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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
My daughter likes this series more than I do. (I've found a number of disconcerting errors an editor should have caught, and that annoys me to no end.)
4/5 stars for this fairytale middle grade! Such a cute series!
Tricked is everything you want in a middle grade title--EVERYTHING!
"Things are changing at Fairy Tale Reform School.
At least, that's what Gilly's heard through the Enchantasia rumor mill. Word is, notorious trickster Rumpelstiltskin has taken over management from Headmistress Flora, and he's locked down the school tighter than the Pied Piper's pants. Not that this news concerns Gilly. She's been released from FTRS and is now suffering through attending Jack of All Trades School, where she gets to learn about different kinds of shoe leather and ways to measure feet. Truly riveting stuff.
But when Gilly's little sister Anna gets whisked off to FTRS thanks to her troublemaking new friends, Hansel and Gretel, Gilly knows she's got to get Anna out of there. There's only one thing to do; make some serious trouble and get thrown back into FTRS.
It's time to out-trick a trickster."
If you've ever heard me talk about Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go, you know I'm passionate about middle grade books that imitate and re-tell other stories (Go pick up Heck if you haven't already.) So it should be no surprise when I tell you that this series needs a place on your shelves.
Because I requested, and was approved for Book #3, I needed to run through books #1 and #2. Lucky for me, they were easy to listen to. Because the FTRS is fantasy, there is a lot of world building, but we are never just told about it all. We learn so much about the world just by being it. I felt like I'd already been in Enchantasia, and that everything in this world was plausible.
From gargoyles to evil fairies, everything in this world is plausible. And everything is a pun that children and adults are sure to enjoy.
Jen's quirk keeps up in all three installments. And we watch Gilly toggle back and forth between a likable quirky little thief-and an obnoxious little brat.
Tricked brings us back to FTRS to once again watch Gilly, Jax, Maxine, Ollie, and Kayla save the day. Flora, Cinderella's formerly wicked ex-stepmother, is no longer the headmistress at Fairy Tale Reform School. She has been replaced by Mr. Stiltskin, and he is cracking down on the rules so hard that more children are being sent to FTRS than ever!
I guarantee this is a series you, your kids, your younger siblings, your classmates, and basically anybody with a pulse will enjoy. I definitely recommend you run out to your nearest bookstore to pick up a copy. Right now.
Jen Calonita's Website
Amazon . B&N . IndieBound
"Things are changing at Fairy Tale Reform School.
At least, that's what Gilly's heard through the Enchantasia rumor mill. Word is, notorious trickster Rumpelstiltskin has taken over management from Headmistress Flora, and he's locked down the school tighter than the Pied Piper's pants. Not that this news concerns Gilly. She's been released from FTRS and is now suffering through attending Jack of All Trades School, where she gets to learn about different kinds of shoe leather and ways to measure feet. Truly riveting stuff.
But when Gilly's little sister Anna gets whisked off to FTRS thanks to her troublemaking new friends, Hansel and Gretel, Gilly knows she's got to get Anna out of there. There's only one thing to do; make some serious trouble and get thrown back into FTRS.
It's time to out-trick a trickster."
If you've ever heard me talk about Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go, you know I'm passionate about middle grade books that imitate and re-tell other stories (Go pick up Heck if you haven't already.) So it should be no surprise when I tell you that this series needs a place on your shelves.
Because I requested, and was approved for Book #3, I needed to run through books #1 and #2. Lucky for me, they were easy to listen to. Because the FTRS is fantasy, there is a lot of world building, but we are never just told about it all. We learn so much about the world just by being it. I felt like I'd already been in Enchantasia, and that everything in this world was plausible.
From gargoyles to evil fairies, everything in this world is plausible. And everything is a pun that children and adults are sure to enjoy.
Jen's quirk keeps up in all three installments. And we watch Gilly toggle back and forth between a likable quirky little thief-and an obnoxious little brat.
Tricked brings us back to FTRS to once again watch Gilly, Jax, Maxine, Ollie, and Kayla save the day. Flora, Cinderella's formerly wicked ex-stepmother, is no longer the headmistress at Fairy Tale Reform School. She has been replaced by Mr. Stiltskin, and he is cracking down on the rules so hard that more children are being sent to FTRS than ever!
I guarantee this is a series you, your kids, your younger siblings, your classmates, and basically anybody with a pulse will enjoy. I definitely recommend you run out to your nearest bookstore to pick up a copy. Right now.
Jen Calonita's Website
Amazon . B&N . IndieBound
I enjoyed this one more than the previous entries in the series. Being familiar with the characters and the world made it easier to focus on the story. This one had a classic fantasy quest-- with adventure, challenges, self-doubt, and magical surprises along the way. It was great to see Jocelyn, Jax, Maxine, and Kayla again. It was also fun to meet Hailey and the magical creatures in this one as well. I will definitely be tuning in to the 4th entry in the series.
Third book in the series, and I still love it. Clearly it was written in the past year or so, as Rumplestilskin has taken over the fairy tale reform school and vows to Make Enchantasia Great Again. The students go on a quest to find the golden goose to appease him, Gilly does some soul searching and realized she doesn't have to be a cobbler like her parents. And Red Riding Hood vows never to be anyone's prey again. I'm nearing the end of the series and I don't want it to end!