5 Fantastic Literary Spin-offs & Re-imagined Books

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Sequels, retellings, and spin-offs of beloved stories are, by nature, the material for much controversy and hearty debate. But when executed well, they carry the potential to be not only a captivating story in themselves, but also to inspire renewed interest in and respect for the originals from which they stemmed.

Below, find five excellent spin-offs and re-imaginings inspired by classic literature.

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan

This beautifully bittersweet novel is inspired by the life of C. S. Lewis and his arguably most famous work, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Lewis’ biography is revealed through stories he tells to Megs, a pragmatic-minded math and science student at Oxford University; she’d come to him seeking answers about the origins of Narnia for her terminally-ill little brother, George, who’s captivated by Lewis’ book and the power of story and imagination. Through Megs’ time with Lewis, her sharing of their stories with wise and sweet little George, and her budding romance with a handsome fellow student at Oxford, she begins to open her heart and mind to mystery, wonder, and hope. 

This is the kind of book that almost feels prayerful as it directs the reader's mind to the good, true, beautiful, and eternal. As an added inducement to read Once Upon a Wardrobe, it carries the endorsement of C. S. Lewis’ stepson, Douglas Gresham. The magnificent literary and spiritual legacy of Lewis is always rich ground for new creativity and inspiration.

Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva

This engrossing page-turner is based on Charles Dickens’ real-life struggles and his journey to write his immortal A Christmas Carol; Silva’s book transports the reader to a 19th century London where one encounters Dickens taking long rambling walks at night and meeting a mysterious women who challenges and intrigues him and is pivotal to the creation of his Christmas book.

There is a haunting air of romance and mystery about this story, with a surprise twist at the end that is somewhat reflective of A Christmas Carol itself. This novel inspired me to reread the original with fresh eyes.

Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

This engaging and heartfelt epistolary novel is brimming with delicious literary references. A retelling of the 1912 story Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster, it relates the story of Samantha Moore, a Jane Austen-obsessed young woman striving to overcome the ghosts of her hardknock childhood and claim agency over her life. She’s attending journalism school through the largesse of an anonymous benefactor known as Mr. Knightley (named after the hero of Austen’s Emma), whose only stipulation for the arrangement is that Samantha write him letters describing her life and her progress in school. Many twists and turns ensue and Samantha must learn how to give and receive forgiveness, as well as open herself to love, be it romantic, familial, or as a friend.

Upon finishing this book for the first time, I immediately reread it – it hit the right notes for me and dealt with important themes without being overly somber or heavy, and introduced me to classics like Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South and Daddy-Long-Legs, both also delightful reads.

Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy

This “prequel” is an enjoyable read for all Anne Shirley fans, telling the story of Marilla Cuthbert’s early years in Avonlea, her sacrificial devotion to her family, her thwarted romance with John Blythe (the father of Anne’s love, Gilbert), and how she gradually became the rigid, sensible woman whose world is burst open and brought to vivid, colorful life by the irrepressible Anne (from L. M. Montgomery’s beloved series of the red-haired orphan).

Though Montgomery’s rich, poetic writing cannot be surpassed, this novel provides background texture that one can ponder while reading the original books.

Beauty: A Re-telling of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley

This is a wonderful adaptation of the classic French fairytale, perhaps best-known through its Disney film adaptations. Beauty is the ironic nickname for Honour, the youngest of three daughters and the ugly duckling of a family that’s fallen upon hard times. When Beauty’s father becomes lost in the enchanted woods and encounters the frightful Beast, a fateful deal is struck: Beauty must return to the castle as the Beast’s captive in exchange for her father’s freedom. Beauty’s courage and filial love for her father are unfailingly inspiring. Moreover, the Beast and her life in the castle are not at all what she expected.

McKinley skillfully develops trust and friendship between Beauty and the Beast before their love fully blossoms, and both hero and heroine become the best and truest versions of themselves. This iteration of the enduring story seems somehow grounded in reality and realistic relationships, despite its fantastical and magical elements. Next to Disney’s animated movie, this is likely my favorite version of this ‘tale as old as time’.

In short…

New adaptations and spin-offs of old favorites need not be a cause for dismay, but could just become a beloved story in their own right, while still honoring their literary predecessors.