Customer Reviews

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Well devil if I know what to do with it.

Never complain that you are bored, ladies and gentlemen. Say such a thing and you might find that the universe has a couple tricks up its sleeve. Let's say, for example, that a certain children's librarian was getting bored with the state of fantasy today. Maybe she read too many Narnia rip-offs where a group of siblings get plunged into an alternate world to defeat a big bad blah blah blah. Maybe she read too many quest novels where plucky young girls have to save their brothers/friends/housepets. So what does the universe do? Does it say, "Maybe you should try something other than fantasy for a change"? It does not. Instead it hands the children's librarian a book with a title like "The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making" and (if she hasn't hyperventilated after reading the title) says to her, "Here you go, smart guy. Try this on for size." That's what being cocky will get you. It'll have you reading a book that walks up to the usual middle grade chapter book fantasy tropes and slaps 'em right smack dab in the face. I have never, in all my livelong days, read a book quite like Catherynne Valente's. My job now is to figure out whether that is a good thing, or very very bad.

When September is asked by The Green Wind whether or not she'd be inclined to take a trip to Fairyland with him, she's so excited to get going that she manages to lose a shoe in the process. Like many a good reader September is inclined to think that she knows the rules of alternate worlds. Yet it doesn't take much time before she realizes that not all things are well in the realm of magic. A strange Marquess has taken over, having defeated the previous good ruler, and before she knows it September is sent to try to retrieve a spoon from the all powerful villain. Along the way she befriends a Wyvern who is certain that his father was a library, and a strange blue Marid boy named Saturday who can grant you a wish, but only if you defeat him in a fight. With their help, Saturday realizes what it means to lose your heart within the process of becoming less heartless.

Divisive. Each year you'll encounter one big children's book that can be labeled as such. Certain books and certain writers can have violent affects on their readers, unsuspected until the official reviews start pouring in. Then suddenly folks with opinions start pouring out of the woodwork. The books are as varied as "Mockingbird", "The Underneath", "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" or "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas". One thing's for certain, though. Everyone has an opinion. This year I've only identified two potentially divisive books and one of them is the title you see before you today. I know I've been a little cagey about what I thought of it until now so here's the 411: I like it. A lot. Far more than I thought that I would, particularly after that first chapter. As far as I can determine, enjoying this book means getting through Chapter One. If you read the first chapter and find yourself throwing the book against the wall without restraint, this may not be the story for you. If, however, you feel a vague queasiness that manifests resolves into reluctant curiosity, you may wish to continue. And if you do, you will find a title that really outdoes itself in being . . . well . . . it's own very one-of-a-kind self.

But why is it divisive? It all comes down to Valente's language. Look, here's the first sentence as an example: "Once upon a time, a girl named September grew very tired indeed of her parents' house, where she washed the same pink-and-yellow teacups and matching gravy boats every day, slept on the same embroidered pillow, and played with the same small and amiable dog." About ten words into that sentence you had to make a decision on whether or not to continue reading. Here's some advice on going through this book. Step One: Get a grasp on its internal logic.

The "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" comparison is inevitable. Generally speaking, a person is able to identify a poor debut children's book when the author attempts to make an Alice-in-Wonderland-but-with-a-twist book. The problem with this plan is that just as no band sounds quite like The Beatles, no children's novel ever sounds quite like "Alice". They try, oh Lord they try, but no go. More often than not such books are instead tedious and very poorly done. Most of them think that the lure of "Alice" is strange talking creatures in a world with no rules. This is somewhat true, but it's only a piece of the puzzle. And in all my days as a children's librarian, reading fantasy after fantasy, I have NEVER encountered a book that came as close to "Alice" as this. Not because Valente also throws a girl into a fairyland with kooky characters, but because it is so infinitely clear that she loves to play with language. Logic isn't as twisted up as it is in Carroll's universe, but that's all right. Valente is comfortable weaving her own unique vision, and like Carroll she's not afraid to throw in a little joke for adults once in a while. Would a kid get anything out of reading that the Green Wind possesses a "golden ring of diplomatic immunity"? Probably not and they probably won't care when Saturday enters a delicious looking town that, "was as though the witch who built the gingerbread house in the story had a great number of friends and decided to start up a collective." But it won't hurt the reading experience either.

