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My Very UnFairy Tale Life #1
My Very UnFairy Tale Life
You know all those stories that claim fairies cry sparkle tears and elves travel by rainbow? They're lies. All lies. I've spent my life as an official adventurer. I travel across enchanted kingdoms saving magical creatures and fighting horrible beasts that most of you think are only myths and legends. I've never had a social life. My friends have all forgotten me. And let's not even talk about trying to do my homework. So -- I'm done!! I'm tired and I want to go back to being a normal girl. But then along comes "Prince Charming" asking for help, and, well, what's a tired girl like me supposed to do?
192 pages
First published November 1, 2011
56 people are currently reading
1631 people want to read
About the author
Anna Staniszewski
34 books321 followersAnna Staniszewski lives in the Boston area and teaches in the MFA Writing for Children Program at Simmons University. She's the author of over twenty books for young readers, including the The Dirt Diary series and Clique Here series, the picture books DOGOSAURUS REX and BEAST IN SHOW, and the Once Upon a Fairy Tale chapter book series. You can visit Anna at www.annastan.com or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/annastanisz.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
October 17, 2011
http://librarytalker.blogspot.com/201...
For years, Jenny has been an adventurer. With the help of her somewhat helpful gnome guide, Jenny has been traveling from world to world, helping to find the lost, rescue the stupid, and solve unsolvable problems.
But after one too many adventures that leave her scarred physically and emotionally, Jenny has had enough. It's quitting time. All she really wants is homework and some friends.
Unfortunately, the adventuring world needs her more than ever. Can she really have a normal life in the human world? Is normal for her different than everyone else's normal?
Final thoughts: Blah. This was boring and dull. There were a few moments when it looked like something truly sinister was happening, but those ideas were ignored and the story moved in different directions. Jenny's one great skill is cheesy cliches. Her idea of "crisis mode" seems ridiculous. And does anyone really think she'd be able to convince an entire school that she, at 12, would be directing a movie with no cameras around and a giant monster flying in? Really? It may be cutesy to some, but it was really just annoying to me. Finally, there was nothing "fairy tale" about it. Yes, there were gnomes and unicorns, and talking sheep, but nothing that was reminiscent of a fairy tale anywhere. The title just does not fit.
For years, Jenny has been an adventurer. With the help of her somewhat helpful gnome guide, Jenny has been traveling from world to world, helping to find the lost, rescue the stupid, and solve unsolvable problems.
But after one too many adventures that leave her scarred physically and emotionally, Jenny has had enough. It's quitting time. All she really wants is homework and some friends.
Unfortunately, the adventuring world needs her more than ever. Can she really have a normal life in the human world? Is normal for her different than everyone else's normal?
Final thoughts: Blah. This was boring and dull. There were a few moments when it looked like something truly sinister was happening, but those ideas were ignored and the story moved in different directions. Jenny's one great skill is cheesy cliches. Her idea of "crisis mode" seems ridiculous. And does anyone really think she'd be able to convince an entire school that she, at 12, would be directing a movie with no cameras around and a giant monster flying in? Really? It may be cutesy to some, but it was really just annoying to me. Finally, there was nothing "fairy tale" about it. Yes, there were gnomes and unicorns, and talking sheep, but nothing that was reminiscent of a fairy tale anywhere. The title just does not fit.
October 29, 2011
As I read this book, all I could think was that a 4th or 5th grade me would LOVE this book! Real Kingdoms with all the fairytale creatures? Unicorns? Fairy's? Dragons? Talking frogs? Yes Please!! I think the clincher for me was the talking Gnome! (I have an odd place in my heart for Garden Gnomes!)
I think this book had everything a mid grade novel should have! A lovable main character who learns a lesson (the grass isn't always greener on the otherside) and spouts off good sayings (treat others as you would like to be treated) and learns to accept friends for who they are. (With a lesson on not telling lies thrown in there as well.)
But all those good lessons are masked by a great story! Anna Staniszewski did a wonderful job of creating a new world, as well as the characters that inhabit the world where Jenny is employed as an Adventurer! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun mid-grade book!
I think this book had everything a mid grade novel should have! A lovable main character who learns a lesson (the grass isn't always greener on the otherside) and spouts off good sayings (treat others as you would like to be treated) and learns to accept friends for who they are. (With a lesson on not telling lies thrown in there as well.)
But all those good lessons are masked by a great story! Anna Staniszewski did a wonderful job of creating a new world, as well as the characters that inhabit the world where Jenny is employed as an Adventurer! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun mid-grade book!
May 18, 2023
Really fun and sweet middle grade story in which the fairy prince is saved by a girl! Very cute
February 1, 2016
MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE is the story of Jenny, a 12-year-old adventurer who spends her free time in one enchanted kingdom after another, helping magical creatures in need. With corny, cliched nuggets of wisdom like "sharing is caring," Jenny saves fairies and elves and teaches unicorns how to share. The job comes with its own unique dangers, and sometimes Jenny has to escape dragons who want to turn her head into a flaming volleyball or unicorns who run her down when she attempts to show them how to share the rainbow, but she used to love being an adventurer.
