Classic Stories, Modern Voices: Why Retellings Work for Today’s Young Readers

There’s something I’ve been quietly dreading as a parent—long before I ever opened a bookshop: figuring out how to share my love of certain books that no longer fit the modern flow of storytelling.

I grew up loving books like Little Women (and really, anything Louisa May Alcott ever wrote). I devoured novels layered with symbolism like The Great Gatsby. I disappeared into the magical world of Narnia and never wanted to leave. These books shaped how I think, how I read, and how I understand story.

And yet, when I look at them now through my kids’ eyes, I hesitate.

It’s not that these books are particularly dense or difficult, but they miss the instant payoff modern storytelling offers. In classic stories, the narrative builds slowly, and the story unfolds in a subtle way that trusts (or challenges) the reader to stay.

The question I kept coming back to was simple and a little unsettling: Would my kids love these books the way I did?

Storytelling has changed quickly

The way kids read today isn’t worse than how many of us grew up reading, but it is different.

Modern middle grade and young adult books tend to move quickly. They hook early. They make emotional stakes explicit. Characters tell you what they’re feeling instead of asking you to infer it. There’s often a clear sense of momentum: keep going, something is about to happen.

That shift didn’t come out of nowhere. Kids today are surrounded by fast storytelling everywhere, from TV to games to short-form video. Even the way information is delivered in school. They’re used to narratives that reward attention quickly and consistently.

And research increasingly shows this isn’t just about kids, it’s about all of us. The less time we spend reading for pleasure, the harder it becomes to stay with slower, more demanding texts. Seen through that lens, it’s no surprise that many classics feel challenging, because they ask for a kind of patience readers don’t get much practice using anymore.

As a bookseller, this has shifted how I think about my role. Part of the work now is building bridges and finding ways to keep kids engaged with meaningful stories instead of watching them disengage entirely. That’s why I’m such a fan of graphic novels, and why I’m genuinely excited by what I see on our shelves: a growing number of classic retellings that preserve emotional depth while meeting readers where they are today.

Familiar stories, modern lenses

One of the most powerful things retellings do is shift perspective. Some retellings update the setting or the format. Others do something more interesting...they ask new questions of stories we thought we already knew.

• What if the quiet character was actually the hero?

• What if the story centered on the person whose history was ignored or, worse, misappropriated?

• What if we acknowledged the darkness instead of smoothing it over?

• What if we empowered characters who were not able to have a voice in the original?

And if I’m being honest, relevance was another quiet concern I had when thinking about handing some of my favorite books to my kids. Many classic stories reflect a world with limited options, especially for girls. Even Jo March, famously strong-willed and independent, is ultimately steered into marriage in Little Women, despite Louisa May Alcott’s own desire for her to stand on her own.

Retellings give modern readers room to ask: What if that ending wasn’t the only possibility?

They don’t erase the original, but they often do respond to it. They open space for conversations about agency, power, and whose stories get told, all while keeping the emotional core that made these books matter in the first place.

Our recommendation: read the modern story first, the classic second

One of the quiet myths around classics is that kids must read them in their original form for the experience to “count.” But stories don’t work that way.

We don’t tell kids they have to start with the original myth before enjoying a modern fantasy. We don’t insist they read Shakespeare in original spelling before seeing the play. We understand that context builds appreciation. Retellings do the same work for books.

They let kids fall in love with:

• the characters

• the conflicts

• the emotional truth

before asking them to navigate older language, slower pacing, or unfamiliar social rules. And these modern tales often offer many more shades of gray rather than the stark black and white/good and bad of their predecessors.

Stories are best when they meet readers exactly where they are. Here are some of our favorite modern takes on classic stories, organized by how kids tend to approach them.

Graphic novel retellings for visual readers and with gentle on-ramps

Graphic novels are often the easiest way into a classic story. They reduce cognitive load, support comprehension, and allow readers to focus on character and emotion without getting stuck in dense text.

• Anne of West Philly by Ivy Noelle Weir & Myisha Haynes - a contemporary, diverse reimagining of Anne of Green Gables that keeps Anne’s imagination and heart while placing her in a world today’s kids recognize.

• Jo: An Adaptation of Little Women by Kathleen Gros - a modern take that revisits Alcott’s characters and themes through a lens that feels current and accessible.

• The Secret Garden on 81st Street by Ivy Noelle Weir & Amber Padilla - the same themes of healing, found family, and emotional growth, all reimagined in a contemporary New York City setting.

Middle grade adventure retellings for the kids who want to plow through the plot

These books move fast, center action, and pull readers forward while still introducing the bones of classic literature.

• Enola Holmes by Nancy Springer - this is Sherlock Holmes’ world, reframed through his fiercely independent and wildly brilliant younger sister.

• Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson - a high-energy prequel to Peter Pan that adds emotional depth, danger, and momentum to characters who we know and love.

• The Last Musketeer by Stuart Gibbs - sometimes you have to travel through time, and this modern adventure does just that, introducing humor into the action of the classic Three Musketeers 

• A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz - this series takes a dark, funny, and honest look at the original fairy tales and offers excellent storytelling that's just right for kids ready for moral complexity.

  
  

Retellings that flip the narrative, for big thinkers and curious readers

These retellings invite readers to question perspective, power, and whose stories get centered.

• The Actual and Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher by Jessica LawsonBecky takes the lead, Tom steps back, and suddenly the story feels entirely different.

• Reflection by Elizabeth LimA mythic, emotionally rich expansion of Mulan that explores identity, loyalty, and sacrifice.

• Sabrena Swept Away by Karuna RiaziA modern reimagining inspired by One Thousand and One Nights, centering voice and resilience.

Retellings that push back: high concept and unapologetic

• These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong, reimagines the classic tragedy of Romeo and Juliet in 1920s Shanghai with characters who have a greater sense of agency.

• Beth is Dead by Katie Bernet, creatively places the story of the March girls in the 21st centry and asks what would happen if they were held to the standards set for them in "Little Women"

• Pride and Prejudice in Space by Alexis Lampley, playful yet smart retelling keeps the sharp wit and relationship dynamics of the original while proving that timeless stories don’t belong to one setting or one era.

An invitation back to the originals

So, will these kids read these reimagined stories and discover they want to know more about th originals? Based on how kids love to investigate a topic once they know there is more to it, I would wager so. If they love Elizabeth in space they might be surprised to find her equally compelling in regency England. If they were shocked by who kills Beth, perhaps the original will provide unexpected clues to the story.

So the answer is...maybe.

What matters more is that they learn to love stories that ask something of them. That they recognize themes like loyalty, injustice, grief, courage, and self-discovery when they meet them, no matter the format.

If a retelling is what opens that door, then it hasn’t failed the classic. It’s honored it. And if these stories teach children to think outside themslves then they have done the most important job a book can do. Inspire.