Fairytale [Paperback]

Valerie Gribben (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2003

Written when the author was only sixteen years old, Fairytale takes place in a timeless land of intrigue and danger and tells the coming-of-age story of the resourceful Marianne, a girl engaged to marry a nobleman she has never seen. Her adventures eventually involve a magical dragonfly, a talking frog, and a final showdown between valor and malice.

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . .not only a grand achievement for this young, gifted author but an enchanting journey for readers of all ages." -- Capital City Free Press, November 2003

"I predict Fairytale will delight younger readers. Valerie Gribben is a bright and shining new talent!" -- Sherwood Smith, author of The Wren Trilogy

"In just a few pages I found myself completely transfixed by the magical world of Valerie’s wondrous imagination." -- Frank Turner Hollon, author of The Pains of April and A Thin Difference

"Just as Fairytale delivers a predictable and satisfying happy ending, we foresee more literary magic rising from this precocious writer." -- Southern Living, February 2004

About the Author

Born in Austin, Texas, Valerie Gribben attends high school in Montgomery, Alabama. She has grown up in a household crowded with more than 3,500 books. In her spare time, she plays piano, takes part in community theater, takes voice lessons, and wins literary contests (six prizes, so far.)

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: JuneBug Books (September 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588381374
• ISBN-13: 978-1588381378
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 7.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,368,179 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

When I was sixteen years old, I wrote the novel FAIRYTALE, and it was published while I was still in high school.

The three novels of THE FAIRYTALE TRILOGY--FAIRYTALE, THE EMPEROR'S REALM, and THE THREE CROWNS--chronicle the adventures of Marianne and her brother Robin as they come of age in an enchanted land where frogs talk, fantastical creatures prowl, and danger doesn't stop at the edge of a dark forest.

Come visit Fairytale Market: The Home of THE FAIRYTALE TRILOGY: https://valeriegribben.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine first novel for a young author, March 23, 2004

By 

Heidi Anne Heiner (SurLaLune Fairy Tales.com) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Fairytale (Paperback)

Recently, there has been an increase in published fantasy books by teen authors such as this one and Christopher Paolini's Eragon. Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' books also come to mind. While this book has not received the same amount of press as the other authors, hopefully more readers will also find this gem.

Gribben's Fairytale is suitable for middle readers and up. Here we have an adventure story about a young woman engaged to marry against her own desires for her life, a common and popular theme but presented through Gribben's imagination. While Gribben's style lacks full maturity, she writes a story that entertains and uses many of the popular fairy tale themes fantasy lovers adore, from enchanted frogs and scary dragons to the fight between good and evil.

This book makes fine reading for a lazy afternoon for your child or even yourself!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What are you waiting for? Buy this book!, October 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Fairytale (Paperback)

I would definitely recommend that YOU read this book. Any person who enjoys a great, exciting story that is written using beautiful language would love Fairytale. I was addicted to the book from the moment that I started to read the first page, not just because the storyline is wonderful, but also because of the way that Valerie describes the settings and the wonderful similies she uses to create a magical world of Princesses, Dragons, and all of those mythical creatures. It's one of my favorites and I'm sure that it will be one of your favorites, too!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic fantasy, fresh author, November 3, 2003

By 

Valerie Wynn (Birmingham, AL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fairytale (Paperback)

In the tradition of Lloyd Alexander, "Fairytale" is a sweet, simple fantasy that's a bit deeper than one realizes at first. The writer's youth is evident in some stylistic choices, but overall, she demonstrates remarkable competence with well-rounded characters and relationships, juicy themes, and a carefully constructed and controlled plot. The book is aimed at younger audiences and the twelve to fifteen crowd will probably get the most out of it, but it's a nice, warm, familiar story for older readers as well. I'm definitely looking forward to watching Miss Gribben grow into her talent.