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arafaye's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
dlberglund's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun, light read, set in a barely futuristic, different sort of society. Kids are heavily tracked into their interest and talent areas in New Avalon, which is run on a sort of cult of personality/achievement. I definitely wanted to know more about the other cities in this universe, and why New Avalon was the way it was. Charlie's quest- to get rid of her special fairy because too many people want to use her because of it- is kind of annoying. The writing, the world building in particular, was nearly excellent. Worth picking up for sure.
sandraagee's review against another edition
3.0
Fun concept with moderate execution. I had kind of a hard time getting into the alternate universe the story was set in at first, and it was sometimes hard to take this setting seriously because it was so out there. But even if it isn't always believable (in the way that fantasy has to be developed enough to make the reader believe it exists, which does not fully happen here), a lot of the ideas, from the fairies to the specialized culture of New Avalon was fun enough to make the book entertaining and the funky combination of British/Australian slang with the made-up words was surprisingly fun.
shaekin's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty cute book and the concept was fun. The language took me a bit to catch on to, but not awful. There were some fun ideas that were introduced but weren't explored as much as I wanted. I actually thought this might be part of a series for that reason, but wasn't, which is why it didn't get as high of a rating.
impybelle's review against another edition
4.0
If you like your fiction to play around with words, either in how they're strung together or possibly making new words up, giving old words new meanings, or just teaching you something totally random, you should seriously consider How To Ditch Your Fairy.
I love Charlie although I'm nothing like her. Her school would've killed me but it's fun to read about. So are the various fairies sprinkled throughout the book even though they're never seen.
Light, fluffy, and a bit warm and fuzzy to go with the headache the first couple of chapters make induce.
I love Charlie although I'm nothing like her. Her school would've killed me but it's fun to read about. So are the various fairies sprinkled throughout the book even though they're never seen.
Light, fluffy, and a bit warm and fuzzy to go with the headache the first couple of chapters make induce.
ex_libris_ad_astra's review against another edition
3.0
Cute, but full of waaaayyyy too much useless fluff, and not easy enough to understand the made-up words.
missprint_'s review against another edition
4.0
Welcome to New Avalon, the best city in the world--just ask any of its residents. New Avalon has the most important celebrities, the tallest buildings, and the best slang. It also has the best sports school in the country, but you probably already knew that since it has a reputation for training future famous athletes by the truckload.
As far as fourteen-year-old Charlie is concerned life in New Avalon is just about perfect, especially now that she's getting to know here totally pulchy and crush-worthy new neighbor Stefan. The only real problem is Charlie's parking fairy.
It's not that fairies are uncommon, far from it. Many New Avaloners have fairies that help with everything from finding loose change to finding the perfect clothes. Some fairies make people charming and famous, some keep them from ever getting cold or losing their grip. Charlie's fairy helps her find a perfect parking space anywhere, any time.
Charlie can't drive. Charlie hates cars. Charlie is tired of always smelling vaguely of gasoline. And Charlie is sick of being passed around to her all of her neighbors going to the doctor or some other important appointment where they need to find good parking.
Charlie is desperate to get rid of her fairy through any means necessary. And sometimes desperate people do stupid things like refusing to help one of the most important people in school and teaming up with their archenemy (and even a few other, more dangerous, things). Only time will tell if it will all be enough to solve Charlie's parking problem in How to Ditch Your Fairy (2008) by Justine Larbalestier.
Larbalestier splits her time between Australia and the United States (specifically New York City) and has written books set in both countries. How to Ditch Your Fairy is set in neither. Instead, Larbalestier has created an imaginary country; an amalgam of the two. The effect is rather like being thrown into the deep end of the pool to learn to swim. The setting, the slang, and the culture are utterly alien and initially quite confusing. (The book includes a character as clueless as some readers will feel about the ways of New Avalon as well as several helpful glossaries at the end of the book.)
While the total immersion is a little daunting at first, it helps get right to the action of the story. Larbalestier introduces a fascinating and foreign city readers will love learning about throughout the story. Even though New Avalon doesn't exist outside of this story, it feels like it does thanks to Larbalestier's expert depiction.
Charlie is also a refreshing addition to the already rich cadre of young adult heroines. She eats, drinks and breathes sports (like most of her fellow students). Charlie's passion for sports is embedded in every part of How to Ditch Your Fairy but there is more to the story, and the heroine, than sports. Some readers will fully identify with Charlie and her enthusiasm for all things sports. Others will appreciate her eagerness because it so clearly reflects the fierce commitment needed to follow a dream.
How to Ditch Your Fairy starts with a familiar girl, a character you could have met anywhere, but by the end of the story it will be clear that this book is completely original and completely entertaining.
Possible Pairings: Alice, I Think by Susan Juby, Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison, A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell, Jungle Crossing by Sydney Salter
As far as fourteen-year-old Charlie is concerned life in New Avalon is just about perfect, especially now that she's getting to know here totally pulchy and crush-worthy new neighbor Stefan. The only real problem is Charlie's parking fairy.
It's not that fairies are uncommon, far from it. Many New Avaloners have fairies that help with everything from finding loose change to finding the perfect clothes. Some fairies make people charming and famous, some keep them from ever getting cold or losing their grip. Charlie's fairy helps her find a perfect parking space anywhere, any time.
Charlie can't drive. Charlie hates cars. Charlie is tired of always smelling vaguely of gasoline. And Charlie is sick of being passed around to her all of her neighbors going to the doctor or some other important appointment where they need to find good parking.
Charlie is desperate to get rid of her fairy through any means necessary. And sometimes desperate people do stupid things like refusing to help one of the most important people in school and teaming up with their archenemy (and even a few other, more dangerous, things). Only time will tell if it will all be enough to solve Charlie's parking problem in How to Ditch Your Fairy (2008) by Justine Larbalestier.
Larbalestier splits her time between Australia and the United States (specifically New York City) and has written books set in both countries. How to Ditch Your Fairy is set in neither. Instead, Larbalestier has created an imaginary country; an amalgam of the two. The effect is rather like being thrown into the deep end of the pool to learn to swim. The setting, the slang, and the culture are utterly alien and initially quite confusing. (The book includes a character as clueless as some readers will feel about the ways of New Avalon as well as several helpful glossaries at the end of the book.)
While the total immersion is a little daunting at first, it helps get right to the action of the story. Larbalestier introduces a fascinating and foreign city readers will love learning about throughout the story. Even though New Avalon doesn't exist outside of this story, it feels like it does thanks to Larbalestier's expert depiction.
Charlie is also a refreshing addition to the already rich cadre of young adult heroines. She eats, drinks and breathes sports (like most of her fellow students). Charlie's passion for sports is embedded in every part of How to Ditch Your Fairy but there is more to the story, and the heroine, than sports. Some readers will fully identify with Charlie and her enthusiasm for all things sports. Others will appreciate her eagerness because it so clearly reflects the fierce commitment needed to follow a dream.
How to Ditch Your Fairy starts with a familiar girl, a character you could have met anywhere, but by the end of the story it will be clear that this book is completely original and completely entertaining.
Possible Pairings: Alice, I Think by Susan Juby, Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison, A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell, Jungle Crossing by Sydney Salter