The Fabulous Fantoras: Family Files/Book One - Hardcover

Geras, Adele

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0380975475 ISBN 13: 9780380975471

Publisher: Avon Books, 1998

Synopsis

Daily observations recorded by the family cat Ozymandias--the keeper of the Fantora family files--details the strange yet delightful family members, including Grandmother Filomena who sees the future in her knitting, mother Rosamund who makes potions, and Aunty Varvara--a vegetarian vampire.

About this title

About the Author:

Adele Géras is the author of numerous juvenile works--published in both the U.S. and England to warm reviews. She lives in Manchester, England.

From Publishers Weekly:

Delightfully packed with Briticisms, this clever import launches the Fabulous Fantoras series in high style. Geras's (Pictures of the Night) cordial narrator is the cat Ozzy, self-proclaimed "Keeper of the Files" for the eccentric Fantora clan of Manchester. With obvious affection, Ozzy (short for Ozymandias) introduces his family. Auntie Varvara, a vampire who has turned vegetarian "on account of her soft heart," can "move things about the place just by thinking about it"; mother Rosie mixes up magical potions and is able to fly; and patriarch Eddie can make anything grow anywhere ("palm trees in the bath... grapevines on the bookshelves"). The equally talented children include mischievous Bianca, who brings toys and furniture to life; absentminded, aspiring poet Marco, who can become invisible; and Francesca, whose gifts range from useful (changing the weather) to risky ("starting fires when she's extremely cross"). Perhaps the most intriguing is grandmother Filomena, who predicts the future by interpreting the colors and patterns of her knitting?"transforming the threads of the past into a fabric that forms the future." Geras puts her characters' rare talents to diverting uses: when boys bully Marco, for example, Bianca visits their art class and animates their paint supplies to wreak vengeance; for the school fund-raiser, Rosie bakes biscuits that enable the children who eat them to "float and drift and hover, about a foot and a half above the ground." Jolly good fun. Illustrations not seen by PW. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Avon Books
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0380975475
• ISBN 13: 9780380975471
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 134
• Illustrator: Ross Tony, Brace Eric