Titles Books

I had not heard of James Thurber (I'm not from Northern America :)) until one of my friends on a study abroad program brought this book to our apartment and we started reading it out loud to each other. I loved it so much that I've read it three times already. Thurber's playing with the language is so amazing, cute and fascinating that it makes you speak "his way" after you read the book. :) And all his ideas are wonderful! This all makes the book one of a kind, really.

read it, lest you end up being slit from your guzzle to your zatch! a book for all ages, and any age. Fairy stories with a twist of Thurber.

I really do like this book. I like fairy tales, especially the kind like Ella Enchanted and Fairest by Gail Carson Levine. In the pictures the wicked duke looks so hilarilously silly! The prince is handsome and the princess pretty, of course! The Golux's hat is indeed indescribable and the woman Hagga cries jewels instead of tears. He! He! He!

The Thirteen Clocks, by James Thurber, is a perfect book. The only way it could be better would be by being longer. The story is classic in its simplicity, so elemental that anyone can easily find a way inside. The big setting - a castle - the big players - a Prince, Princess, and wicked Duke (very wicked) - the big themes - courage, redemption, selfless sacrifice, and just a whiff of magic. Best of all, the big problem - time is frozen. Our enterprising Prince must do the impossible to win the hand of Princess Saralinda. This is road-tested material but Thurber breathes new life into it, making it fresh and irresistible. The musicality of his language is delightful, there is so much joy and play in the words, they giggle and dance like water gliding over stones in a stream. His rogue's gallery of secondary characters is just too good; each is slightly more improbable and splendidly cracked than the last. Most of all, this story ends exactly as it should, the resolution is not forced, it's simply correct. The Thirteen Clocks is a slice of heaven that can be enjoyed by anyone able to read. Thurber, it turns out, really was as good as he claimed. This lasting jewel proves it.

Watch out for the Todal

James Thurber's The Thirteen Clocks is a delightful tale for people of all ages. I was first introduced to this seemingly conventional story at age five when my father read it to me as a pleasant bedtime story. It was not until I could read for myself that I began to notice what sets this story apart from so many other children's stories--its characters and great dialogue. Even re-reading it now, as a college student, I immensely enjoy its refreshing humor. Thurber uses a simple storyline, poetic devices, and clever characterization to make The Thirteen Clocks enjoyable to any and all ears.

The Thirteen Clocks is enjoyable for kids of all ages (meaning grown-ups as well) because it follows the basic and familiar "prince saves princess" storyline. Prince Zorn of Zorna must win the hand of Princess Saralinda by bringing back a thousand jewels to her uncle in "six and sixty days" (32). Though it seems that six and sixty days are not ample time for him to complete such a task, Zorn of Zorna miraculously succeeds. This follows the plot of most classic fairy tales I can think of (excluding Rumplestiltzkin and Beauty & the Beast). There are so many prince-princess stories because every child (and deep down, every adult, too) wants to be a prince or princess. There is something appealing to human nature about glory, fame, wealth, beauty, and general happiness, all of which are presented as direct benefits of being royalty. Also, everyone loves a happy ending where justice is served--the good guys win and the bad guys suffer. The Thirteen Clocks does indeed include a happy ending of this nature. Not only is the story simple enough, but it is also relatively short (my copy is seventy pages with fairly large text) and includes pictures. Bedtime stories are, by nature, short stories. When parents concede to read just "one more bedtime story," they do not want it to take all night. Furthermore, it is simply easier to understand a story when you sit down and read the entire thing at once. Children admittedly have short attention spans. The rest of us adults do too, but we pretend to have a more mature mind, especially when it comes to paying attention. The Thirteen Clocks appeals to everyone, young and old because it is a familiar and somewhat simple tale.

All audiences can also appreciate The Thirteen Clocks for its musical language as seen by the poetic devices of rhyme and rhythm. In the beginning of the story, Prince Zorn of Zorna disguises himself as a minstrel and sings of various things whose mention are forbidden by the evil Duke. A villager tells the Prince that one of the Duke's spies will "die because to name your sins, he'll have to mention mittens. I leave at once for other lands, since I have mentioned mittens...You'll never live to wed his niece. You'll only die to feed his geese" (17). The rhyme combined with the absolute hilarity of this statement amuses the reader and is rhythmically pleasing. Smaller children may not catch or understand the substance of this passage completely, but they will enjoy hearing the rhyme scheme (AAABB) and rhythm pattern (8-7, 8-7). Literary enthusiasts will take note and admire the patterns evident in Thurber's writing. Another great example of Thurber's amusing and rhyming style is, "'It's odd,' the Golux muttered to himself. 'I could have sworn that she had died. This is the only time my stomach ever lied'" (54). Here again, Thurber amuses his audience by using this constant pattern of rhyme and rhythm. Humans love to find patterns--it brings sense and order to the sometimes chaotic world we live in. By creating this literary and somewhat musical pattern, Thurber's tale appeals to both the young and old.