When Jenny is assigned to save the kingdom of Speak from the evil sorcerer, Klarr, who holds the land under a silence spell, she refuses. Klarr is much too scary. Jenny decides she'd much rather be a normal girl, worrying about normal things like schoolwork and tests and hanging out with her friends. Someone else can deal with the psycho sorcerer.
But life as a normal girl isn't as idyllic as Jenny imagines, and the creatures of Speak will never defeat Klarr without her help. She must face her fears and find the courage to keep fighting, even when she doesn't think she knows how.
MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE is one of the best books I've read in a very long time. When I reached the last page, I couldn't wait to read it all over again! Staniszewski weaves together the trials and insecurities every young girl faces with a long list of fantastical "what ifs" to create a magical world that draws you in and won't let go. It was the perfect afternoon escape from my very own unfairy tale life!
When Jenny is assigned to save the kingdom of Speak from the evil sorcerer, Klarr, who holds the land under a silence spell, she refuses. Klarr is much too scary. Jenny decides she'd much rather be a normal girl, worrying about normal things like schoolwork and tests and hanging out with her friends. Someone else can deal with the psycho sorcerer.
But life as a normal girl isn't as idyllic as Jenny imagines, and the creatures of Speak will never defeat Klarr without her help. She must face her fears and find the courage to keep fighting, even when she doesn't think she knows how.
MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE is one of the best books I've read in a very long time. When I reached the last page, I couldn't wait to read it all over again! Staniszewski weaves together the trials and insecurities every young girl faces with a long list of fantastical "what ifs" to create a magical world that draws you in and won't let go. It was the perfect afternoon escape from my very own unfairy tale life!
November 17, 2011
I didnt expect much of this book i was just searching net galley and the title and cover got my attention so i downloaded it and i actually loved this book . It is about this girl jenny she is a teenage adventurer ( she helps magical creatures and worlds ) she lives with her aunt because her parents dissappeared on one of their adventures . The main problem was an evil clown he put this magic silence spell and jenny has to defeat him.
The thing i liked about this book is that jenny is a normal girl she isnt a witch and all of that stuff .
So you must read this book one day. It is a fast read (200 pages) and very fun.
The thing i liked about this book is that jenny is a normal girl she isnt a witch and all of that stuff .
So you must read this book one day. It is a fast read (200 pages) and very fun.
June 28, 2015
This review first appeared on my blog at: Thoughts and Pens.
After the fiasco concerning Journey to Rainbow Island, I almost ditched this book. But I was glad that I didn’t. The smile that My Very Unfairy Tale Life brought on my lips really surprised me. If truth be told, I actually went into it expecting another Journey to Rainbow Island and bracing myself for the worst. My Very Unfairy Tale Life is everything that I hoped for in a light, fairy tale Middle Grade book. It’s spunky, straightforward and hilarious.
My Very Unfairy Tale Life narrates the story of ordinary school girl, Jennifer. What makes her life extraordinary is the fact that the Committee assigned her as a fairy tale adventurer. Instead of discovering new jungles, Jennifer is sent to the world of fairy tales to help fairy tale citizens with their concerns. Apparently, fairy tale characters aren’t as perfect as they’re depicted in our usual fairy tale stories. Even with magic, they still need the help of an eleven year old non-magic girl.
My Very Unfairy Tale Life is a refreshing take on fairy tale stories wherein the heroine is far from your usual damsel in distress. Instead of waiting for princes to slay dragons for her, Jennifer rushes ahead and solve her problems the best way she can even if most of the time, she has to use a lot of cheesy sayings. I must say that the most unforgettable thing about this book is the MC. Jennifer has the right amount of boldness and humour that surely had me impressed. I also adored how Anna portrayed her as an eleven year old. Her flaws, her doubts, her impulsiveness and time to time selfishness were very believable for her age.
Even the secondary characters of My Very Unfairy Tale Life, though slightly lacking in development, still managed to make me laugh. In a way, they reminded of Roald Dahl’s characters… nothing too serious but you still enjoy them because they’ve got that rare appeal.
While the characters were really cool, I can’t say the same thing for the plot. Don’t get me wrong, My Very Unfairy Tale Life’s storyline was solid and interesting but it was too simplistic for my taste. Of course, it was understandable given the shortness of the book but still, Anna could have chosen to tell more. I would certainly appreciate reading about how Jenny was recruited as an adventurer and how did the fairy tale worlds exist.
The world building of My Very Unfairy Tale Life did nothing to ease my frustration. Anna is already there but it’s like the stage is already set and all yet the actual ceremony was postponed. Sure, I managed to paint a picture of the Land of Speak in my head but it wasn’t enough as the half portion of my body is still on Earth.
Nevertheless, I am still giving My Very Unfairy Tale Life a four star rating for being one of the best Middle grade books I’ve read this year. There were disappointments but the humor and the adorable MC certainly compensated for those. xD
After the fiasco concerning Journey to Rainbow Island, I almost ditched this book. But I was glad that I didn’t. The smile that My Very Unfairy Tale Life brought on my lips really surprised me. If truth be told, I actually went into it expecting another Journey to Rainbow Island and bracing myself for the worst. My Very Unfairy Tale Life is everything that I hoped for in a light, fairy tale Middle Grade book. It’s spunky, straightforward and hilarious.
