Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Captivating, imaginative story of kids in fairy-tale world.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 20 parent reviews
Based on 103 kid reviews
Kids say this book offers an engaging blend of classic fairy tales and exciting adventures, captivating readers with its relatable characters and magical world, though some note a lack of diversity and the presence of mature themes. Opinions vary widely, with many praising its creativity and humor, while a few criticize the writing quality and pacing, suggesting it may not be suitable for very young children due to slight violence and mature topics.
- engaging story
- relatable characters
- lacks diversity
- mature themes
- creative twists
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Life has been hard for brainiac social outcast Alex and popular slacker Conner Bailey, sixth-grade twins, since the death of their beloved father. They've lost their home, and their mother has to work long hours to support them. Their grandmother visits when she can and leaves granddaughter Alex the family's heirloom book of fairy tales. One day, Alex and Conner fall into a scene in the book and find themselves in the land of fairy tales. The landscape is strangely familiar from their father's stories, but they must deal with a giant frog, trolls, and wolves, as well as many princes, princesses, heroes, and villains, in their quest to get home again. There are also revelations about well-known characters and how they're coping with their lives -- for example, it wasn't so easy for Cinderella, as a non-princess, to fit in at the palace, and there's a romantic tragedy in the Evil Queen's past.
Is It Any Good?
There's a real, heartfelt warmth to this book's characters and their situations, as well as the strong sensibility of an adult who hasn't forgotten the joys and the terrors of childhood.
Books that imagine fairy-tale characters outside the bounds of their own traditional stories are popular these days; The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom and Storybound come to mind. But author Chris Colfer says that the story lines and characters in THE LAND OF STORIES have been evolving in his mind since he was 10 years old, and it shows -- in a good way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why authors keep returning to the characters in fairy tales for new stories. What makes them so compelling?
What do you think of the situations that Colfer places his fairy-tale characters in after their happily-ever-after endings? Are they believable?
If a fairy tale is supposed to teach a lesson, what lesson do you think this one teaches?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fairy Tale
- Topics : Book Characters , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Fairy Tales ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little, Brown and Company
- Publication date : July 17, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 17
- Number of pages : 448
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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