The Fairy Tale Detectives

The Fairy Tale Detectives. By Michael Buckley. Illustrated by Peter Ferguson. Amulet, 2007. 304 pages. PB $6.95 ISBN 978-0810993228

Summary: After moving from one foster home to another, Daphne and Sabrina receive word that their grandmother is alive and that she wants to care for them. Life with their grandmother is a shock to the girls. Their eccentric grandmother believes in fairies and informs her granddaughters that they are actually related to the Grimm Brothers. Sabrina is certain that this is not her grandmother, and urges her Daphne to runaway. On their journey the sisters meet many characters from the Grimm brother's fairy tales and learn more about themselves. 

Critical Review: Buckley’s novel magically intertwines stories from “A Midsummer’s Night Dream”, “Jack and the Beanstalk”, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”, “The Three Little Pigs”, and “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. Prince Charming is also part of the story, as is the Magic Mirror from “Snow White”. The Grimm sisters learn that they are responsible for writing additional fairy tales, and learn that their grandmother is telling them the truth.

Genre: Mystery; Fantasy; Adventure

Reading/Interest Level: 9-12 years 

Awards: Beehive Children's Fictional Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2007
Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2008
Grand Canyon Reader Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2009

Reviews: School Library Journal (2006, June 1 and January 1); Publishers Weekly (2005, December 19); Voice of Youth Advocates (2005, December 1); Booklist (2005, November 15)

Series: The Sisters Grimm series

Similar Materials: The following books in the Sisters Grimm series: The Sisters Grimm the Unusual Suspects; The Sisters Grimm the Problem Child; The Sisters Grimm: Once Upon a Crime; The Sisters Grimm: Magic and Other Misdemeanors; The Sisters Grimm: Tales from the Hood; The Sisters Grimm: The Everafter War

Subjects/Themes: monsters; multigenerational families; orphans and foster homes; siblings; sisters; grandparents; fairies; everafters

Character Names: Sabrina; Daphne; Grandmother Relda Grimm; Mr. Canis; Puck; Magic Mirror; Jack the Giant Killer; Mayor Charming/Prince Charming; Mama Bear; Tinman; Big Bad Wolf; Mr. Seven; Elvis

Author Website: http://www.sistersgrimm.com/

Brief Annotation: Unsure about whether their grandmother is telling them the truth, Sabrina and Daphne runaway and meet characters from several Grimm Brothers stories.