Of course September is far more active than Alice when seeking out her adventure. In fact, if I were to compare her to any famous children's literary character, she probably bears more in common with Milo from "The Phantom Tollbooth" than anyone else. That was my first thought. Then after a while I decided that September begins as Alice (after all, she lies right at the start about wanting to go home), morphs into Dorothy (girl + faithful companions to defeat the big bad villain), and comes to us by way of Milo (boredom as a storytelling impetus). That's a pretty pedigree. On top of that, this is a thoroughly American fantasy. One where you won't encounter random characters with cockney accents (a current pet peeve of mine). September hails from Omaha, Nebraska and the story seems to take place during WWII. Her father is stationed in Europe while her mother works in the factories at home. Many fantasies for kids eschew placing their stories in such distinctive time periods, but if it worked for Narnia it should work here too.

And Valente gets personalities down rather well too. I heard one complaint that the Marid named Saturday is hardly a fleshed out character. I might contest this, though, since I found him capable of many small touches that rang clear and true to me. For example, at one point he makes a point that is followed up with the notation, "He was still too shy to suggest anything without wrapping it up tight to keep it safe." Likewise the villain of this book is delicious. It takes a while to get a good grasp on the Marquess, but once you get her full backstory then there's a lot to admire here. A mere two-dimensional villain she is not, and for that I was grateful.

Ana Juan, brilliant Ana Juan, could not have been a better person to draw the interstitial illustrations that appear at the beginnings of each and every chapter. This Spanish illustrator specializes in dreamlike worlds on her own time ("The Night Eater" is a perfect example) so it is interesting to see what she does with a book like Valente's. To my surprise, she hones in her talents a bit. The pictures here are most definitely her own, but there's a tendency here to make them a little younger and clearer than I'm used to seeing. There's a darkness to Valente's story that does not replicate itself in the pictures, which is probably a good thing. After all, Quentin Blake's illustrations have always served to make Roald Dahl less frightening at times. Maybe Juan's are doing the same thing here.

In the end, it's all about the language and the inevitable question of whether or not kids will dig the book. It's a worthy question. When a character is sent to a fairyland, even one in dire straits, it is up to the author to make it clear that this is a place you would want to visit. Some fantasies go a shade too dark and because of this inclination do not become beloved by children. Valente, however, mixes some wonderful elements with some horrific ones well enough that I think this book could be fondly remembered by a child years and years later. And when they return to it as adults, how surprised they will be by the wordplay. I won't lie. Some folks do NOT like this book, and I can understand why that is. For me, though, this is just one of the smarter juxtapositions of the fantastical with the tongue-twisted. Here you have an author who clearly enjoys writing. And if that enjoyment seeps through the page and into the reader's perceptions, then here is a book that they'll clearly enjoy reading. A true original and like nothing you've really ever seen before.

For ages 9-12.

This book felt very much like The Phantom Tollbooth to me. It starts with a precocious, bored 12-year-old girl named September (even though she was born in May) being spirited off to Fairyland by the Green Wind. Once she gets through Customs, she is left to her own devices to make her way. She chooses the path that promises that she will lose her heart (a better bargain than losing her way, her life or her mind, she reasons). She comes upon three witches who tell her that they need a magical spoon that was stolen from them, so September grandly decides that stealing the spoon from the evil Marquess shall be her quest. She sets off to do so, meeting all sorts of wonderful characters along the way, such as El the Wyvern, who becomes her very best friend, and Saturday the Marid, who can grant wishes. And, as expected, she loses her heart and gains a lot of courage along the way.

If I were to sum up this book in one word, that word would be whimsical. But that wouldn't be fair because by the end of this book, there is a lot that is not whimsical. Like much young adult fiction, it's written for people at the cusp of becoming adults, realizing that their decisions have consequences and that the way they act says a lot about them. And so September thinks through every decision and never gives up, even when she is tired and homesick and lost. She is such a kind person and reminds me in a way of Bod, from The Graveyard Book. She opens her heart to all sorts of lost souls, absolutely certain of the fact that everyone deserves respect and dignity, and fighting hard to give it to them.

There are so many delights in this book and I won't ruin any of them for you, I promise. I feel the ending opens the story up for the possibility of a sequel, and I hope there is one. But if there isn't, I think the ending was quite lovely as it was. If I've piqued your interest at all, much of the story (except the ending) is available online, at Catherynne Valente's website. If you enjoy tales of whimsy and magic, I highly recommend checking it out!

SUMMARY: One day, a bored girl named September is whisked off to Fairyland by the Green Wind and finds herself confronting the Marquess, an irritable, jaded young woman who is in need of something only September can retrieve. As September journeys through Fairyland, she finds that things are not all sunshine and lollipops, and she ends up making sacrifices, stumbling into life-threatening situations, and meeting many odd creatures.