The Thirteen Clocks is appealing because its characters, the likes of which have never been seen before in literature, add excitement and flavor to this familiar story. There are three truly out-of-the ordinary characters--the Golux, who is "always on hand when people are in peril" (18), Hagga, the weeper of jewels; and the unpleasant Todal. Of these, the Todal is the most outrageous character. The Todal is "made of lip," "looks like a blob of gulp," and "smells of old, unopened rooms" (36, 29). This creature is "waiting for the Duke to fail in some endeavour such as setting you a task that you can do" and is "an agent of the devil, sent to punish evil-doers for having done less evil than they should" (29, 30). There is no monster as quirky, interesting, and terrifying as the Todal in real life or in a book. By presenting his readers with such bizarre characters, Thurber appeals to their sense of humor, as well as to their sense of terror. The creativity and flair for language possessed by Thurber are most obvious in the descriptions of his characters. This sets his tale apart from others with similar, but seemingly less lively stories. More than anything else, The Thirteen Clocks is enjoyable because of its uniqueness in characterization.

This truly wonderful and shockingly good fairy tale is full of enough excitement and goodness to be appropriate for a bedtime story. Yet Thurber's true talent lies in his creative and imaginative abilities which allow for readers and listeners alike to enjoy this book. It is set apart from other fairy tales by its clever use of words and unparalleled characters. Buy this book (though I would suggest the hardcover edition with colored illustrations) or run to your local library before the Todal gulps you!

I jsut had to repond to the critical review at the top. I first heard this book when I was 5, and agian when I was 8. i loved i tboth times. I recently bought it (as an adult) becuase it is definately a book that everyone should own. It has a incredible magic of its own that sweeps you along.This book is a classic that every child deserves to hear.

This book taught me to go for what you want in life. It teaches that no matter how impossible it may seem, it can be done. I read this as a child, now I am 29 and I still think of it. I still like to sit down with a chunk of cheese and a loaf of bread as a snack, just like Dakin took with her on her journey. When it snows in the winter I think of the colored snow on the mountain that Dakin was determined to investigate. I have even tried to make colored snow myself. Gargoyles have a whole different charm to them once you know this story. Just from writing this I am excited to read the book all over again.

I read this story to my daughter for the first time when she was 4 and she loved it. A year later she wanted me to get it out of the library again. Recently, she insisted that we buy it. We read it through twice and now, since she is an excellent independent reader at 6, she is reading it again for atleast an hour at night to herself. Her favorite part is when the gargoyles say that they can "still feel". She has made her own stuffed gargoyles out of paper and pretends to be Dakin talking to them. This story is pure magic. It combines all of the elements of a questing story, but the fact that it is about a brave girl who knows her own mind, makes it special. There aren't many stories written for young girls like this and that makes it even more unique. I highly recommend it to anyone with a child who has a thirst for adventure and an interest in all things magical.

This adventurous, amazing, edge of your seat tale is my all-time favorite book! I've read it about three times and I've never gotten tired of it. When ever I see it in a library, I jump up and down and tell everybody "that's my favorite book!" I suggest anybody I see and all of my friends to read it. It is extremely entertaining.

I remember my mother reading this book to my twin sister and me. It was a hard back copy that she had gotten from the Library. My sister and I would come down out of our bunk beds and sit on the floor with my mother as we were enthralled to listen to her read this story. I loved the colored snow and the gargoyals. When I was married and had my first child I desired to read this book to my son and I did but it was mostly for me since he was only a few months old at the time. I will read it to him again. But I love this book. This story is a great treasure to me that I will always remember.

I LOVE reading this book to my kids.

Julia Donaldson works her magic again. In this book we meet a growing cast of instantly likable characters who become friends and end up sticking together to fight off a baddie.

The story is so beautifully written it feels like I'm singing when I read it, and my kids are not the only ones who, despite the fact we have read it countless times, still travel the full emotional road along which this story leads us.

