The Fairy-Tale Detectives

This middle grade Fantasy novel, the first in a series, blends adventure, mystery, humour and a wonderful mix of characters from Fairy Tales, popular culture and literature. Kids (and adults) will enjoy recognizing many Fairy Tale characters as the Grimm sisters, Sabrina and Daphne, try to rescue their Granny from the clutches of an evil giant.

While readers don't need to be well-versed in all things Fairy Tales, I think those who can recognize the various characters will get a little more out of the story. This book introduces readers to the Everafter world and the sisters. The story stays on the lighter/not too scary end of the spectrum and the mystery moves along at a good pace and features characters you'll root for. I enjoyed Granny's spunkiness, Daphne's sweetness and even Sabrina's sass as she struggles to acclimate to her new surroundings. I'm hoping in future books we'll get to know the Everafter characters more in depth.

Included in the magic are the addition of many illustrations which are beautifully done and will engage younger readers.

With a bit of mayhem, adventure, mystery and enough magic that may take you Over the Rainbow, trip over Cinderella's glass slipper or even go floating down the river with Baloo, The Grimm Sisters series would be an excellent series that middle schoolers can sink into.

My Rating: 4 stars

Author: Michael Buckley
Illustrator: Peter Ferguson

Genre: Junior Fiction, Fantasy

Type: Trade Paperback

Pages: 288

Source: Local Public Library

Publisher: Harry N Abrams

First Published: August 2005

Opening Lines: I'm going to die of boredom here, Sabrina Grimm thought as she looked out the train window at Ferryport Landing, New York.

Book Description from GoodReads: Fans of fractured fairy tales will be delighted to discover the fantasy, mystery, adventure, and humor in the beloved New York Times bestselling Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley, now with new cover art. As featured on NBC’s The Today Show, the nine wildly popular books are favorites around the world. They were among the first books to bring a distinctly girl-power spin to fairy tales—a spin taken up by hit movies and shows TV such as Once Upon a Time, Grimm, and Maleficent, the bestselling book series The Land of Stories, and other. New covers will appear on book one, The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives; book two, The Sisters Grimm: The Unusual Suspects; and book three, The Sisters Grimm: The Problem Child. Books four through nine will be available in revised editions soon. ?
 
In this first book in the series, orphaned sisters Sabrina and Daphne are sent to live with their recently discovered grandmother, Relda Grimm. The girls learn that they are descendants of the Brothers Grimm, whose famous tome of fairy tales is actually a history book. The girls are pitted against a giant, who has been rampaging through town. But who set the giant loose in the first place? Was it Mayor Charming (formerly Prince Charming), who has plans to get his kingdom back? The Three Not-So-Little Pigs, now working as police officers? Or a giant-killer named Jack, currently working at a Big & Tall store?
 
With an irresistible combination of adventure and imagination, the Sisters Grimm series injects classic fairy tales with modern day sensibilities and suspense, creating a fantastical combination readers of all ages will love.