My Very Unfairy Tale Life narrates the story of ordinary school girl, Jennifer. What makes her life extraordinary is the fact that the Committee assigned her as a fairy tale adventurer. Instead of discovering new jungles, Jennifer is sent to the world of fairy tales to help fairy tale citizens with their concerns. Apparently, fairy tale characters aren’t as perfect as they’re depicted in our usual fairy tale stories. Even with magic, they still need the help of an eleven year old non-magic girl.
My Very Unfairy Tale Life is a refreshing take on fairy tale stories wherein the heroine is far from your usual damsel in distress. Instead of waiting for princes to slay dragons for her, Jennifer rushes ahead and solve her problems the best way she can even if most of the time, she has to use a lot of cheesy sayings. I must say that the most unforgettable thing about this book is the MC. Jennifer has the right amount of boldness and humour that surely had me impressed. I also adored how Anna portrayed her as an eleven year old. Her flaws, her doubts, her impulsiveness and time to time selfishness were very believable for her age.
Even the secondary characters of My Very Unfairy Tale Life, though slightly lacking in development, still managed to make me laugh. In a way, they reminded of Roald Dahl’s characters… nothing too serious but you still enjoy them because they’ve got that rare appeal.
While the characters were really cool, I can’t say the same thing for the plot. Don’t get me wrong, My Very Unfairy Tale Life’s storyline was solid and interesting but it was too simplistic for my taste. Of course, it was understandable given the shortness of the book but still, Anna could have chosen to tell more. I would certainly appreciate reading about how Jenny was recruited as an adventurer and how did the fairy tale worlds exist.
The world building of My Very Unfairy Tale Life did nothing to ease my frustration. Anna is already there but it’s like the stage is already set and all yet the actual ceremony was postponed. Sure, I managed to paint a picture of the Land of Speak in my head but it wasn’t enough as the half portion of my body is still on Earth.
Nevertheless, I am still giving My Very Unfairy Tale Life a four star rating for being one of the best Middle grade books I’ve read this year. There were disappointments but the humor and the adorable MC certainly compensated for those. xD
April 15, 2012
Jenny has lived with her eccentric veterinarian Aunt Evie ever since her parents' mysterious disappearance many years ago. When she was nine, Jenny was recruited to become an adventurer - someone who travels to magical worlds to solve problems their inhabitants are unable to tackle themselves - by a gluttonous gnome named Anthony. She used to think it was fun, but she's starting to miss her old life. Is there one more adventure in her?
This is a very cute story, and I love its premise. There are a lot of fun details, like the wizard who lives in a rundown house and collects bits and pieces of the trash people throw into his yard or the way Jenny's Aunt Evie essentially treats her like yet another animal because she doesn't have a good grasp of how to interact with humans. I think the author shows a lot of promise, and it'll definitely be interesting to read some of her future works, when she has a little more writing experience under her belt. As it is, her work suffers a bit from her inexperience.
She spends a lot of time telling you about her protagonist's past when she could have much more effectively shown it taking place. Her characters are also a bit one dimensional, albeit exhibiting some interesting traits, and I found it a little difficult to actually empathize with them. For instance, I don't want to know HOW many times she told us that Jenny is a great adventurer whose favorite way to resolve problems amongst magical creatures was to spout cheesy lines like "sharing is caring," when I feel it would have been much more effective to start off the story by showing us a few of her adventures and how effectively she resolves them as she becomes more and more unhappy with her circumstances.
The entire adventure that Jenny was being drawn into felt a little forced, and I really didn't understand why someone who is supposedly such a wildly experienced and great adventurer was so terrified of someone who really didn't do anything particularly harmful to anyone. I have trouble believing that learning to do a circus act is a horrible form of torture or that removal of your mouth is horrifically disastrous when the same magic sustains you without need for food and the mouthless characters have all apparently found alternate means of communication. I also felt that everything resolved far too easily.
All in all, this was a fun quick read that might be worth picking up in a library, but I wouldn't go out and buy it just yet. It's not quite fleshed out enough to make me feel like I'll get more out of rereading it, and I'm not interested enough in the characters or fascinated enough by anything about the book to wax nostalgic about it in the future and come back to it for comfort reading.
I received my copy of this book for free through the First Reads program.
This is a very cute story, and I love its premise. There are a lot of fun details, like the wizard who lives in a rundown house and collects bits and pieces of the trash people throw into his yard or the way Jenny's Aunt Evie essentially treats her like yet another animal because she doesn't have a good grasp of how to interact with humans. I think the author shows a lot of promise, and it'll definitely be interesting to read some of her future works, when she has a little more writing experience under her belt. As it is, her work suffers a bit from her inexperience.
