Valente, Catherynne M. Ana Juan, Illustrator. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her own Making. 2011. Feiwel and Friends, 247 pages. $16.99 ISBN 9780312649616
Plot Summary:
September is whisked away from Omaha by the Green Wind upon the Leopard of Gentle Breezes. The Green Wind leaves September at the borderland of Fairyland with a warning not to eat any fairy food and a wish for her to enjoy herself. Right away September meets a trio of witches and agrees to retrieve their magic spoon from the evil Marquess who stole it because the spoon tells the future. On her way to confront the Marquess in the capitol Pandemonium, September meets a wyverary (part wyvern part library) library named A through L, Ell for short. Ell is walking to Pandemonium to meet his grandfather the Municipal City Library and joins September in her travels. September’s quest is really just beginning when she is brought before the Marquess, who sends September on a quest to retrieve a sword from the Autumn realms in exchange for the spoon the live of Ell. Upon leaving the Marquess September picks up another friend, Saturday, who September frees from the Marquess. Together with Ell and Saturday, September set out for Autumn on a quest that will take them farther than they ever imagined.
Critical Review:
Valente’s first foray into children’s literature is an imaginative quest through Fairyland. The story itself is told beautifully and September is a lovable and stalwart heroine. The interest level is more juvenile than the reading level. This would be a great book for a teacher to read to her class and she could do vocabulary lessons using some of the more difficult words in the book. I would also recommend this for younger middle grade readers who are looking for something with a slightly more challenging reading level.
Genre:
Fantasy
Interest Level:
4th to 7th grade
Similar Books:
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Awards/Honors:
Andre Norton Award 2010
Author’s Website:
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