Sleep Like Death

Gr 9 Up–Lovers of reimagined fairy tales, rejoice: Bayron has done it again. In this twist on Snow White, Princess Eve has spent her life training to slay the Knight, the mysterious dealer of wishes who reigns terror over her home of Queen’s Bridge. When she finally gets her chance to face him, she fails with devastating consequences. Though she has grown up with stories of the Knight and his cursed dealings, she begins to understand that there are hidden stories within the familiar tales, clues that bring her closer to understanding the key to defeating the Knight once and for all, and ultimately, to understanding the truth about herself. On the surface, this deeply character-driven story is one of fairy tales reimagined with LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC characters taking center stage, but at its heart is a tribute to mothers and mother-figures. The love between Eve and her mothers is the undercurrent of the plot, always present and carrying it forward. There are (heavy) losses, and there are cleverly woven stories within stories—but above all, there is love in all its forms, between mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, lovers, pets, and found families.