She spends a lot of time telling you about her protagonist's past when she could have much more effectively shown it taking place. Her characters are also a bit one dimensional, albeit exhibiting some interesting traits, and I found it a little difficult to actually empathize with them. For instance, I don't want to know HOW many times she told us that Jenny is a great adventurer whose favorite way to resolve problems amongst magical creatures was to spout cheesy lines like "sharing is caring," when I feel it would have been much more effective to start off the story by showing us a few of her adventures and how effectively she resolves them as she becomes more and more unhappy with her circumstances.
The entire adventure that Jenny was being drawn into felt a little forced, and I really didn't understand why someone who is supposedly such a wildly experienced and great adventurer was so terrified of someone who really didn't do anything particularly harmful to anyone. I have trouble believing that learning to do a circus act is a horrible form of torture or that removal of your mouth is horrifically disastrous when the same magic sustains you without need for food and the mouthless characters have all apparently found alternate means of communication. I also felt that everything resolved far too easily.
All in all, this was a fun quick read that might be worth picking up in a library, but I wouldn't go out and buy it just yet. It's not quite fleshed out enough to make me feel like I'll get more out of rereading it, and I'm not interested enough in the characters or fascinated enough by anything about the book to wax nostalgic about it in the future and come back to it for comfort reading.
I received my copy of this book for free through the First Reads program.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2011
Originally posted here.
In the acknowledgements for her book My Very UnFairytale Life Anna Staniszewski describes it as her "wacky little book". It is indeed a whacky little book but in a way that is fun and not too ridiculous especially if you are of the age of the intended audience. Elementary school me would have loved this book with a fervent and fierce devotion.
You know all those stories that have fairy godmothers coming into change the lives of ordinary girls? Well this is that in reverse. Jenny is an ordinary girl sent to help change the lives of magical creatures. Instead of being armed with a magic wand, Jenny relies on a repertoire of cheesy cliches to make a difference. Sure sometimes baby dragons try to burn her head off and unicorns charge after her, but that's all part of the fun. Except Jenny is not having much fun. She is in middle school and she wants a life and normal friends. Instead she gets a candy addict gnome guide and an old adventurer who keeps an eye on her. When faced with a saving a kingdom being terrorized by an evil magical clown who tortures prisoners by making them appear in his circus, Jenny decides she can't take it anymore. But normal is not what Jenny expected and she has to consider that maybe adventuring is what she was born to do.
Jenny is an engaging and witty narrator. She is imaginative and adventurous, the sort of girl who dresses up as Indiana Jones for Halloween and releases a jar of spiders into her Kindergarten class so she can "rescue" her classmates. While she does complain quite a bit about her lot in life you can't help but agree that she is being sorely used and mistreated by the mysterious committee who gives her assignments. And Anthony her guide does seem pretty heartless at times. Jenny's voice is pitched perfectly for the book's intended audience and her magical problems reflect the real world problems that 9-12 year olds face every day. There are couple of plot points that aren't really explained or wrapped up well (the disappearance of Jenny's parents, the mysterious committee) and this left me feeling like something was missing.
If you have a young girl in your life who has a spirit of adventure, enjoys fantasy, plucky heroines, and a bit of silly this is the perfect book to put in their hands.
Note: I read a proof of this novel obtained from Netgalley. The book will be released on November 1.
In the acknowledgements for her book My Very UnFairytale Life Anna Staniszewski describes it as her "wacky little book". It is indeed a whacky little book but in a way that is fun and not too ridiculous especially if you are of the age of the intended audience. Elementary school me would have loved this book with a fervent and fierce devotion.
You know all those stories that have fairy godmothers coming into change the lives of ordinary girls? Well this is that in reverse. Jenny is an ordinary girl sent to help change the lives of magical creatures. Instead of being armed with a magic wand, Jenny relies on a repertoire of cheesy cliches to make a difference. Sure sometimes baby dragons try to burn her head off and unicorns charge after her, but that's all part of the fun. Except Jenny is not having much fun. She is in middle school and she wants a life and normal friends. Instead she gets a candy addict gnome guide and an old adventurer who keeps an eye on her. When faced with a saving a kingdom being terrorized by an evil magical clown who tortures prisoners by making them appear in his circus, Jenny decides she can't take it anymore. But normal is not what Jenny expected and she has to consider that maybe adventuring is what she was born to do.
Jenny is an engaging and witty narrator. She is imaginative and adventurous, the sort of girl who dresses up as Indiana Jones for Halloween and releases a jar of spiders into her Kindergarten class so she can "rescue" her classmates. While she does complain quite a bit about her lot in life you can't help but agree that she is being sorely used and mistreated by the mysterious committee who gives her assignments. And Anthony her guide does seem pretty heartless at times. Jenny's voice is pitched perfectly for the book's intended audience and her magical problems reflect the real world problems that 9-12 year olds face every day. There are couple of plot points that aren't really explained or wrapped up well (the disappearance of Jenny's parents, the mysterious committee) and this left me feeling like something was missing.
If you have a young girl in your life who has a spirit of adventure, enjoys fantasy, plucky heroines, and a bit of silly this is the perfect book to put in their hands.
Note: I read a proof of this novel obtained from Netgalley. The book will be released on November 1.
