The Wishing Spell

Why do you think the Fairy Godmother was brought to the real world when she wished to go where people needed her? What message does Colfer send about the real world through the effects of that wish? Where might someone from the real world end up if they could make that exact wish? Why that place?

Compare and contrast the happily-ever-afters of characters like Snow White and Cinderella to the love triangle that plays out between Goldilocks, Jack, and Red Riding Hood in The Wishing Spell. What elements are different in these situations? Does it seem like Colfer uses them as the next generation of fairy tales to send different messages than those found in the originals? Why or why not? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

The Wishing Spell explores the idea that “happily-ever-after” doesn’t mean there are never struggles ever again. Consider this definition against the “happily-ever-after” of the original tales. Which idea of a happy ever after do you agree with and why? Do you believe there can be a happily-ever-after even if all aspects of life are not happy? Does a happy life that still has struggles count as “happily-ever-after?” Why or why not?

As a result of Froggy/Prince Charlie’s disappearance, his brothers broke the curses on Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, as well as held the ball to find Cinderella. Do you think the witch who cursed Froggy did so to instigate these events? Why or why not? What does the possibility of the witch cursing Froggy to set events in motion say about choice versus the actions of others dictating our actions?

Why do you think Sleeping Beauty dreamed of the real world during her 100-year slumber? What might this suggest about the link between fairy tales and Earth? Do you think her dreams are foreshadowing for the rest of the series? Why or why not?

At the end of the book, the Evil Queen and Mira are trapped in the magic mirror. Why do you think Colfer chose to have the queen trapped, rather than killed? What does his ending for her say about fairy tales and their endings? Do you think she’ll reappear later in the series, and if so, in what capacity?

How do the Disney versions of the fairy tales on which the stories in The Wishing Spell are based compare to the originals by the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen? How did the fairy tales change over time and why did they lose some of their darker elements? What do these changes say about how our society sees children?

Choose three fairy tales mentioned in The Wishing Spell and examine how they would have ended if the protagonists and antagonists were reversed (for example, if Cinderella was the villain while her stepfamily were the heroes). How would these changes affect the stories’ overall messages? What did you learn about perspective and heroes/villains from doing this exercise?