Thursday, August 16, 2007

Diary of a Fairy Godmother



Who can resist a cover like this?

Hunky Dory is, according to her mother, going to be the "wickedest witch wherever the four winds blow" . She is at the top of her class at Harbringer's Charm School for Young Witches. Not for long if Frantic Search has anything to do with it. That witch wants to take Hunky Dory down, and will stop at nothing to do so.

When Frantic gets wind of Hunky's soft spot for undoing spells, she exploits it by penning a wish fulfilling chain letter. Before Hunky knows what's what, she is out of her mom's home and on her own. And she is only one hundred years old!

So, Hunky is off on a search to find herself. Is she truly a witch at heart, or is she a bit more of a fairy godmother after all?

Esme Raji Codell has written a fun little romp of a fairytale send up. Any book that sites Hogwarts is okay with me. I wasn't sure if the witches name's would get to me (Hunky Dory, Frantic Search, Velvet Underground, Acid Reflux, Belladonna, Sinus Infection, Twisted Ankle), but after a bit of reading they didn't stand out as I had worried. Readers will recognize enough of the fairy tales to feel a connection, but will delight in Codell's departure from tradition.

Drazen Kozjan's illustrations are spot on, and if I were a tween, these girls would be doodles in the margins of most of my schoolbooks!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Please can you help spread the word about GAia Girls.. WE are HUGE fans and think all kids should read these books.

Hello,

What to read after Harry Potter. WE FOUND IT :)

WE are huge fans of Gaia Girls, but its published by a small green press and the books are JUST FANTASTIC. Teaching environmental stewardship, but in a fun fantasy/adventure story.. Help please.

My daughter and I have found a new 7 book series that features GIRL ECO HEROES. We love it and would love to find out more about the books, the author and the green publisher Chelsea Green.

Please consider covering GREEN fiction. Book I: Gaia Girls Enter the Earth won the National Outdoor Book Award and two other awards. What a great new series that can get people thinking about GREEN heroes and green issues.

Check out these links we found doing some research about Gaia Girls.
http://www.curledupkids.com/ggentere.htm
http://www.curledupkids.com/ggwwater.htm
Publisher
http://www.chelseagreen.com
Series Website
http://www.gaiagirls.com

NOBA
http://www.isu.edu/outdoor/bookpol.htm

Thanks for considering our idea,
N. Slovak

PS... We really want to see the Gaia Girls MOVIE. Gaia Girls would be a powerful way to reach young people about a more sustainable world.