MY THOUGHTS: Wow. If there's ever a word to describe Catherynne Valente's writing, it's luscious. It flows so gracefully, and has little nuances that make the reader smile, or giggle to herself, and it's probably of the best quality I've ever read in a young adult or middle grade novel. It's simply gorgeous. (I was so enthralled with the writing that I actually wanted to seek out someone to whom I could read--the book just begs to be read aloud.)

Fairyland reads just like a fairytale of old--it's understandable and enjoyable for children, but adolescents and adults will most appreciate its subtle complexity. Almost every chapter brings a new adventure or acquaintance for September, but the story still manages to remain continuous. September's travels are never boring, and neither are the odd characters she meets (my favorite of which is A-Through-L, a Wyvern-Library crossbreed).

September is a spunky, lovable protagonist who portrays characteristics that any young girl could look up to--she's brave but not egocentric, intelligent but not without naiveté, and very logical. September grows significantly throughout the novel, and it's a joy reading about her adventures.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making will enchant all readers, be they young or old. It has a timeless quality to it, and could easily be read over and over again. Highly recommended!

The success of this reexploration of childhood - cleverly disguised as a simple book - in your personal library will completely depend on the mood that you embrace as you embark upon this literary journey into a Fairyland that we have never seen but edgewise on a windy Thursday morning in April.

And if the previous sentence annoyed you, this book is a total loss.

I promise you that your mood and reasoning will make or break the experience. The characters are fun, but very close to an Alice in Wonderland presentation of Fairyland as seen through The Phantom Tollbooth. The heroes are loveable, the villains wicked, and the adventures easily broken into chapters for bedtime reading. The two plot devices handed to the heroine at the beginning do contribute cheerfully to the very satisfying ending. On the other hand, you absolutely HAVE to embrace the absurd and illogical in complete acceptance or this book will be nothing but frustrating at every single plot turn. So would I recommend it? Absolutely yes, and definitely not. Your mileage WILL vary.

I am 32, busy mother who works full time and also takes university courses full time.... that said, I obviously don't have much free time. I read this book within a couple of weeks (It was so hard to put this book down, and I traded a couple of hours of sleep often for a little fairyland adventuring!) and I wished it would just keep going with Septembers fairyland adventures forever!

This is a story which reminds me of Alice in Wonderland, The Lion the Witch and the Woredrobe, and Wizard of Oz all rolled into one. There was never a time that it was TOO much like anything I already knew.

The style of writing is a little different, but I loved it. Reading this book created a little movie reel in my mind. Very visual writing style!

I don't usually review, but I had to give this book it's well deserved 5 stars, and give a little shout out! :-)

If you like fun fantasy stories, this is a good one!

I was considering adding this to the books I read to my 7 year old, but there are a few parts that are a little gory, and probably a bit too much for him. :)

Off to find a new book to dive into!!

It's been a long time since I've read a really good book that I think would appeal to both children and adults. It's like the old Disney movies, which were mostly for children, but every once in a while Timon and Pumba or the genie in Aladdin would say something that only an adult would really understand. This is a book like that...magical and engrossing for children, with enough curious wordplay and outside references to also keep the adults interested.

I've never been a big fan of Lewis Carroll, mostly because I always felt that his Alice in Wonderland was an exercise in being deliberately obscure just, well, because. It never really seemed to have a purpose other than to create a group of people who THOUGHT they knew what was going on, who then all joined the "I understand it" club, when no one really does, but admitting that would be embarrassing. I was afraid this book was going to be the same way, but Catherynne Valente keeps the narrative just this side of ridiculous so that we get something unusual, but not incomprehensible.

And underneath all the silliness and misunderstanding of the rules of Fairyland, we actually have a pretty deep story about a young girl who desperately needs some magic in her life, but also must continue to grow up, since we can't remain children forever, even in Fairyland. I was surprised how much I liked this book, but you can tell it's a product of a great deal of thought and love of the art, and I appreciate an author who shows me that.

Before I begin, I need to get something off of my chest. Wow. Just wow. Like, OMG, wow. Habble-dabble-do, this was so amazing.

Okay, now that we're past that, let's talk about this excellent book I just read: "The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making" by Catherynne M Valente. The story is about a young girl who is taken to Fairyland by the Green Wind and his talking cat. I will not say anymore on plot, for you must discover the wonder of this story yourself.

I am a 17 year old Male. I love Harry Potter, but as I have grown older, I have been drifting more toward "mature" novels and series like anything from the Literature and Fiction page, or the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Dan Brown, etc. This book has taught me to never forget where I came from, that I will always have my roots. As a child.

