Magical Mail

by Claire Barker

“If there was one thing you could say with absolute certainty, it was that Faith Smyth was no hero…”
Faith is the most ordinary, least remarkable member of her beautiful, ambitious, incredibly overachieving family. Yet, it is she who has been chosen to embark on a dangerous quest to rescue a mythical world.
You see, Faith loves stories, especially fantasies about dragons and mermaids, kings and hidden treasures. But now a mystery informer has stolen letters from some famous, fearsome fairy tale characters-like Blackbeard the Pirate, Little Bo Peep, and the Big Bad Wolf-and he's threatening to expose the truth about them. And that would ruin the magic forever. Scared as she is, Faith just can't allow that to happen. 
Along her journey, she encounters many perils, as well as help in some surprising places. Will she succeed? What happens will change Faith forever.

Genres: Fantasy

174 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Samera Jamil · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great read aloud book for children within year 5 and year 6. The story is about a girl from a talented family but is herself a very hopeless individual. The magical story starts when she receives a package to take to the caretakers office and suddenly is taken into a mystical journey. She is emerges into a filing cabinet and finds that someone has stolen the letters and is adamant to retrieve them! The readers are introduced to the 'not-so-ordinary' fairy tale characters who they already know instead there is a twist to their personalities and identities.

A great book which can be analysed for the style of writing and features. The linguistic devices can be looked at as the mysterious tone being produced as due to the imagery. This can be used in the classroom to encourage creative writing as well as role plays. Also it allows one to let out their imaginative and creative side. Teachers can use this to implement creativity through producing posters and drawings.

[Varsha Seshan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked up the book, I was amazed at the title because the cover design led me to believe the book was called One girl. Nine letters. A whole lot of magic.. It was only when I sat down to read it that I discovered Magical Mail hiding there.
And once I sat down to read, I just did not get up. I enjoyed the book so much that I read page after page and chapter after chapter, delighting in its crazy character's nonsensical journey. I know it's a story I'll forget easily, but that does not matter - I'm willing to read it again and be entertained again!
http://www.varshaseshan.com/blog/magi...

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant, fun read with interesting language and an adorable lead character. Skip the final chapter though, it doesn't really fit with the rest of the book and is a bit of a let-down.

[Júlia Villő · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very odd book. I don't like it really.

[Stargazer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brilliant concept but i kept drifting away and losing interest. Liked the Big Bad Wolf bit.