Almost There – A Disney Nerds Book Club Review
It’s time to take another trip into the world of Twisted Tales. This time we’re heading to New Orleans to visit Tiana and the world of “The Princess and the Frog.” In “Almost There” by Farrah Rochon, we ask What If Tiana made a deal that changed everything?
We start off this book in the timeline of the film. It’s the scene where Tiana is still a frog. She has the talisman and is racing through the graveyard, running from Dr. Facilier and his friends on the other side. As we know from the film, Facilier catches Tiana and offers her a deal. He offers her the restaurant of her dreams and all she has to do is give Facilier the talisman. Again, as we know from the film, Tiana says no. But what if Facilier offers her something else? What if Facilier has figured out the right offer Tiana can’t say no to?
Tiana takes Facilier’s deal and we jump ahead a year. Everything is her world seems perfect. Tiana has a life that she never thought she could have. But things start getting a little eerie. She starts to feel like she’s being followed and her beloved town of New Orleans seems to be changing. Realizing everything and everyone she loves are at risk, Tiana has to figure out how to save the day. Luckily, she doesn’t have to do it alone. Naveen and Charlotte are there to help her, whether she wants them or not.
Tiana not only has to figure out how to get out the mess she’s in but she also starts to realize that she doesn’t have to do everything all by herself. She learns that she really can rely on her friends and the people she loves. The story becomes more than just an adventure of twists and turns to stop Dr. Facilier. It becomes a journey of growth for Tiana, no matter how hard she might fight it. I find that aspect of the story just as good and important as the events that happen.
This is the 13th book in the Twisted Tale series and I have to say it is one of my favorites. All of the Twisted Tales I’ve read so far have been good but not all of them pulled me into the story like this one. I think it’s a sign of a good book (and a good writer) when I can be moved and emotionally invested in what happens to the characters on the page. I would even go as far as to say that this is my favorite one yet!