This book is so much fun to read! Both my kids love it, but my 3 year old especially.
It's a cute story, with a little adventure and a fun ending, and the pictures are adorable. My kids where never scared, even though the main character is a witch. (she smiles all the time)
I definitely recommnend it.

My 3 1/2 yr old grandson LOVES this book. Great pictures Just enough drama! Discovery possibilities on the pages for a second look. Wonderful pictures and some anticipation on the right hand pages of what will come when the page is turned.

Both my 4 year old daughter and I love this book. It is so much fun to read and so much fun to hear. She laughs everytime I read it. The story is adorable and pictures are great. It is a nice story about friendship and rewarding acts of kindness. I bought this book for Halloween and we are still reading it several times a week.

My son loves this book so much, we wore out the first copy to the point that it was beyond me being able to tape the binding back together anymore. We bought him a second copy that has been "loved" as much as the first, and so we had to buy a third copy for my toddler so she had her own book that didn't have pages falling out while we were reading it. At one point, I had all the words in the book memorized, which came in handy while we awaited the arrival of our replacement book. At first glance, it may seem that this is a Halloween book. Let me assure you, you will enjoy reading this book all year long (I believe that my son asked to have this read to him every night for about 6 months) and the verse never gets tiresome. The story teaches children about compassion and the need to help others, despite the fact that you may not really be in the best position to help at the time it is needed most. Random acts of kindness by the witch thoughout the book are rewarded at the end of it when her friends save her from a fire-breathing dragon, and in return, she builds an even better broom to house her friends as a way of saying thank you. It teaches kids how important it is to be nice to everybody, and to be ready to lend a helping hand, because you never know when you might need a little help yourself.

What a wonderful book! The illustrations are breathtakingly georgous and intricately detailed as is typical of all Jan Brett's books. The story of the Gingerbread Baby is a surprising and delightful retelling of the classic story. My children and I loved this book!

Beautiful illustrations. This is a great children's adventure book. It also teaches children the names of some animals.

When a Gingerbread Boy is peeked at when not supposed to, he becomes Gingerbread Baby! This is the main idea of Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett. This story is about a boy named Matti in Switzerland. This is a great children's book. I strongly recommend the book.

A boy named Matti decides it's a perfect day for gingerbread. But, when his mother tells him not to peek, he does anyways. Then out pops ... not the Gingerbread Man but ... The Gingerbread Baby! The Ginger bread Baby runs away and everyone chases him. It's very funny.

I think that the Gingerbread Baby is the best character. He's the best character because he is my favorite character. The main characters are, Matti, The Gingerbread Baby, and the animals. The writing style is great. The story is very easy to read. It's a great book.

I really like the illustrations. They really tell the story. Some of the pictures are funny. The Gingerbread Baby even has his own little saying like the Gingerbread Man. One saying is "Catch me if you can!"

The story was great and funny. I really enjoyed the book. I really hope you like the book too. I recommend the book for grades k-5. This book can be for any age, boy or girl.

The book was as promised, prompt delivery and good packaging. I will use this seller again.

I really feel like the odd one out, but I wasn't too impressed with this book. Sure, the illustrations are gorgeous...By no means am I knocking Ms. Brett's skill here, but I just find the text a little long winded and ackward. Maybe it's the way I'm reading it...? It just doesn't seem too terribly well-written to me.

During a visit to my parent's house about 6 weeks into my son's life, my father presented me with his 30 year old copy of this book. Clearly it had made such an impression on him while he was raising me, that he had not only kept it, but remembered it when it was my turn to raise my first child. After reading the What to Expect series, Dr. Sears, Dr. Spock, and other various finds studiously like textbooks while I was pregnant (highlighting, note-taking, comparing ideologies), I found this book refreshing, simple, honest and captivating. The "rules" are so commonsensical they may seem at first like a waste of time. But the author discusses the reasons why babies and young children do the things they do and need their basic needs in a way that makes you feel like you can really see the world through your child's eyes. It is a delightful read and many times brought tears to my eyes as the lightbulb went off above my head and I could see how simple raising a child can be. My son is 7 months now and this book has never left the side of my bed. I re-read it frequently as he develops just to re-center myself when the stresses of parenthood ever seem too weighty.

Unique as Pete: How Autism Does Not Mean Different

This is an excellent guide to raising a new baby. I love it becuase it's all based on sound research and the advice in this book has been right on with our daughter. This is a MUST have if you are raising a new baby.