November 24, 2011
So so so funny :D
When I saw this on NetGalley I jumped at the chance to read it. The book starts with Jenny being chased by a herd of angry unicorns. I can tell you the imagery had me rolling about the sofa with laughter. The cross-over of the vast variety of fairy-tales used provided terrific imagery.
The third person narrative provides a means of layering the story. Not only was I immersed into Jenny's everyday life, I was able to identify with the fairytale elements and also the mystery of her parent's disappearance all woven together within the plot. Revelations placed sporadically within the narrative only lead to additional questions. I am hoping for further books in the series in hope of getting answers to some of these questions. There is potential here for a whole series of books based on Jenny's adventures.
The notion of 'be careful what you wish for' really stands out with Jenny's indecision on the direction her life should take. It shows how balance is necessary to every aspect of our lives, too much of one thing would be detrimental.
The story clearly shows how relationships have to be worked at by both sides. Good relationships do not happen by magic, they have to be developed and not taken for granted. It also shows that people shouldn't pretend to be something they are not, it just doesn't work and will eventually make them unhappy. Corny catchphrases abound within the narrative and are reflecting in my review with - Just be yourself being one of them that comes to mind, lol. The idea that laughter beats bullies is truly a beautiful notion, if only it were really true.
Klarr's description was truly terrifying and brought images of Stephen King's It to mind. *shudders* The image of people/animals without mouths was also scary *ick*.
Prince Lamb provided a lovely romantic interest for Jenny and really showed how with confidence, good listening skills and the correct image; popularity can be easily obtained.
The ending was lovely and reflected the individual aspects of the story beautifully alongside with the opening for further story/series development. I have to say the word CUTE keeps popping into my head when I think of this story. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
When I saw this on NetGalley I jumped at the chance to read it. The book starts with Jenny being chased by a herd of angry unicorns. I can tell you the imagery had me rolling about the sofa with laughter. The cross-over of the vast variety of fairy-tales used provided terrific imagery.
The third person narrative provides a means of layering the story. Not only was I immersed into Jenny's everyday life, I was able to identify with the fairytale elements and also the mystery of her parent's disappearance all woven together within the plot. Revelations placed sporadically within the narrative only lead to additional questions. I am hoping for further books in the series in hope of getting answers to some of these questions. There is potential here for a whole series of books based on Jenny's adventures.
The notion of 'be careful what you wish for' really stands out with Jenny's indecision on the direction her life should take. It shows how balance is necessary to every aspect of our lives, too much of one thing would be detrimental.
The story clearly shows how relationships have to be worked at by both sides. Good relationships do not happen by magic, they have to be developed and not taken for granted. It also shows that people shouldn't pretend to be something they are not, it just doesn't work and will eventually make them unhappy. Corny catchphrases abound within the narrative and are reflecting in my review with - Just be yourself being one of them that comes to mind, lol. The idea that laughter beats bullies is truly a beautiful notion, if only it were really true.
Klarr's description was truly terrifying and brought images of Stephen King's It to mind. *shudders* The image of people/animals without mouths was also scary *ick*.
Prince Lamb provided a lovely romantic interest for Jenny and really showed how with confidence, good listening skills and the correct image; popularity can be easily obtained.
The ending was lovely and reflected the individual aspects of the story beautifully alongside with the opening for further story/series development. I have to say the word CUTE keeps popping into my head when I think of this story. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
March 30, 2012
My rating: 3/5 stars
Read the review in my blog!
May contain some spoilers
Jenny is a twelve year old girl. And what makes her special? She's an adventurer! She runs around helping magical creatures so everyone would just get along. She's been on the business for few years, originally taking the job because it sounded like fun.
But like many times, having fun may turn to something not-so-fun at some point.
This is a quick and fun read, but probably targeted for younger audience. This book is full of adventures and action, but that's pretty much it. I'm not saying this is a bad book, it's just for younger people.
Since she's only 12, there isn't much of a romance. Though there's a little hint, but since the other person would be a.. lamb, you can't really go there, right?
This book also has the most disturbing villain ever! The creepiest clown of all times. Isn't that just awful?
I actually thought about quitting this book at that point. Everyone who's seen Stephen King's It get's me. Too traumatizing to even think about.
I would love to know if there's second book coming out some point? Oh, stupid me, maybe I visit author's homepage and check it out there, d'oh! So yeah, in spring 2013 we'll get to read the second book!
I actually can't wait for that, since there is so many things left open in the end (including the romance with a lamb)! What about her parents? Her career? Her lamb?? These are the answers I left craving for!
Love,
Monaliz @ Mind Reading?
Read the review in my blog!
May contain some spoilers
Jenny is a twelve year old girl. And what makes her special? She's an adventurer! She runs around helping magical creatures so everyone would just get along. She's been on the business for few years, originally taking the job because it sounded like fun.
But like many times, having fun may turn to something not-so-fun at some point.
This is a quick and fun read, but probably targeted for younger audience. This book is full of adventures and action, but that's pretty much it. I'm not saying this is a bad book, it's just for younger people.
