If you have a young child in the home I’m sure you’ve heard of Descendants. Peyton loves to dance and sing all the songs around the house. She has the soundtracks in the car and insists we listen to them all the time. And she has both movies, watches them 24/7 and asks when Descendants 3 will be out. Well, this year Peyton is a 2nd grader and her only homework is reading 20 minutes. But it’s a struggle. She is not crazy about having to read every single night for 20 minutes. Then I came across the Descendants book series! You know, the books that the movies are based on. I knew these would help with my reading dilemma.
Isle of the Lost by Melissa De La Cruz
First up is The Isle of the Lost. It starts out the same as the movie, going on how the Beast had exiled the villains to the Isle but that’s where the similarity stopped. You are taken only 10 years ahead, rather than 20, where we get to know what 6-year-old Mal is like. And while she is wicked, it’s nothing like the movie. Mal is not BFF with Evie! In fact, Carlos, Jay, Evie, and Mal do not hang out together. After we see little Mal get her feelings hurt by not being invited to a certain blue hair beauties birthday part we fast forward 10 years.
Twenty years since the villains had been banished to the Isle of the Lost and Ben was just about to take over the crown. The children of the Isle were on a mission to find Dragon’s Eye that was hidden in the Forbidden Fortress and the fortress just happen to be located in the United States of Aragon.
Mal, Evie, Jay and Carlos struggle with wanting to find the Dragon’s Eye and be good. We know what happened in the movie but what happened in the book? Whichever will they choose?
Return to the Isle of the Lost by Melissa De La Cruz
Second in the series is Return to the Isle of the Lost. We catch up with Mal, she’s happy, she’s Ben’s girlfriend and she’s given up her villainous way. Evie, Carlos, and Jay are happy too. They seem to be fitting in nicely in Aragon but they keep getting these messages/threats telling them to return to the Isle.
The Isle is the last place any of them want to be. Since Maleficent was turned into a lizard there is no one ruling the Isle. It’s crazy, dark and everything they are trying to stay away from. But they are concerned Maleficent may have found a way to turn herself back to normal and they must know.
Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Jay sneak back onto the Isle to see what is going on and try to find out who is sending them the messages. Who is it? I guess you’ll have to read it to find out.
Rise of the Isle of the Lost by Melissa De La Cruz
The third in the series is exciting! The Little Mermaid crew are a huge part of this book. King Triton has lost his trident and Uma is determined to find it first. She sets out with her pirate crew, Harry son of Captian Hook, Gil son of Gaston and a few more unsavory characters to find that Trident! They know if they can find it first they can break the spell that keeps the Isle and it’s residents captive and return magic to all.
King Ben seems to be traveling on business so the only people around to stop Uma seem to be Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Jay. But will they? Or will they return to their roots and help Uma find the trident?
I am extremely excited that the movies were loosely based on the books! Peyton is going to go crazy to read new storylines with her favorite characters. I’m sure we won’t have any problems getting her to read!
And today, they are coming out with a complete box set of the series! What a great holiday gift this would be. Be sure to check out our 24 books of Christmas for other book ideas to help inspire kids to get reading!
These titles were brought to you by Disney Publishing. Connect with them online to find more Disney titles.
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