Goose Chase (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "The King killed my canary today..." (more)
Key Phrases: ruby necklace, Goose Girl, Little Echo, King of Gilboa (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Kindl (Owl in Love) once again takes flight, this time proffering an engaging gaggle of a dozen geese and the orphaned Goose Girl who tends them. Eschewing a "once upon a time" opening, the spunky narrator sets the novel's tone: "What do I care for custom? 'Tis my own story I am telling and I will tell it as I please." Goose Girl addresses the audience from the high tower in which she is trapped by a king and prince (from dueling kingdoms), both of whom covet her hand, her golden tresses (which yield gold dust) and her tears (which turn to diamonds), not to mention her beauty the latter three were gifts from a mysterious old woman to whom the girl showed some kindness. Luckily, her 12 charges evade the royals and organize their keeper's rescue. Kindl draws on a wealth of fairy tale lore to describe what follows. The geese deposit Goose Girl in a dilapidated cottage, where a trio of ogresses reside and promptly take her captive; the prince tracks her down, and Baba Yaga fans will recognize a few of the heroine's tricks that help her escape. Next, Goose Girl and the prince are cast into a dungeon belonging to an ally of the aforementioned king (that initial high tower of entrapment is not the only reference to Rapunzel Goose Girl's hair here comes to her aid). Those familiar with the Brothers Grimm's "The Six Swans" may not be surprised by the ending, but it's how Kindl gets there, tying up all loose ends along the way, that will hold readers' attention. Ages 10-14.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-When an orphaned Goose Girl gives bread to an old beggar woman, the hag rewards her with a spell that makes her beautiful and rich, with her tears crystallizing into diamonds and gold dust falling from her hair. The desirable young woman then attracts a tyrannical king and a seemingly dim-witted prince, both of whom want to marry her. Determined to stay single, Alexandria Aurora Fortunato endures imprisonment in a tower; an escape that finds her in the valley of the grave-stealing, cannibalistic yet bumbling ogresses; and other dangers before she learns that she is a princess and that the 12 geese she tended are, in fact, her sisters. Her many adventures, while amusing, bog down the story a bit, leaving readers ready for a resolution. Still, Alexandria is a witty, feisty, no-nonsense feminist, and her tale is told with tongue in cheek and lots of laugh-out-loud humor. While the story bares only slight resemblance to the classic "Goose Girl," other tales are added to the mix: the girl's magical hair grows very long and she wears glass slippers. Kindl's writing is full of imagery and alliteration, and is peppered with old-fashioned and nonsense words that add to the fun. With its touch of romance, this coming-of-age story will appeal to teens who enjoy fantasy based on fairy tales.-Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (March 26, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618033777
• ISBN-13: 978-0618033775
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,329,089 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LUV IT! I LUV IT! I LUV IT! Get the picture?, June 20, 2003

By	Brittney Hinson "garnet17" (Ashford, Alabama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goose Chase (Paperback)

One of the funniest and wittiest fairytales I've read all year. And it's original to boot.

Okay, we have a young goosegirl. She's rather plain, she's not overly fond of bathing or combing her hair, she's poor, alone in the world, and so on...a common peasant. When she shows kindness to a hideous old hag (who happens to be her fairy godmother and who, it may surprise you to know, is not in disguise) she is transformed into a glorious beauty who cries diamonds and brushes gold dust from her hair.

And now we have a goosegirl who is not only beautiful, but filthy rich...and pursued by a prince and a king. But when the goosegirl, Alexandria, refuses to marry either of her suitors, her gift becomes a living nightmare as they lock her in a tower and vow to keep her prisoner until she chooses one of them.

Hmmm. Bachelor number one is a cruel king who rules his country with an iron fist and a cold heart. He has had two other wives who have both died of mysterious causes. He enjoys polishing his weapons and killing small animals. Bachelor number two is a handsome young prince with no intelligence, wit, or conversation. Actually, he is as dumb as mud and, if he is chosen, he will probably be assinated by his rival. As you can see, it will not be an easy choice for our fair goosegirl.

What it will be is a romp through the lands of fairy with a brief nod to several beloved fairytales (Rapunzal, Cinderella, and lots more) that just might end with happily ever after...and true love.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious!, April 30, 2001

By	Stephan Nance (Eugene, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Things change for a young Goose Girl when an old hag gives her a few gifts: she becomes as fair as the dawn, her hair is filled with gold dust which comes out upon brushing, and whenever she cries, diamonds fall to the ground rather than tears. Alexandria is then placed in a tower by a dim-witted prince who wants her hand in marriage, and she is then forced to choose between an evil king and the prince. She makes a deal that she will choose when she finishes her wedding gown, which is to be crafted from gold thread created from the gold dust from her hair. However, she undoes her stitches every night when no one looks, and sews very, very, very slowly, to buy time. Then one day, the servents forget to lock her door, and everything changes when she climbs to the top of the tower and her geese carry her away on a featherbed. She must face ogresses, armies, castles, impossibly long hair, and the return of the stupid prince. Will she ever survive this escape to freedom? Find out in this hilarious book. Recommended for fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, Finnegan Zwake Mysteries by Michael Dahl, fairy tales, and all hilarious books.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, original fairy tale, January 27, 2005

By	N. E. Parker (Salt Lake City, Utah USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Goose Chase (Paperback)

Alexandria is an orphaned goose girl living quietly with her flock of 12 geese. One day, an old woman asks for some food and, poof, Alexandria is suddenly "as lovely as the dawn" with diamonds for tears and gold for dandruff. She attracks the attention of the local prince (a rather dull fellow with little in his head but her beauty) and a neighboring king (for an idea of him, the opening line "The king killed my canary today" should tell you all you need to know), who promptly lock her in a tower when she refuses to marry either of them. With the help of her dedicated flock, she escapes. And that's just the first three chapters!

Original story, well written characters, fun for all to be had!