Since she's only 12, there isn't much of a romance. Though there's a little hint, but since the other person would be a.. lamb, you can't really go there, right?
This book also has the most disturbing villain ever! The creepiest clown of all times. Isn't that just awful?
I actually thought about quitting this book at that point. Everyone who's seen Stephen King's It get's me. Too traumatizing to even think about.
I would love to know if there's second book coming out some point? Oh, stupid me, maybe I visit author's homepage and check it out there, d'oh! So yeah, in spring 2013 we'll get to read the second book!
I actually can't wait for that, since there is so many things left open in the end (including the romance with a lamb)! What about her parents? Her career? Her lamb?? These are the answers I left craving for!
Love,
Monaliz @ Mind Reading?
January 27, 2012
Things I enjoyed: The premise of this book I found quite enjoyable. A girl who travels to other worlds to help fairy tale like kingdoms solve problems. The situations were definitely unique, not like any others I've ever read. Jenny tendency to quote cliches is amusing, yet rather appropriate. I did enjoy the one world she visited that was ruled by a sheep, which I found ironic, since sheep tend to wander when left to their own devices. The various secondary characters that Jenny interacts with added to humor, especially, Anthony, the Gnome.
Things I didn't enjoy: Jenny comes across as a bit of a complainer which I found annoying. Not that she doesn't have great reason to complain having lost her parents and not being supported in her adventures the way she would like. The lack of understanding from the adults Jenny works with also irritated me. Jenny is only twelve after all. Certainly, Jenny's desire to have a normal life is understandable, but I didn't find Jenny particularly likable until the end. I also prefer books with more depth. Most of the secondary characters weren't developed as much as I would have liked either.
However, the book makes for a light fun read with interesting twists and turns. And certainly young readers will understand Jenny's desire for friendship and normalcy. The cover is very intriguing and bound to attract readers, especially girls. I don't think I'd have a problem recommending this book as a entertaining, hard to predict read.
Things I didn't enjoy: Jenny comes across as a bit of a complainer which I found annoying. Not that she doesn't have great reason to complain having lost her parents and not being supported in her adventures the way she would like. The lack of understanding from the adults Jenny works with also irritated me. Jenny is only twelve after all. Certainly, Jenny's desire to have a normal life is understandable, but I didn't find Jenny particularly likable until the end. I also prefer books with more depth. Most of the secondary characters weren't developed as much as I would have liked either.
However, the book makes for a light fun read with interesting twists and turns. And certainly young readers will understand Jenny's desire for friendship and normalcy. The cover is very intriguing and bound to attract readers, especially girls. I don't think I'd have a problem recommending this book as a entertaining, hard to predict read.
January 16, 2012
I love the concept of this book! I mean, seriously, who didn't dream of being sucked into a fairytale world and helping out magical worlds as a parttime job? I sure did (ok, I'll admit I still do). And to have it then backfire and leave you wishing for a normal life, very interesting! And a good example of the grass is always greener and all that.
I thought Jenny was a good person, if slightly naive and not always reasonable. But hey, she's 12 and she's allowed to be all that. And she apparantly was an extremely talented Adventurer. And while I get that this is an MG in which a kid is usually the hero, I didn't really understand why they didn't have more grown-ups to at least helpt the kids. I mean, I would have liked if there had been some sort of explanation for this.
I really liked Prince Lamb and was actually kind of disappointed that he didn't stay human because I thought he would make a wonderful boyfriend for Jenny. I thought the whole thing with the kingdom of Speak being under a curse that made them loose their mouth and the mystery around the bad guy was really good and there were some very funny moments in the book.
I am kind of wondering if this will turn out to be a series, though I can't find anything on it on Goodreads at the moment. There is some definite potential there!
This was a quick, cute read, it's not amazing, but definitely enjoyable!
My rating: 3 stars
I thought Jenny was a good person, if slightly naive and not always reasonable. But hey, she's 12 and she's allowed to be all that. And she apparantly was an extremely talented Adventurer. And while I get that this is an MG in which a kid is usually the hero, I didn't really understand why they didn't have more grown-ups to at least helpt the kids. I mean, I would have liked if there had been some sort of explanation for this.
I really liked Prince Lamb and was actually kind of disappointed that he didn't stay human because I thought he would make a wonderful boyfriend for Jenny. I thought the whole thing with the kingdom of Speak being under a curse that made them loose their mouth and the mystery around the bad guy was really good and there were some very funny moments in the book.
I am kind of wondering if this will turn out to be a series, though I can't find anything on it on Goodreads at the moment. There is some definite potential there!
This was a quick, cute read, it's not amazing, but definitely enjoyable!
My rating: 3 stars
December 5, 2011
At First Sight: Jenny is an Adventurer, the person that goes about the magical kingdoms and helps them solve their problems. When she first started to adventure a few years ago, it sounded like loads of fun, but she now realizes that things rarely are what they seem.
Now her two former best friends seem to have forgotten her all together, her Aunt is more interested in animals than on her and she's tired of being chased by unicorns and having an unreliable gnome named Arthur for guide. And most of all, she's tired of doing what the Council tells her to do, just because.
