The Charm Bracelet (Fairy Realm, No. 1) - Hardcover

Rodda, Emily

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060095830 ISBN 13: 9780060095833

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2003

Synopsis

When Jessie goes to visit her grandmother at beautiful Blue Moon, things seem wrong. Why is her grandmother so forgetful? And what's happened to the charm bracelet she always wears?

One night, Jessie discovers an amazing secret. The secret garden at Blue Moon leads to a magical Realm. In this land live all kinds of magical beings, from fairy queens to miniature talking horses.

But the enemies of the Realm are getting closer and closer to coming through the wall that keeps them out. Jessie must find out her grandmother's secret and help renew the Realm's magic before it's too late!

About this title

About the Author

Emily Rodda has written many books for children, including Finders Keepers, which School Library journal dubbed "a lively adventure," and several novels about the likable hero Rowan. The first of these novels, Rowan of Rin, won the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year for Younger Readers Award when it was first published. In fact, Emily Rodda has won the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award an unprecedented five times. A former editor, Ms. Rodda is also the best-selling author of adult mysteries under the name Jennifer Rowe. She lives in Australia.

Reviews

Grade 1-4-Jessie's grandmother's health is failing rapidly and the woman seems unconcerned that the charm bracelet she always wore is missing. She knows she had something important to do before her upcoming 70th birthday, but she can't remember what. In a parallel world, the fairies are trying to save their kingdom from an evil ruler. Jessie accidentally travels to that world, becomes embroiled in their struggles, and saves the day by retrieving the magical charm bracelet, thereby restoring her grandma's memory of her connection to the fairy world and what she must do. It's all a bit predictable, but beginning chapter-book readers will appreciate Jessie's take-charge attitude to defeat the evil usurper and revel in her success at saving her grandmother and the fairy kingdom. Geared toward transitional readers, the short chapters each begin with one full-page, black-and-white illustration, aptly showing the magic of the book.
Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 2-5. Although this is for a slightly younger audience than her Rowan of Rin books, Rodda's latest, first in the new Fairy Realm series, will also have kids sitting on the edge of their seats. Every 50 years or so ("once in a blue moon"), the magic of the Realm must be renewed to prevent the evil trolls of Outland from overtaking the kindly creatures of the land. The person entrusted with renewing the magic is the Realm's true queen, Jessica, who, years before, fell in love with a mortal and moved to his world, promising to return at the blue moon to renew the Realm's magic. Taking advantage of the situation, evil cousin Valda intervenes, hoping to destroy the Realm. It's Jessica's spunky granddaughter, Jessie, who comes to the rescue. Cats, one good and the other evil; a talking horse; a nervous elf; and a "cloak of invisibility" aid Jessie in assisting her weak, aged grandmother in fulfilling her queenly obligation. Intergenerational teamwork and a girl's levelheaded thinking combine with intrigue and imagination in this exciting fantasy. Ellen Mandel
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0060095830
• ISBN 13: 9780060095833
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Vitale Raoul
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 128