The story contained within the pages of this book is so dense and rich that it completely immerses the reader, of any age, and transports them to a time when they still were able to believe in fairies. Like the "Dear Virginia" letter of the early 20th century, this book inspires even the most hidden child that is within all of us. And the sheer ability to play off of that child shows just how amazing this book is.

Valente's writing can only really be described as masterful. It is at times witty and funny, although never crude. It has subtle sentences and prepositions that sway the story one way or another. And she is able to deftyl plant clues as to the mystery of Fairyland along the way, in plain sight, that don't catch up to the reader until she precisely wants them too.

What started out as a joke novel has now come full circle. I am eagerly anticipating the next entry in this series. Thank you, Miss Valente. Thank you for such an excellent book.

This book was fabulous. I loved the quirky style and incredible creativity. She tells a story like no one else. I hope there is a part 2... I can't wait till my boys are old enough to enjoy it.

ps my husband enjoyed it too.

I really wanted to love this book but I just found the story line to be lackluster in its objective and the language a bit pretentious for "young readers" until...maybe the last 50 pages. Because I run book fairs at our local elementary school, I preview a lot of elementary school level children's books. I am always looking for books to give as gifts for the kids in my life. Since I am limited to the variety of books at the book fairs, I get many books from Amazon. I was immediately intrigued by the reviews of The Girl Who... as I was looking for a great fantasy fiction depicting a strong female character for my preteen nieces. From the reviews, it looked like this was the book to get. In addition, the title of the book peaked my curiousity and the wonderful illustrations were also quite capitvating. Unfortunately, after finally getting through this book, I must say that I was somewhat disappointed and thought I should write a review for those adults who might mistakenly get this book for a young reader based on the high accolades of the other reviewers.

This book is listed for readers aged 10+, I find it difficult to recommend this book for a young reader less than 14 or 15 years old. While exuberantly written (and often way overdone), the prose is based on concepts that are, I believe, far beyond the life experiences or understanding of young girls to even grasp the ideas that the author is trying to convey. Even above average 12 year old would find it difficult to envision someone wearing a smoking jacket, carriage-driver's cloak and jodhpurs. In addition, it might be unlikely that an average young reader understand the concepts of "diplomatic immunity" and "These laws are sacrosanct, except for visiting dignitaries..." or know what the word "exeunt" might mean. These notions complicated with the ambitious descriptive writing style that convolutes nouns into verbs and verbs into adjectives and so on makes for very slow and confusing reading. To top it off, the aforementioned was packed in the very first chapter of only 10 pages! I would bet that most preteen readers would not venture any further past the first chapter or two of this book for fear that it would feel like homework or a chore because you have to research the meaning of at least 15 words or concepts in every chapter!

Yes, this fairytale is very Alice in Wonderland-ish or Wizard of Oz-ish and there is even a Narnia-ish other-world-connecting wardrobe closet mentioned, but the story doesn't mesmerize the reader like the other original fairytales do. In fact, the story plods along with its overly embellished descriptives to the point of lulling you to sleep. Often the adventures of the main character were non-conclusive to the importance of the plot which made it a bit annoying. Comments by other reviewers said this was a "modern" fairytale--uh, no, not really as the language is old fashioned and the timeline is during World War II. I don't even think most young kids know what a black and white news reel is as mentioned when the main character goes to a movie theatre. The storyline (if you call it that) just rambled on in a chaotic fashion where no goal seemed to unfold until, as mentioned, the last 50 pages or so. The book is only 247 pages! If it wasn't for the fact that I was giving this as a gift to my nieces, I would have stopped reading it long before. I kept going back online to reread the reviews thinking I missed something and just couldn't believe that my opinion was so far off on the other end of the spectrum of opinions about this book. So, I kept reading because, as I mentioned, I really wanted to love this book as others did...

After going back and forth with wanting to love it and didn't, in the end, I gave this book a 2 star rating because I couldn't give it 2 and a half. Three stars seemed to be too generous for me even though I thought the last part of the book was somewhat enjoyable. If you are looking for a style of writing to study in a high school language arts/literature class, then this book might be interesting to analyze. The story line is not very inventive as Valente` manages to use almost every kind of character type and concept models invented by previous authors/storytellers. Finally, I must reiterate that "The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairland..." is definitely not geared towards young readers.

Beautifully, gorgeously written. I'm about to go back in and read parts of it a second time--the story is perfectly crafted, loved the illustrations and the imagination that created all of it. Wholly recommend.