Plus, her latest mission - that of freeing Prince Lamb of Speak! - goes plenty awry, causing her to get into a big, big jam. And to question who in her life has ever told her the truth about anything.
Second Glance: I'm going to start by saying that My UnFairy Tale Life is a cute book, but that it's also a bit young. I liked it, it was cute and I had fun reading it but at the same time I felt both characters and story was a bit underdeveloped.
I don't think I would have minded if I was 9 years old or something, but at the same time I kind of hoped there was more to the story than it was. All in all, I liked Jenny, I thought she was a great character and she felt and acted her age.
Everyone else around her, though, was a bit one dimensional.
Bottom Line: A cute story for a younger audience, it was definitely fun but older readers might not get as much out of it as a younger one might.
Now her two former best friends seem to have forgotten her all together, her Aunt is more interested in animals than on her and she's tired of being chased by unicorns and having an unreliable gnome named Arthur for guide. And most of all, she's tired of doing what the Council tells her to do, just because.
Plus, her latest mission - that of freeing Prince Lamb of Speak! - goes plenty awry, causing her to get into a big, big jam. And to question who in her life has ever told her the truth about anything.
Second Glance: I'm going to start by saying that My UnFairy Tale Life is a cute book, but that it's also a bit young. I liked it, it was cute and I had fun reading it but at the same time I felt both characters and story was a bit underdeveloped.
I don't think I would have minded if I was 9 years old or something, but at the same time I kind of hoped there was more to the story than it was. All in all, I liked Jenny, I thought she was a great character and she felt and acted her age.
Everyone else around her, though, was a bit one dimensional.
Bottom Line: A cute story for a younger audience, it was definitely fun but older readers might not get as much out of it as a younger one might.
March 18, 2013
My Very UnFairy Tale Life is definitely a fun and light read, but unfortunately, was a bit too juvenile for my tastes. But still, this definitely put some fun into my reading life!
Jenny was such a great protagonist! I loved getting to go on her adventures with her, and the author definitely did a great job at making the adventures epic and interesting for the MG crowd. I'm a big fairy tale fan, so getting to see some fairy tales interwoven throughout the story really appealed to me. Plus, there's a unicorn at the beginning of the book. What's not to love?
But my only complaint is that I didn't connect with the book. I noticed that if an adventure wasn't occurring, I would doze off from the story and get distracted. Not always, but sometimes. I'm not sure why though. Maybe it was too juvenile for me? Maybe I found some things a bit too girly? I'm not sure.
That still doesn't take away from the fact that you can't read this book and not think that it was awesome. Again, the adventures were excellently crafted and masterfully plotted. Going back, I see lots of foreshadowing that I didn't catch before, and I adore that. Props to the author for doing that!
Overall, My Very UnFairy Tale Life was great; I had just had problems with a few parts in the book. If you're looking for something fun and adventurous, you must pick up this book!
Jenny was such a great protagonist! I loved getting to go on her adventures with her, and the author definitely did a great job at making the adventures epic and interesting for the MG crowd. I'm a big fairy tale fan, so getting to see some fairy tales interwoven throughout the story really appealed to me. Plus, there's a unicorn at the beginning of the book. What's not to love?
But my only complaint is that I didn't connect with the book. I noticed that if an adventure wasn't occurring, I would doze off from the story and get distracted. Not always, but sometimes. I'm not sure why though. Maybe it was too juvenile for me? Maybe I found some things a bit too girly? I'm not sure.
That still doesn't take away from the fact that you can't read this book and not think that it was awesome. Again, the adventures were excellently crafted and masterfully plotted. Going back, I see lots of foreshadowing that I didn't catch before, and I adore that. Props to the author for doing that!
Overall, My Very UnFairy Tale Life was great; I had just had problems with a few parts in the book. If you're looking for something fun and adventurous, you must pick up this book!
May 4, 2013
I had mixed feelings about this book. It was...bizarre, to say the least. But even so, I found it entertaining!
This was definitely a fluff read. The fact that I could read this without problems on only five hours of sleep says a LOT. However, despite all my problems with this book, I managed to enjoy it. Maybe not 'read the sequel NOW' enjoyment, but an 'aww, that's cute' enjoyment. Unicorns learn to share? Cute. Gnomes who like chocolate? Cute! Lamb princes who needs rescuing? Very cute!
I have a feeling that this author has coulrophobia. The antagonist was not only an evil sorceror, he was also a clown. (Coulrophobia is the fear of clowns, and no...I do not know if it is spelled exactly like that.) This is where the bizarre label comes in. I mean...a sorceror clown? Really? Creative, I guess, but...come on.
Plus the aunt who baked things with animal food in them. Ew. And the animals who had no mouths. -cue the creepy music-
To summarize, there are two words that I would use to describe this book: cute and bizarre. No, it's not the highest praise I've ever given a book, but I didn't hate it.
