read it.
March 5, 2020
After exploring Agrabah, Jasmine wants to see the prince’s kingdom. Genie willingly creates “Ababwa” to order, asking Aladdin to describe “the perfect kingdom.” Aladdin’s description is as enchanting as it is meaningful to him. He wants Jasmine to see all the animals and birds she’s never seen before. But once they’re in Ababwa, Jasmine and Ali’s return to Agrabah is ruined when the carpet is stolen by a man named Abbas.
This story is told from both, Ali and Jasmine's point of view. If you have ever watch Aladdin or Aladdin the live action movie, you know that Aladdin is just a "street rat" who finds a lamp and meets a genie. Aladdin then asks Genie if he could turn him into a prince (Prince Ali). Of course, he says yes and his wish came true. Eventually, Ali meets Princess Jasmine again and takes her on a magic carpet ride. In the book, "Aladdin: Far From Agrabah," it starts off on the magic carpet and Jasmine and Ali run into some obstacles along the way.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book as I am a big fan of Disney. I liked how it wasn't an exact repeat of the movie and it was told from both, Ali and Jasmine's perspective. My only change would be though, is to make the book flow more. The first half of the book went by slowly and then I felt like a lot of things happened and then it was back to slow again. Also, this book could have been shorter if it flowed quicker. In conclusion, this book went by slower than I expected but it was a fun an interesting book to read. Definitely recommend it!
This story is told from both, Ali and Jasmine's point of view. If you have ever watch Aladdin or Aladdin the live action movie, you know that Aladdin is just a "street rat" who finds a lamp and meets a genie. Aladdin then asks Genie if he could turn him into a prince (Prince Ali). Of course, he says yes and his wish came true. Eventually, Ali meets Princess Jasmine again and takes her on a magic carpet ride. In the book, "Aladdin: Far From Agrabah," it starts off on the magic carpet and Jasmine and Ali run into some obstacles along the way.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book as I am a big fan of Disney. I liked how it wasn't an exact repeat of the movie and it was told from both, Ali and Jasmine's perspective. My only change would be though, is to make the book flow more. The first half of the book went by slowly and then I felt like a lot of things happened and then it was back to slow again. Also, this book could have been shorter if it flowed quicker. In conclusion, this book went by slower than I expected but it was a fun an interesting book to read. Definitely recommend it!
April 15, 2025
A whole... lot of nothing happens in this book. You'd think that a story that expands on the adventure Aladdin and Jasmine went on during their first nighttime magic carpet ride together would be a fun one, but this really wasn't. It was kind of boring. Which is a letdown, because Aladdin is, to this day, my favorite Disney animated film of all time. I also was a huge fan of the Aladdin TV series, so I thought this book would kind of give me some of the fun side quests that the show offered. But alas, I didn't really get that here. I do appreciate the author's attempt to show the reader what real leadership can look like - that's it more about wise and just governance than it is about strength and bravery - but you got to have some fun with it, too.
November 2, 2020
This was such a fun read and could basically have been additional scenes from the movie. I liked the concept of getting to see Aladdin’s and Jasmine’s adventures on their magic carpet ride. I really enjoyed the writing but not too much happens plot-wise so this could have been shorter.
It’s definitely a more character driven book and I loved getting to know both Aladdin and Jasmine much more deeply and seeing their romance develop. It takes place over an incredibly short time but this is one instance where the instalove works.
Perfect for fans of Aladdin!
It’s definitely a more character driven book and I loved getting to know both Aladdin and Jasmine much more deeply and seeing their romance develop. It takes place over an incredibly short time but this is one instance where the instalove works.
Perfect for fans of Aladdin!
April 7, 2019
My heart.
January 11, 2020
Great characterizations! Couldn't stand the canon inconsistencies and plot issues.
July 30, 2019
[4/5]
“Far from Agrabah” es una novela corta basada en el live action de Aladdin. Específicamente se desarrolla en la parte donde cantan ‘A whole new world’, sólo que en la historia, no hay canción.
Durante el viaje conocen el mágicamente creado reino se Ababwa, que tiene muchas cosas extraordinarias e increíbles, pero un reino casi tan perfecto es una atracción para aquellos que sólo buscan poder.
La historia tiene una trama entretenida, este viaje les ayuda tanto a Jasmine como a Aladdin a conocer lo que realmente anhelan, mientras pelean y ayudan a las personas que habitan Ababwa.
Lo que más me gustó es como el genio creó el reino, basándose en lo que Aladdin es realmente, creo que eso es le sirvió mucho al personaje, porque prácticamente estaba aconsejándose y guiándose a él mismo.
El punto negativo es que tal vez no concuerda del todo con lo que pasa en la película luego de eso, pero la historia es muy bonita y reflexiva, tiene grandes frases, mensajes y enseñanzas.
Es recomendable para leer a cualquier edad, y es un gran complemento si son fans de la película.
“Far from Agrabah” es una novela corta basada en el live action de Aladdin. Específicamente se desarrolla en la parte donde cantan ‘A whole new world’, sólo que en la historia, no hay canción.
Durante el viaje conocen el mágicamente creado reino se Ababwa, que tiene muchas cosas extraordinarias e increíbles, pero un reino casi tan perfecto es una atracción para aquellos que sólo buscan poder.
La historia tiene una trama entretenida, este viaje les ayuda tanto a Jasmine como a Aladdin a conocer lo que realmente anhelan, mientras pelean y ayudan a las personas que habitan Ababwa.
Lo que más me gustó es como el genio creó el reino, basándose en lo que Aladdin es realmente, creo que eso es le sirvió mucho al personaje, porque prácticamente estaba aconsejándose y guiándose a él mismo.
El punto negativo es que tal vez no concuerda del todo con lo que pasa en la película luego de eso, pero la historia es muy bonita y reflexiva, tiene grandes frases, mensajes y enseñanzas.
Es recomendable para leer a cualquier edad, y es un gran complemento si son fans de la película.
November 11, 2022
My disney book phase was sad. And expensive.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews