 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Fairest
- By Gail Carson Levine
- Genre: Fairy Tale
Common Sense Media says
Fantasy charms with a refreshingly homely heroine.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that in this fairytale from the author of Ella Enchanted, the heroine, Aza, is refreshingly less attractive than your average protagonist and suffers from quite a bit of self-doubt because of it. Aza is tricked and imprisoned in a dungeon where she is tied up with a gag in her mouth. When she escapes there is the threat of being killed by a guard or eaten by an ogre. There are also mild love exchanges between Aza and a prince, which includes some kissing.
What's the story?
Left as a baby, Aza is found by a loving innkeeper and wife who raise her as their own. She grows large and homely, causing her shame and low self-esteem. But, she is kind and has a gift for song, making curious guests drawn to her, including a wise gnome and a duchess. She is invited to the castle as the handmaid for the king's wedding to a mysterious young woman from another land. This new queen befriends Aza and learns of Aza's gift of song and the ability to illuse. She threatens to harm Aza's family unless Aza illuses a voice for the queen at the kingdom Sings.
The prince is also intrigued by Aza and much to Aza's pleasant surprise they develop a friendship. Aza learns that the queen has been given beauty through a magical mirror given by the Fairy Lucinda, the same one in the book Ella Enchanted. A creature lives in the mirror who is giving the queen poor advice on running the kingdom while the king is ill.
Aza's illusing is soon revealed, but not before she goes to the mirror and asks for beauty. With physical beauty the problems begin for Aza, including imprisonment and a run-in with a poison apple.
Is it any good?
Gail Carson Levine has mastered the art of twisting fantasy and creating interesting characters that are likeable and somehow relatable to today's kids. Aza is smart, competent, and gifted in song, a highly honored and valuable means of communication in this society. She can also illuse, a method of throwing your voice to make it appear that someone else is singing. This skill becomes the tool for the newly married, beautiful young queen to win the hearts of the kingdom.
And so follows a story with adventure, love, and fantasy with a common thread to the tale of Sleeping Beauty, and a lesson about recognizing what true beauty is.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why Aza is a good and kind person worth rooting for. Is it because she grows up in a house of love and respect? Can you relate to Aza's feelings about herself and how others judge her? How did it feel as a reader to hear Aza's description of herself as a "blemish" or others calling her an "ogre"? Does this make you feel differently about first impressions and judging others?
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AGE
Totally good!
This is a REALLY good book.
WHAT??!! SHALLOW CHARACTERS??!! oh shut up. Aza just wants beauty so she can fit in and not be the VERY oddball.
And Ijori is also sweet 'cause he loves Ava for what she looks like and what she is!
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AGE
I'm 10 and I read it. I loved most of it, but there are a couple of things that I think are iffy: some deception, imprisonment, and a little kissing. But overall, it rocks!
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Kid, 12 years old
July 25, 2009
AGE
GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved this. In the beginning Aza is completely concerned about how she looks, but READ ON, later Aza finds out that inner beauty is what really matters. I think this is best for girls 10+ but younger girls CAN read this, it just might not make a lot of sense. Boys are VERY likely to NOT be interested in this story. But girls will probably LOVE it.
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AGE
A Not-So Fairytale
Since I don't like fairytales, I really don't like Cinderella and always moan when our teacher makes us read or watch anything like that. But Fairest is a tale with NO fairies. And also, you can really see how Aza wants to be beautiful. It is one of my favorite books. However, my favoritre book would be "The Darkest Hour" from the Warrior Cats series by Erin Hunter. Really, it is a fantastic book and it is about a girl who wants to 1., be pretty 2., rid herself of queen Ivi's dangerous deed she must do, and 3., marry the prince and be his friend. She has wonderful singing and all the praise she gets in the books is unbelieveable, like she's a famous person.
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AGE
great book!
I love this book! It's amazing, my favorite book! If you're younger than 10 it might be kinda confusing though. You might want to read it twice, and then you'll understand it more.
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AGE
perfect for 8 and up
I love it really good id encourage any one to read it. its my absolute favorite book. my favorite part is when Ijori kisses Aza on the step in the hall
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AGE
terrible for every age
bad book... CAUTION: DO NOT READ!!! ITS so boring!!! it make you want to puke!!! uh oh... i need a mop ughhh!!! ewww
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Kid, 12 years old
May 20, 2010
AGE
Good reading for anyone above 10 to understand the full meaning.
I'm 10 and this is not the first time I've read the book. Even though there 's a tiny bit of violence or blood, it's nothing bad, so I suggest this book to anyone who loves fantasy and adventure, which I do!
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Kid, 11 years old
February 22, 2010
AGE
one of my favorite books!
It is an interesting tale telling that beauty is no match for whats really inside you.I read it like a year ago and i still rememeber it because it is an unforgetable story.i would definately recommend it to anyone ages 10+ because it took me about 2 and a haf weeks to finish it because i am 9!
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| Author: | Gail Carson Levine |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fairy Tale |
| Publisher: | HarperCollins Children's Books |
| Publication date: | September 19, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 326 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 8 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 10 |
| Read alone: | 10 |
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