This was definitely a fluff read. The fact that I could read this without problems on only five hours of sleep says a LOT. However, despite all my problems with this book, I managed to enjoy it. Maybe not 'read the sequel NOW' enjoyment, but an 'aww, that's cute' enjoyment. Unicorns learn to share? Cute. Gnomes who like chocolate? Cute! Lamb princes who needs rescuing? Very cute!
I have a feeling that this author has coulrophobia. The antagonist was not only an evil sorceror, he was also a clown. (Coulrophobia is the fear of clowns, and no...I do not know if it is spelled exactly like that.) This is where the bizarre label comes in. I mean...a sorceror clown? Really? Creative, I guess, but...come on.
Plus the aunt who baked things with animal food in them. Ew. And the animals who had no mouths. -cue the creepy music-
To summarize, there are two words that I would use to describe this book: cute and bizarre. No, it's not the highest praise I've ever given a book, but I didn't hate it.
August 11, 2016
In the funny My Very UnFairy Tale Life, Jenny is a normal middle school girl, who also happens to lead a secret life as a fairy tale adventurer--she is sent to troubled fairy tale kingdoms to put out fires and help the fairy tale characters resolve their problems. Sometimes this involves danger (being chased by stampeding unicorns) and sometimes it involves imparting some simple wisdom to help the creatures help themselves (like "Waste not, want not" or "Can't we all just get along?"). Her adventures are assigned by a mysterious "Committee" and managed by a gnome named Anthony. Her home and social life are lacking though. She lives with an aunt, to whom she has difficulty relating, and she is invisible at school. Jenny comes up against a difficult villain in one of her adventures, and in an effort to take control of her life...(see full review here: http://www.storysnoops.com/detail.php...)
February 13, 2013
Reading this was like watching a parody of a favorite movie. Everything traditional to fairy tale had been put under a different light, kind of humorous but I didn't get many of the jokes. I'm suspecting that's what made it hard for me to enjoy part 1 of the story.
However, part 2 flowed a lot better for me and certain things in part 1 finally made sense even though I'm still like "huh?".
Does it mean I didn't like the book? not really. My experience left me somewhere between 3 and 4 over 5. Goodreads doesn't allow halves so, yeah.
I'm definitely curious about the next book because I really liked Jenny and was very, very sympathetic to her "misadventures".
However, part 2 flowed a lot better for me and certain things in part 1 finally made sense even though I'm still like "huh?".
Does it mean I didn't like the book? not really. My experience left me somewhere between 3 and 4 over 5. Goodreads doesn't allow halves so, yeah.
I'm definitely curious about the next book because I really liked Jenny and was very, very sympathetic to her "misadventures".
August 28, 2021
Zooming through most of the Middle Grade I have on my shelf because its the end of the year and I'm behind on my reading challenge!
This one is cute. Fun. Younger middle-grade, very fast paced. The "adventurer saving-the-day" bit feels a little careless, but the adventures themselves are pretty unique, as are the villains. Loved the two frogs the best, I think, and the Committee was kind of hilarious! Time to dive into the second!
This one is cute. Fun. Younger middle-grade, very fast paced. The "adventurer saving-the-day" bit feels a little careless, but the adventures themselves are pretty unique, as are the villains. Loved the two frogs the best, I think, and the Committee was kind of hilarious! Time to dive into the second!
August 10, 2012
Plot seemed a little convenient at times, but strong voice and interesting world building. Target age group is a bit younger than I like (but I didn't lower my rating because of that). The heroine did a few things that didn't make sense to me. Overall, it reminded me of a Saturday morning cartoon: abbreviated, funny, cute, interesting, but overall forgettable.
May 30, 2021
The theme is pretty bad and the supporting characters even worse, but somehow, it works. I'd probably be more okay with it if I were in the intended audience age range. I imagine making it so farfetched makes it easier for some kids to swallow. It's kind of like afternoon children's TV in book form.
December 22, 2013
I love books that involve fairy tales so when I saw this I had to try it. It is younger than the books I normally read but I still had a good time.
Jenny is a fun narrator and the characters she meets on this mission are really entertaining, particularly the frogs. Also Prince Lamb.
Jenny is a fun narrator and the characters she meets on this mission are really entertaining, particularly the frogs. Also Prince Lamb.
October 29, 2019
Just saying, the book I borrowed went from 108-136, then from there to 108, then from 108-136, then from the end of the 2nd 136 it went to page 169. So it repeated pages 108-136, and skipped 137-168. )% ( angry face)
July 19, 2012
I have one word to say: Seriously?
May 25, 2012
Cute, fun, very quick read with a strong female protagonist. I would have loved this book if I was in middle school.
January 6, 2012
Super cute read! Review to come at a later date.
February 4, 2013
A very young YA book. More for the 12-14 year old crowd.
December 30, 2013
this looked cute, but it felt like I was thrown in to book 4 despite it being a first book...
just not my taste...
just not my taste...
November 12, 2012
Cute middle grade. Jenny is a likable protagonist but I felt like there was a lot that was not really explained.
January 12, 2013
It takes u into a magical world!
September 17, 2013
Definitely advisable as a children's bedtime story book. It teaches important lessons a child/tweens definitely needs.
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