Fairy Realm #1: The Charm Bracelet (Fairy Realm) [BARGAIN PRICE] (Hardcover)

by Emily Rodda (Author) "Jessie felt better once she was in the secret garden..." (more)
Key Phrases: crystal jar, gray kitten, charm bracelet, Nurse Allie, Robert Belairs, Queen Helena (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
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. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
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 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• ISBN-10: 0060095830
• ASIN: B00065X1DM
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,361,552 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most engaging children's fantasy book yet, April 19, 2004

By	Dave Millman "davemill" (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Fairy Realm #1: The Charm Bracelet (Hardcover)

We borrowed this book yesterday, and started reading it to our 6 year old daughter at about 5:30pm. She was so engrossed, she wouldn't let us stop, so dinner was late. She loved working out the mystery of the missing bracelet, the grey kitten, the brave cat Flynn, and exactly what was happening in the Fairy Realm. We stopped every chapter or two to examine the clues, and figure out why something was happening.

Unlike so many children's books, where the protagonist is either a passive participant or an adult in child's clothing, Jessie is a real girl with real feelings and a real child's perspective. She worries about her grandmother, acts as a child would act, and perceives things as a child would perceive them. Not that my daughter noticed this, but I watched her experience the story just the way Jessie did. This level of engagement is rare, and reminds me of how I felt when first reading "The Lord of the Rings" or "Ender's Game".

All in all, a magnificent introduction to fantasy literature for kids.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My 5 and 7 year-olds both loved it!, February 9, 2005

By	Robert Anderson (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Fairy Realm #1: The Charm Bracelet (Hardcover)

I read this seperately to my 5 and 7-year old girls and they both loved it. The story is simple enough for young kids to follow, with descriptive passages that are enough to create a realistic feeling to the story, but not so long to tax kids' attention spans.

The imaginative fairy-tale type elements and situations of the story are perfect for firing young kids' imaginations, but the author avoids violence, and overly suspensefull/stressful situations. It should be noted that in this first "Fairy Realm" book, unlike the others, there is actually a "bad guy" (or girl, rather). The other books involve overcoming hardships, troubles, difficult situations rather than an opposing person.

Overall, a wonderful, easy-to-read story that kids from preschool age to young-elementary school age will love (proably girls more so than boys). If I had to guess I'd say it's written at a 3rd or 4th grade reading level.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Start to A New Children's Series, August 12, 2004

By	Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Fairy Realm #1: The Charm Bracelet (Hardcover)

Young Jessie is absolutely ecstatic when her Mother takes her to the beautiful Blue Moon to visit her beloved Grandmother. However, while there, Jessie discovers a wonderful secret, and enters a Realm located in the Secret Garden. There, Jessie finds a beautiful land filled with magical creatures of all shapes and sizes. Fairies, miniature horses, elves, and other magical beings live among the Realm. And while the creatures are able to enjoy nature and run free, there is a noble Queen who lives in a gorgeous golden castle, and rules over them all. Now Jessie has found out that the Realm is in grave danger, and it is up to her, and her sick Grandmother to save it from an evil enemy before it's destroyed forever as we know it.

In this first installment in the FAIRY REALM series, readers are able to enter an exciting world where magical beings run free, and where humans are scarce. Jessie is a wonderful character, who is sweet, while at the same time extremely adventurous, and the descriptions throughout the book are vivid, and enchanting, and will capture the reader from page one. Filled with various black and white drawings throughout, this book is sure to become a treasure to any family. Especially those who truly believe.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper