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Fairest (by Gail Carson Levine)

common sense media says

Fantasy charms with a refreshingly homely heroine.

parents & educators say
  • 29% say there are positive role models
  • 29% say there are positive messages
See all 31 reviews | Review it

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.

Positive messages: True beauty is beneath the surface. Love and respect by family and friends help one to overcome low self esteem.
Violence: A girl is gagged, tied up, and left in dungeon cell, then threatened to be killed by guard or eaten by ogres. Poisoning by apple also threatens death.
Sex: Innocent words of love exchanged, some hand-holding, kissing.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
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More on Fairest

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
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?

What's the story?

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?

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.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Gail Carson Levine
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Publication date: September 19, 2006
Number of pages: 326
Hardcover price: $16.99
Read Aloud: 10
Read Alone: 10
This review was written by Pam Gelman
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12
Based on 7 parent & educator reviews:
  • 29% say there are positive role models
  • 29% say there are positive messages
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

Bbbbbbbi
teen, 15 years old
11
 
This is my fav book! Please read it!!
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homeschoolin
parent of 12 year old
11
 
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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helped me decide (10) | had useful details (10) | read my mind (10)
dragonsrule
kid, 12 years old
10
 
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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pokemonlover234
kid, 13 years old
9
 
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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fairestrocks
kid, 13 years old
8
 
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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bob12345678
adult
17
 
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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helped me decide (9) | had useful details (9) | read my mind (10)
abby1710
kid, 13 years old
10
 
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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browniez
kid, 12 years old
10
 
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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DevRose97
teen, 14 years old
13
 
BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the girl in this book is shallow and thinks you need beauty to survive!!!!! she is always talking about how she is ugly!!!!!!!! GET A LIFE
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dasiygirl18
teen, 15 years old
10
 
My Favorite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE THIS BOOK! It is my total favorite. I reread it once a month so I don't forget it. I t should be turned into a movie so i can watch it over and over and over again. Did I forget to say I read it in two days. The book is like 300 pages. I loved it! I could'nt put it down! I would totaly recomened this to anyone who likes a twist on a tale(Snow White)!
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helped me decide (9) | had useful details (10) | read my mind (9)
I<3Books!!!
kid, 12 years old
10
 
I love this book!
This book is a good read but only if you like fairytales and books of that sort. Some people might have a diffrent oppinion but I personaly loved this book. I think it shows that Aza ( the main character) learned how to think better about herself and when the king tried to save Ivi I though that was about self sacrifice.
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pinkgirl6
kid, 11 years old
10
 
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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Cinnamon8910
kid, 12 years old
10
 
fAIREST INTERESTING
AWESOME!!!!!!!!! LOL!
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clarisaBellamy
parent of 10 year old
8
 
Another wonderfully empowering story from Gail Carson Levine.
My 8-year old loved this book, and so do I. This story includes many subtle lessons: the pitfalls of obsession with beauty, the importance of family support and self-reliance, making the most of your strengths, and how good deeds and considerations can pay back in unexpected ways.
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ashleycullen
teen, 14 years old
2
 
Such a heart warming tale
This was such is an interesting book I loved it!
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Letsbebalenced
teen, 18 years old
12
 
Best for young teens.
I really enjoyed reading Fairest, I have read it twice. One thing that really reeled me in was how Ijori fell in love with Aza even though she was outwardly unattractive to herself and many others. I think that a teenager will get the most out of this story since it has a lot to do with self-esteem. It's a real encourager.
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JesusFreak09
teen, 16 years old
10
 
i love this book im not very pretty so it gives me hope that someone could love me i like how she has htun hair which makes her beautiful to gnomes i didnt like Ivi but i loved the kings judgement
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singer11
teen, 13 years old
10
 
Great For All Girls!
This book is one of my all time favorites. The messages and characters are positive, and it really supports inner and true beauty.
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earthgurl
teen, 15 years old
10
 
10+!
Loved this book! It gets a little confusing in the end, though. You might want to read twice.
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Alishamj08
teen, 18 years old
13
 
It's a great book for about 12 years of age and up.
Me...personally, I loved it. It's about somethings that aren't real...but it's exciting to read. I never really liked to read. But, whenever I started reading it...I would barely put the book down. It's really a great book for kids to read. But just so you know, it does have a couple of curse worlds in it, so if you want your kids to read it, then let them wait until they're maybe about 12 to 13 or even 14 years old. I didn't read it until 14. But, it also has some tricky words to pronounce as well. But, either way, it's still a freat book.
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