CATHERYNNE M. VALENTE is the author of over a dozen books of fiction and poetry, and is best-known for her urban speculative fiction, including Palimpsest (winner of the 2010 Lambda Award), and The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden. This, her first novel for young readers, was posted online in 2009 and won the Andre Norton Award--the first book to ever win before traditional publication. Cat Valente lives on an island off the coast of Maine with her partner, two dogs, and an enormous cat.
ANA JUAN is a world-renowned illustrator known in this country for her wonderful covers for the New Yorker magazine, as well as the children's books The Night Eater, and Frida, written by Jonah Winter. She lives in Spain.
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
"A glorious balancing act between modernism and the Victorian Fairy
Tale, done with heart and wisdom." --Neil Gaiman, Newbery
Award-winning author of The Graveyard Book "September is a clever,
fun, stronghearted addition to the ranks of bold, adventurous
girls. Valente's subversive storytelling is sheer magic." --Tamora
Pierce, author of The Immortals series "A mad, toothsome romp of a
fairy tale--full of oddments, whimsy, and joy." --Holly Black,
author of the Spiderwick Chronicles "When I saw that this book
reminds me simultaneously of E. Nesbit, James Thurber, and the late
Eva Ibbotson, I don't mean to take anything away from its
astonishing originality. It's a charmer from the first page,
managing the remarkable parlay of being at once ridiculously funny
and surprisingly suspenseful. Catherynne Valente is a find, at any
age!" --Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn "This is a kind
of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by way of Alice's Adventures in
Wonderland--it's the sort of book one doesn't want to end."
--Publishers Weekly, starred review "[Fairyland creates] a world as
bizarre and enchanting as any Wonderland or Oz and a heroine as
curious, resourceful and brave as any Alice or Dorothy. Complex,
rich and memorable." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review "This book is
quite simply a gold mine." --Booklist, starred review "Amusing,
wrenching, and thought-provoking." --The Horn Book
Gr 4-7-Twelve-year-old September is bored and lonely. There's not much excitement in Omaha during WWII, so when the Green Wind appears at her window and invites her to explore Fairyland, the girl jumps at the chance. The idea of a fun-filled adventure soon turns tragic when September realizes that the quirky and fanciful residents of Fairyland are cruelly ruled by the mad Marquess. September accepts the challenge to rescue the inhabitants and soon learns that only she can save Fairyland. Catherynne Valente's novel (Feiwel & Friends, 2011) features many storytelling techniques and rich vocabulary that define a thoroughly enjoyable Victorian tale. There are just enough familiar elements, such as witches and djinns, to engage listeners, but also many creative and inventive creatures that bring the fantasy alive. The tale is reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland and is just as charming, peculiar, and absurd. Valente narrates with perfect pacing and pitch. Listeners who like complicated and fully detailed fantasies will find much to enjoy here.-Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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