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The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley

By dcgirl9139 | Posted Under Book Reviews | Comments (12)



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The Sisters Grimm tells the story of almost 12-year-old Sabrina and her 7-year-old sister Daphne. Ever since their parents went missing, the girls have been bounced around the foster care system. At the beginning of the book, they are being taken to stay with a woman claiming to be their grandmother. The only problem is that Grandma Grimm died before either girl was born. Or at least that was what their parents said …

In actuality, Sabrina and Daphne’s parents lied to protect them. The Grimms, related to the brothers Grimm of fairy-tale fame, are charged with keeping order in the town of Ferryport Landing. Fairy-tale creatures, or “Everafters” as they prefer to call themselves, came to America to escape opression. Soon, humans began to converge and the everafters lashed out, fearing the same oppression. Wilhelm Grimm had a witch cast a spell keeping all the everafters in Ferryport Landing as long as a member of the Grimm family still resides in the city, a spell that will endure until the last Grimm dies.

Because of this spell, the Grimms aren’t exactly the most popular family in town. Grandma Relda Grimm, however, takes it upon herself to investigate strange fairy-tale encounters. Someone planted a beanstalk, a giant climbed down and smooshed a farmhouse. Mayor Charming (As in PRINCE) tries to dissuade the Grimms from getting involved, making him the prime suspect. They form a theory that Charming lured the giant down to destroy the farmhouse because he is trying to buy up property and rebuild his former kingdom. After their grandmother and her friend Mr. Canis are taken by the giant, Daphne and Sabrina, plus Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream have to work to save her. They enlist the help of Jack the giant killer, now employed at a Big & Tall clothing store. Still, though, even though it seems they have the answers, everything is not as they think it is.

As I mentioned before, I like fairy-tales and retellings of fairy-tales. Thise series seemed like it might be fun. I definitely enjoyed the appearances of characters from stories and books, like Beauty and the Beast arguing at the Mayor’s Ball and the three little pigs serving as police officers. There were some fairly poignant moments, such as Sabrina’s little breakdown. She admits that she is afraid her grandmother will abandon her like her parents did. Sabrina was difficult to like at the beginning of the book, but I understand that she had good reason to be suspicious of the adults in her life after all she had been through. Daphne was adorable throughout the book. I’m not sure if I will continue the series, and if I do, it probably won’t be until after Cannonball Read is over. This was still a pretty good book for children.

This review is part of the Cannonball Read series. For more of dcgirl9139’s reviews, check out her blog, I’m Going to Read Your Mind Next.









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Comments

This sounds cute! I love children's books and am always on the lookout for stuff to get my niece as she gets older. What is the age range on this, do you think?

Posted by: MyySharona at August 11, 2010 8:56 AM

I also love reading children's books. Are there pictures, or is it strictly words? What age range?

Posted by: BWeaves at August 11, 2010 9:02 AM

This sounds interesting. Thanks for the review.

Posted by: mswas at August 11, 2010 9:28 AM

This sounds like it could be cute for all ages. Who's the author?

Posted by: dammitjanet at August 11, 2010 9:29 AM

I read this series to my daughter a few years ago. I'd say it's definitely for the 7-10 age range. It's similar in tone to The Spiderwick Chronicles.

Posted by: Wednesday at August 11, 2010 9:53 AM

Kind of sounds like the comic series "Fables" but with its teeth pulled out.

Posted by: TylerDFC at August 11, 2010 10:52 AM

I'll second the 7-10 age range. Unfortunately, I'm not very good at figuring those sort of things out. It really sucks when I'm working the Kids department at the bookstore.

There are pictures in the book.

Posted by: dcgirl9139 at August 11, 2010 11:02 AM

Fables was my first thought too. If you like fairy tale retellings (I LOVE them), that might be a more fun option for adult readers. This sounds fun for kids though.

Posted by: Anne (in Reno) at August 11, 2010 12:06 PM

Sounds cute. I might have to check the series out.

Another good fairy tale retelling for adults is Jasper Fforde's Nursery Crimes Division series starting with "The Big Over Easy". Humpty's been murdered and Jack Sprat and his new partner Mary Mary have to solve the case.

They're a lot of fun.

Posted by: Jennifer at August 11, 2010 1:45 PM

GREAT books! Read the first 3 or 4 a few years ago, expecting them to be terrible like most kid lit. Wrong. They're clever and creative, and you come to really care for the characters. I especially loved Puck, one of the most fun book characters I've read in a while. Read the series if you get a chance!

Posted by: futuredirect at August 11, 2010 3:13 PM

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