BOOK: FANTASY, MYSTERY (ages 8-12)
Brief Description: Orphans Sabrina and Daphne have had it with foster homes and the orphanage. When a mysterious grandmotherly-type claims to be part of their family, the girls are quickly delivered to her home. Sabrina is less than convinced that this woman is their relative, but younger Daphne is immediately enchanted, in spite of the strange rules set forth in the house. When grandmother Relda Grimm reveals that they are part of the Grimm family, and that the Brothers Grimm were the first fairy tale detectives who set down the true stories of the "Everafters," Sabrina doesn't buy it, but when grandmother and her friend Canis are taken by a giant, the girls must consider whether they will rescue them, and if, indeed, they are really related and believe the stories that they have been told.
Awards: Border's Original Voice Award, 2005
Personal Opinion: This was a fun book for middle readers. Full of suspense and familiar fairy tale characters in various disguises, kids will delight in the story of Relda Grimm and her two grandchildren. Buckley does a clever job weaving various fairy tale characters into the story, and even throws in Puck from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as well as the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. This stew of fairy tale characters will create a memorable reading experience for younger readers.
Curriculum/Programming: After reading this book, kids could be instructed to research a few fairy tales, become familiar with the characters, and write their own short story disguising the characters in a new story of their own creation.
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