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Dubray Review

September is sick of her parents’ house in Omaha, Nebraska; sick of washing teacups and gravy boats and playing with their small, amiable dog.  So when the Green Wind offers to take her to Fairyland, being Somewhat Heartless, she willingly accepts the invitation.

Fairyland, however, is not quite how September had imagined it. Since the disappearance of the good Queen Mallow, it has been ruled by the cruel and tyrannical Marquess.  Fairies and other flying creatures have had their wings bound with chains and there is no end to the strict rules and regulations that have been put in place.

When September promises to retrieve a magical spoon from the Marquess on behalf of a coven of witches, she doesn't realise the danger she is getting herself into.  What initially seems to be a rather straightforward task soon turns into an epic quest to save her friends and restore Fairyland to its former magical glory.

Catherynne Valente has written a beautiful and very special fairytale.  Reminiscent of Narnia, Wonderland, Oz and other “faraway” places, this will delight anyone who has ever wanted to go on an adventure in a magical world!

- Jenny Bourke, Blackrock

Description

September is a twelve-year-old girl, Somewhat Grown and Somewhat Heartless, and she longs for adventure. So when a Green Wind and a Leopard of Little Breezes invite her to Fairyland - well, of course, she accepts (mightn't you?). When she gets there, she finds a land crushed by the iron rule of a villainous Marquess - she soon discovers that she alone holds the key to restoring order. Having read enough books to know what a girl with a quest must do, September sets out to Fix Things. As September forges her way through Fairyland, with a book-loving dragon and a boy named Saturday by her side, she makes many friends and mistakes, losing her shadow, her shoes and her way. But she finds adventure, courage, a rather special Spoon, and a lot more besides...

Reviews

"A glorious balancing act between modernism and the Victorian Fairy Tale, done with heart and wisdom."--Neil Gaiman, Newbery Award-winning author of "The Graveyard Book" "September is a clever, fun, stronghearted addition to the ranks of bold, adventurous girls. Valente's subversive storytelling is sheer magic."--Tamora Pierce, author of The Immortals series "A mad, toothsome romp of a fairy tale--full of oddments, whimsy, and joy."--Holly Black, author of "Zombies vs. Unicorns" and "The Spiderwick Chronicles" "When I saw that this book reminds me simultaneously of E. Nesbit, James Thurber, and the late Eva Ibbotson, I don't mean to take anything awy from its astonishing originality. It's a charmer from the first page, managing the remarkable parlay of being at once ridiculously funny and surprisingly suspenseful. Catherynne Valente is a find, at any age!"--Peter S. Beagle, author of "The Last Unicorn" "This is a kind of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by way of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"--it's the sort of book one doesn't want to end."--"Publishers Weekly", Starred Review "[Fairyland creates] a world as bizarre and enchanting as any Wonderland or Oz and a heroine as curious, resourceful and brave as any Alice or Dorothy. Complex, rich and memorable."--"Kirkus Reviews", Starred Review "This book is quite simply a gold mine."--"Booklist", Starred Review "Amusing, wrenching, and thought-provoking."--"The Horn Book"