Bad Luck Girl: The American Fairy Trilogy, Book 3
Rousing finish to historical fairy-fantasy trilogy.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Sarah Zettel's Bad Luck Girl, the final volume in the American Fairy Trilogy, is an engaging historical fantasy that uses Depression-era Chicago as a well-realized setting for a tale of fairy magic. There's some violence and many magical battles, but the threat of physical violence is more prevalent than is actual bloodshed. The language is quite mild, with a single use of "ass." Sexual content is limited to a few kisses between the two lead characters.
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What's the Story?
Exiled fairy princess Callie LeRoux is in Hollywood and reunited with the three people who mean the most to her: her long-lost Papa, her devoted Mama, and her longtime friend Jack. But because the magical armies of Faerie are after them, they all must catch a train to New York. Unfortunately, the cold iron in the tracks makes Papa gravely ill, and so they end up stranded halfway across the country, in Chicago. There they find the remnants of Jack's family, as well as a strange, unpredictable community of human/fairy hybrids. As Callie struggles to find a happy ending for everyone, she puts her own life on the line again and again.
Is It Any Good?
This book brings The American Fairy Trilogy to a rousing, satisfying close, and readers who've followed Callie and Jack from the Dust Bowl to Hollywood and on to Chicago won't be disappointed. This volume is a bit less steeped in historical and mythological lore than are the previous two, but readers familiar with folklore will enjoy identifying some of the obscured supporting characters.
All in all, author Sarah Zettel has done a fine job in creating a series that celebrates both American history and ancient folklore, with a well-realized and nuanced heroine at its center.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the ways in which mythology and folklore shape popular culture. Can you think of any examples of folklore in music, TV, or movies?
Why is it wrong to manipulate people into doing what you want? What are better ways to express your wishes and meet your needs?
Why is the blues such an important style of American music? What subjects and emotions are addressed in that musical form?
Book Details
- Author: Sarah Zettel
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More, Fairy Tales, Trains
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: May 27, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
- Number of pages: 368
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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For kids who love history and fantasy
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