When I was pregnant with my daughter - there was a lot of worry since this was my first child. Obviously, children do not come with a manual! I bought and read this book and used it constantly as a referral. Our daughter is happy, polite, shares, intelligent, kind, etc. She is constantly invited to parties and restaraunts that other childdren are not invited to. After meals at restaraunts, the managers/owners come and comment on what a well-behaved child she is. She does have many friends and can get along with varied personalities. We purchase this book for all new parents - and they read it stating they would like a child that is as polite and respectful (of others and their properties) as our daughter is. You really cannot go wrong in purchasing this book!!

From describing each developmental phase to suggesting toys, this book provides invaluable information that can help parents navigate the early years. Great shower gift for first time parents!

This is a great book for anyone interested in developmentally appropriate activities, toys, etc. for their growing baby/child. It gives excellent descriptions of what is going on in baby's development to help understand how to handle challenges and opportunities in rearing a self-confident, intelligent, happy child. Much of the activities are simple things you can do with little or no money, which is great. The national foundation based on this book is fantastic and I tell everyone about it: [...]

a must-have!

My children received this book as a gift, and our 5 and 3 year olds really enjoy the story. The illustrations are very well-done, and the story is beautiful.

This is more than just a children's book. It is something very special and beautifully illustrated that caters for the child that lurks inside all of us. The simple story touches not just on human faith but issues of the heart that will promise to bring a lump in your throat at the end of it. If you have young children, read it to them. If you don't, find a quiet moment and read it aloud to yourself. I promise you, it's really good for the soul. A wonderful gift this Christmas or any time.

This is a wonderful book about a folk tale regarding the Eucharist. Make sure you read the passage at the end, it is based upon a true story! My children love this book. It really helps them appreciate how important the Mass is.

I have ordered several copies of this book and given them as gifts, and I will order many more I am sure. It is a terrific First Communion gift, providing a very tangible example of the value of going to Mass, it is a message which resonates with parent and child alike.

This well-written tale, reportedly based on a true story, demonstrates to young children how the Mass ought to "outweigh" life's supposedly finer things -- in this case the delicacies of a baker. As others have observed it is beautifully illustrated by Katalin Szegedi; her watercolor drawings help children develop an early appreciation for the three transcendentals: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. The book takes about seven minutes to read, so it's perfect for reading to young children (7 and under.) "The Weight of a Mass" deserves the fine praise it has received here and elsewhere, and it makes one look forward to other titles by the publisher Gingerbread House. Highly recommended.

My two-year-old niece insists that her mother and grandmother read this book to her several times a day. When I went to visit, I saw this book and immediately remembered enjoying it as a kid. Our neighbor read it to me to comfort me one day when I was upset because my dad had locked his keys in his car, we were locked out of the house, and I was upset because I had stepped in a puddle and my pants were wet to the knee. (I think I must have been 5 or 6 at the time) Mom tells me the neighbor read me this book while we waited for her to come home with her keys and let us back in the house, and it calmed me down.

I bought this for a first grader that I mentor and she has enjoyed it so much, in fact she has read it at least six times

This is another terrific book by Syd Hoff that brings back childhood memories. I loved it then and I still love it now. My kids enjoy reading this book over and over again. It is filled with colorful pictures and the story line is so cute and fun. Another great book by Syd Hoff.

I bought this book for my Grandson,and he loves it.His little Brother wants him to read it to him now too.I love to buy books for my Grandchildren.I am a avid reader and I want them to have the same experience.This is a great book.It is easy to read,even for a early reader,and it is also so cute.All my kids have loved it.It has been around for years.

This book is a classic. My kids always pick it out at the library to read.

This is a wonderful story of finding one's own self confidence. I loved it from beginning to end. The illustrations are adorable. Nice to see some fantastic, good old fashioned storytellers are still out there still!

I won't bother to explain how I come to read The Little Prince and His Magic Wand, a well-written children's book by Jillian M. Curtis, because it really doesn't matter. I'm just thrilled that I did.
When I was a little girl, my mother constantly told me that I was special because I was born on Good Friday, and then I was blessed with the beautiful experience of standing at the end of a rainbow. Unfortunately, there was no pot of gold. But you know what, it really didn't matter and I wasn't the least bit discouraged to think that pot of gold didn't really exist. It was just a stroke of bad luck to find myself standing at the wrong end...that's all. Admittedly so, I might have been a bit disappointed, but never enough to give up believing in that rainbow. And wasn't it enough just getting to stand there in those beautiful colors? Wasn't that quite special? Maybe not to anyone else in the world, but it sure was to me.
So no matter how old we get, we should never give up believing in those childhood fantasies our parents tell us about, like the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny or "Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus." That wonderful world of magic and wishing upon a star should remain as much a part of our adult lives as it did when we were children.
It's like "no child left behind". No youngster should be allowed to miss out on the joys of make-believe and fairy tales. And when a precious story like "The Little Prince and His Magic Wand" comes along, we shouldn't miss out on that either. After reading this beautiful short story, I smiled, wishing I'd had this book to read to my children when they were little. Children love a beautiful fairy tale, and I'll have to say, this little book is one of the very best, truly a story for the young at heart. In fact, I'll probably read it again...just for me. ;-)
Get it. You won't go wrong. Your kids will love it.

