The Fairy Tale Detectives

June 1, 2006
Gr 4-6 -Michael Buckley starts off with a bang in this energetic book (Abrams, 2005). Daphne and Sabrina Grimm have been tossed from one bad foster home to another after the disappearance of their parents. Now the grandmother they had been told was dead has sent for them. Naturally there -s a measure of distrust, and it only increases when their new home of Ferryport Landing starts getting stranger and stranger. The girls soon learn they are from THE family Grimm, and their new home is full of -Everafters - -fairy-tale and other literary characters who are held in this town by the existence of the Grimms, and who are not necessarily happy with the situation. When Grandma is kidnapped by a giant, the girls must suspend their disbelief and go to her rescue, using whatever magical tools come to hand. But in a world of pixies, witches, and giant-killers, finding a trustworthy companion might be a problem. This is a wild ride with a corrupt Prince Charming, the Three Little Pigs in charge of the police department, and a wise-cracking Puck who may or may not be on their side. Facing problems together stretches the girls - ingenuity, and brings all the Grimms closer, while setting the stage for the next book in the series. L.J. Ganser reads the story with good pacing and a lot of verve, creating different voices and accents for the characters and bringing Buckley -s story to vivid life. Listeners will enjoy the fast-paced action and grin at the humor, while delighting in the chance encounters with characters they should recognize from other stories. This definitely bodes well for the rest of the series. -"Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.