In this delightfully reimagined fairy tale world, Baker takes readers for a funny yet sweet ride through the challenging task of finding where one belongs… Radiates humor and creativity. It's thoroughly enjoyable in every way.” —School Library Journal
“In an engaging start to a new series, Baker creates a whole world with fairies, brownies, ogres, and more that is so accessible readers feel they could join it if only they could find the portal. Cory's struggles . . . will resonate with readers, especially fans of Jessica Day George and Gail Carson Levine.” —Booklist
“Loyal fans of Baker's other books will appreciate this lighthearted search for one's true self.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Baker's fans will easily relate to Cory's struggle to define her own path and identity.” —Publishers Weekly
“A fun romp through classic children's fractured fairy tales.” —Library Media Connection
“Annie is an enjoyable, independent, and undaunted character, who uses wits and skills rather than spells in her endeavors.” —Booklist on THE WIDE-AWAKE PRINCESS
“Humorous. . . . This fractured fairy tale will be enjoyed by readers who like adventure with a touch of romance.” —School Library Journal on THE WIDE-AWAKE PRINCESS
“Readers will delight in the twists the author makes to the familiar tales, seamlessly weaving them into the plot.” —Kirkus Reviews on UNLOCKING THE SPELL
“Slyly combines fairy-tale tropes. . . . The humor and relationships created by Baker are happily reminiscent of such classics as Howl's Moving Castle.” —Kirkus Reviews on A QUESTION OF MAGIC
“A lively fantasy. . . . Suspense, magic, romance, and humor.” —Booklist on A QUESTION OF MAGIC
“Baker continues to weave enchanting new stories out of fairy tale lore.” —Publishers Weekly on A QUESTION OF MAGIC
07/01/2014
Gr 5–8—When Cory decides to quit being a tooth fairy, she has no idea just how far the Tooth Fairy Guild will go to get her back. But she is determined to find a job that allows her to follow her heart. She tries babysitting Humpty Dumpty, an egg-shaped little boy who likes to climb, and the children of Gladys, the old woman who lived in a shoe. She helps can beans with Jack's mother, inventories Suzy's by the seashore's collection of seashell merchandise, and mow the lawn of the three little pigs. But the Guild refuses to leave her alone. And what about her visions? Do they really indicate a matchmaking ability or is something else wrong? In this delightfully reimagined fairy tale world, Baker takes readers for a funny yet sweet ride through the challenging task of finding where one belongs. Cory is an appealing heroine with a tender heart who faces the Guild with courage despite her mother's opposition. A variety of fairy-tale, mythological, and nursery-rhyme characters and stories make appearances in some highly amusing ways. This fractured fairy-tale radiates humor and creativity. It's thoroughly enjoyable in every way.—Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT
2014-07-16
In this new middle-grade series from princess aficionado Baker (A Question of Magic, 2013, etc.), a dissatisfied tooth fairy wants to make a difference in a fairy-tale world. Cory hates her tooth-fairy job. She believes her true calling is to help people. Swiping teeth from a child's pillow just won't cut it. Against her tooth-fairy mother's wishes, she quits the Tooth Fairy Guild, an unthinkable move since this job is a lifetime commitment. After a falling-out with her mother, Cory goes to live with sweet Uncle Micah, her pet woodchuck, Noodles in tow. She begins each day answering help wanted ads. Her odd jobs range from babysitting Humpty Dumpty to ridding Marjorie Muffet's house of pesky spiders. Meanwhile, Marjorie and other friends ask Cory to set them up on dates, but Cory's not convinced she has a knack for that. While it's fun to see the fairyland characters make appearances, Cory's jobs feel somewhat arbitrary and take up a good portion of the book. Readers may start to wonder when the matchmaking will begin, as the title suggests—a longueur possibly explained by the fact that this kicks off a series. Cory's journey becomes most interesting, near the end of the book, when she searches for an estranged family member and discovers a life-changing secret. Those in it for the long haul, particularly loyal fans of Baker's other books, will appreciate this lighthearted search for one's true self. (Fantasy. 8-12)