Jillian M. Curtis' The Little Prince and His Magic Wand is a quaint and delightful children's book that points young children to the magic within themselves and away from the constant distractions of the world. It's a sweet and wholesome story of a good and kind young prince who follows his dream of becoming a great wizard by searching the Forest of Magic, Mystery and Miracles for the Great Wizard himself. Coming upon the Spirit of the Forest trapped amongst some thickets and thorns, he does not hesitate to come to her assistance. It is through his acts of kindness toward the beautiful young Spirit that he ultimately finds what he is looking for - the true source of magic.

I love the look of this book. Some might consider the (watercolor?) illustrations of Janet Mattison-Prise to be old-fashioned - certainly, they don't leap off the page with vivid realism, but they are exactly the type of illustrations a good, classic children's book should have. After all, illustrations are supposed to complement the story, not compete for the child's attention.

It should be noted that this book is primarily written for children between four and eight years old, and it should go far in helping such youngsters realize just how fun reading can be. With its uplifting message that you can accomplish anything if you just have faith in yourself, The Little Prince and His Magic Wand provides children with an inspirational story they will find educational as well as entertaining.

I found this book to be an original hero quest for younger children. What made it original was that the main character already was a prince, a person of power and wealth, yet above all things he wished to be a wizard. As the tale tells us, even though he could command armies, he could not do magic. Even the court magicians could do no more than give him a cloak that made him look like a wizard- and advice to enter the Forest of Magic, Mystery, and Miracles to look for the Great Wizard on his own.

So the young Prince enters the great forest on his own. He soon encounters the feminine spirit of that forest. She is trapped, exhausted and in danger after her own quest for her Knight of Serenity. The young Prince shows empathy and compassion in freeing her, listening to her tale, and helping her to return to her home. He even finds the ability to do magic to aid them on their way, though it hardly seems like magic at the time. Indeed, as a result of his efforts, the Great Wizard reveals himself to the Prince. His message is that the prince had always had the magic within himself; he had only to realize it through selfless helping. The prince's worldly scepter had always been a magic wand. The young prince leaves a small spark of himself with the spirit and tells her that he will one day return to the Forest.

I found this a charming, non-threatening tale for children. It teaches that there is something more to the world than material wealth and power. There is something more. This something lies deep within us and we can connect with it if we only make a positive effort to use it for good. Part of us will always reside in the Forest of Magic, Mystery, and Miracles... and we will one day return there.

Growing up, a long, long time ago, I cut my teeth on fairytales. I have often felt we needed more of them, not only for our children and grandchildren, but for our own enjoyment. I must admit, many of the tales presented by the Brothers Grimm, read to me in my youth by my mother, scared me half silly, being a child with an over active imagination. (Actually, not much has changed over the years in this area). No fear here though. This is a delightful tale of love, friendship and the magic that is in all of us. This is a point well made in the story. Most, if not all, of us have that magic in us, we have it around us and it is ours to have for the taking if we just look in the right places. This little story points that out in an absolutely delightful way. The author's mellow syntax is an absolute delight to read and I did not find one page that did not leave plenty of room for discussion with your child or grandchild as the book is being read. I must admit to have greatly enjoyed the style of the illustrator also, Janet Mattison-Prise. It was executed in a manner that I find particularly pleasing. This book, as others have pointed out, is a great bed time book or a rainy afternoon book. I hardly think you could go wrong. The story is pretty straight forward, the lessons learned by the little prince are quite worthwhile and it does foster the imagination. What more could you want? Recommend this one highly. I do hope this author gives us more of the same in the future.

This is a great book on numerology. I really appreciate the insights and the information!

My wife and I purchased this book it was spooky how close the descriptions were of our selves and of course our children. If you're looking for confirmation that you are really who you are, this book will provide some great insights.

