Books written by Vivian Vande Velde

Tales from the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird

Presents thirteen twisted versions of such familiar fairy tales as "Red Riding Hood," "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Hansel and Gretel," and "The Three Billy Goats Gruff."
Heir Apparent

Trapped in the dangerous game of Heir Apparent, Giannine is forced to obtain a magic ring, find stolen treasure, solve the dwarf's stupid riddles, and slay a dragon--among other challenges--in order to survive. 20,000 first printing.
Heir Apparent

Trapped in a virtual reality game, Giannine must find treasure, solve riddles, defeat a dragon, and face other challenges in order to survive in the game and in real life.
Dragon's Bait

In this fantasy adventure, a teenage girl accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death by dragon finds an unexpected friend—and maybe something more.
The Rumpelstiltskin Problem

Presents six alternative versions of the familiar story of a boastful miller and the daughter he claims can spin straw into gold.
Never Trust a Dead Man

Life has suddenly become very difficult for Selwyn Roweson: First Anora broke his heart and decided to marry Farold, then Farold beat him up in front of the entire village,...
There's a Dead Person Following My Sister Around

Eleven-year-old Ted becomes concerned and intrigued when his five-year-old sister Vicki begins receiving visits from two female ghosts, former slaves from the era before the Civil War. Reprint.
All Hallows' Eve: 13 Stories

And that's just the beginning. Celebrated author Vivian Vande Velde is at her spine-tingling best in this collection of thirteen scary stories, all of which take place on Halloween night.
Ghost of a Hanged Man

An outlaw condemned to be hanged threatens to wreak vengeance from the grave on those responsible for his death.
Now You See It . . .

With Wendy's new glasses, she begins to see cheerful corpses, old crones disguised as teeny-boppers, and portals to another world--a place where everyone knows of the glasses' powers and will do anything they can to get them.
Cloaked in Red

Presents eight twists on the traditional tale of Little Red Riding Hood, exploring such issues as why most characters seem dim-witted and what, exactly, is the theme.
Companions of the Night

Companions of the Night . . . does that for the vampire story . . . . The narrative is tightly wound, keeping readers ready for excitement and action.” —Emma Carbone, New York Public Library
The Princess Imposter

Phleg turns the castle upside down as she poses as Gabriella, but when an important guest arrives, will her antics unwittingly send the kingdom into war? An upbeat and hilarious fantasy from the masterful storyteller, Vivian Vande Velde.
Wizard at Work: A Novel in Stories

A young wizard, who runs a school to teach wizards, looks forward to a quiet summer off but is drawn into adventures with princesses, unicorns, and ghosts instead.
The Rumpelstiltskin Problem

If you stop and think about it, there are some very peculiar and rather hard-to-explain components to the story. Vivian Vande Velde has wondered too, and she’s come up with these six alternative versions of the old legend.
The Rumpelstiltskin Problem

The author presents six alternative versions of the familiar story of a boastful miller and the daughter he claims can spin straw into gold.
Frogged

When almost-thirteen-year-old Princess Imogene is turned into a frog, she puts into practice lessons from the book, The Art of Being a Princess, as she tries to become her less-than-perfect self again.
Alison, who Went Away

Three years after the disappearance of her older sister Alison, fourteen-year-old Sibyl and her family struggle to continue their lives, separately and together. By the author of The Rumpelstiltskin Problem.
Rumpelstiltskin Problem

The author presents six alternative versions of the familiar story of a boastful miller and the daughter he claims can spin straw into gold.
8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos

With short, funny chapters, young readers will race through this novel to find out what the pets do next. For more of Twitch's adventures, check out Squirrel in the House and Squirrel in the Museum.