This numerology book was fantastic. Complete with easy to follow instructions to do your own charts, plus many examples. In addition there was a chapter that followed numerology and it's influence on an actual persons life. The second part of the book includes tarot card and astrology information as well. Very informative book that I will reference often.

Very informative and interesting. A book to always come back to as times in your life change. A treasure if you follow it's direction. Spiritual, for it shows you your purpose based on the numbers that correspond to your name, birthday etc. I cherish this book and it's name truly gives it's meaning "Divine". Thank you.

This book was recommended by a friend and on that recommendation two of my friends also ordered this book. It brings astrology, numerology, sacred geometry and other Hermetic techniques together to find out more about me and how I operate in the world. There are easy ways to determine your different personality and life purpose numbers and gives information that seemed accurate. Anytime we can tap into the Divinity that is inherent within us, that is a great opportunity to touch God.

In this tale of tallow candles and turning tides, Corinna Stonewall, keeps her silences, knowing the power of them. In her skin ticks the beat of a timepiece, in her belly is a familiar emptiness from saving her food to feed "the folk", a band of magical beings, all teeth and mischief. As the folk keeper, a job Corinna secured without apprenticeship but by running off the real Corin and buying what knowledge she could get through eavesdropping at the market and doing other boys' chores.

Those days are gone though. Corinna has stopped traveling from home to home and has settled at her place in the cellar when a group of nobles arrives, looking for...Corinna. Though she cuts her hair each morning (it grows two inches every night) and eats little to nothing, she cannot always hide her gender. Even more interesting is the deathbed pact one of the visitors makes with her, having her promise to be a lady of his house. Instead, Corinna secures the place of folk keeper at the new estate, a job no one can take away from her.

The northern isles reveal things Corinna never knew about herself: she his hungry, eating fish right out of the waves, she grows soft in heart, becoming friends with the young man of the house and worst of all, she cannot control the wild folk of the north, who take their strength from stone and sea.

This is an unforgettable story full of imagination, betrayal, secrets and strength. In the darkest pit, Corinna discovers her true identity and with it, her power. The reader finds her own power and place along the way too. Not to be missed.

This was a wonderfully written fantasy novel. I immediately fell in love with the main character and her world. I would highly recommend it to kids *and* adults!

Interesting read. Certainly a different writing style. Difficult to hold my interest until late in the book. It shows great imagination. It is not a casual read.

In the old Zork video games were these nasty critters called grues. If you went into the caverns without a candle you'd likely be eaten by one, but you never encountered them in the light and had no idea what they looked like. Somehow, it was a lot spookier that way.

I'm not saying that Billingsley based her Folk off the Zorkian grues, but both were likely inspired by the same old legends about ravenous teeth lurking in the unknowable darkness.

Instead of avoiding the Folk, like a video game adventurer would, fifteen-year-old Corrina Stonewall seeks them out. Armed only with her courage and a collection of dubious charms, Corrina spends long hours in the cellar "tending" the Folk--that is to say, keeping a journal of what the ravenous creatures eat and providing a bit of herself on the occasions that they're still hungry.

Corrina has to pass at being a boy in order to keep this plum of a work assignment, but at least it's better than scrubbing floors.

As we get to know Corrina through her Folk journal, we discover that this Folk Keeper's gender is not her only secret. She also has strange abilities and a secret past that she herself does not even guess at. The writing is powerful and poetic, and the ending is sure to please.

If you read this book, make sure you have a nightlight handy in your bedroom. Or else, you might be eaten by a grue.

I know there are a lot of books about girls pretending to be boys ( like the books by Tamora Pierce), but this one blows them all away, until only The Folk Keeper stands in all its glory on a podium made of gold.
Now, I did not think I would ever read a perfect fantasy book. Either the character is not fully developed or the writing style is boring/cheesy or it is bogged down with romance. After reading The Folk Keeper, I knew I had found the perfect book. Corinna is immediately a lovable character, a character you stand up for, that you know like the back of your hand. The plot is formed out of seemingly magical hands, spinning a tight web about you that you just can't break till the end. The end, I must tell you, is perfect, it is glorious, it gives you shivers on the back of your neck. And it's all because of the author's extraordinary writing style. Each word is perfectly placed, each scene completely vivid in your mind, until Corinna's world seems to be surrounding you on all sides -- until it is part of you, until you are part of it. I will say again: Do not stop with Tamora Pierce, thinking that no one could possibly write another good book about a girl disguised as a boy. Read The Folk Keeper(it is a million times better!!!). Enjoy!