Impossible and Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin
384 pgs. and 400 pgs.
Target audience: Young Adult
Rating: Dragon for both

Impossible and Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin I was about to read Extraordinary when I glanced at the inside jacket which called it a followup to Impossible. I'm usally a stickler for reading books in order, but sometimes I'm not aware and read them out of order anyway. So I read Impossible first and loved it.

Then I read Extraordinary and loved it just as much. Although they both deal with the fairy world affecting the human one in some significant way, they are very much separate stories. Neither the plots nor the characters are the same. So, if you happen to have access to Extraordinary and not Impossible, don't fret - you'll enjoy them no matter what the order. In Impossible, the story revolves around the family curse based on the ballad "Scarborough Fair" in which each woman in her family will become pregnant at the age of 17 and once the baby is born, go mad. After discovering the curse in her mother's diary, Lucy races to find the cure before it's too late. It is a gripping story urging you on until the end.

In Extraordinary, the problem begins with fulfilling a long ago pact with the Faerie Queen. Phoebe's new best friend, Mallory, isn't what she seems. Though she's a bit odd with her strange clothes and peculiar behavior, Mallory becomes like a sister to Phoebe. As the bond strengthens, Mallory loses sight of her main objective. Enter Mallory's brother, Ryland, who starts to make the moves on Phoebe. Although the last couple of chapters drag a bit, it is an charming story of friendship, loyalty, and betrayal.

13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison
353 pgs.
Age 8-12
Rating: Wizard

Synopsis from back cover
"You don't always have to see to believe. Though her mother cannot see the evil fairies that rouse Tanya from her sleep, torturing her at the slightest mention of their existence, they are as real to the thirteen-year-old as anything she's ever known. If she could wish them away, she would, but it is she who is sent away -- to live at her grandmother's secluded countryside manor.

There is much to explore and even more to fear in the woods surrounding the estate. But the forest isn't the only source of dark secrets, and Tanya soon finds herself entangled in a mystery that could trap her in the fairy realm forever."

Harrison has delivered up a wonderful new fantasy series. There are two more after this one which I'll review once I get them read. The first thing I noticed about this story was the splendid sense of place. The descriptions of her grandmother's remote house and environs are painted so vividly and detailed that I have only to close my eyes to picture it perfectly. I love a strong female character and our heroine, Tanya, is just that. She doesn't give up when her constant battles with fairies wear on her mom's last nerve compelling her to send Tanya to her grandmother's. She doesn't give up when the mysteries at the house in the woods threaten to drive her mad if she doesn't solve them. She bands together with her cousin to solve the mystery of the children who keep going missing at the local hospital. Togther they battle long buried family secrets which are intrinsically entwined with the fairy problem. The author ties up enough of the many pieces of the puzzle at the end to satisfy the mystery solvers in us but leaves enough mystery to keep us coming back for more.

The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz
117 pgs
Age 7-11
Rating: Wizard

Synopsis from back cover
"What would happe to a fairy if she lost her wings and could no longer fly? Flory, a young night fiary no taller than an acorn, is in just such a circumstance. What she discovers is that the world is very big and very, very dangerous. But Flory is fierce and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. If that means telling others wat to do, so be it. Skuggle, a squirrel ruled by his stomach, is an easy puppet. Flory soon finds, though, that not every creature is nearly as willing to bend to her demands."

This is a beautifully written and exquisitely illustrated tale of a night fairy who reluctantly becomes a day fairy to survive in the giant world she finds herself in. Flory enlists the help of a squirrel to access seed from a bird feeder, rescues a hummingbird and makes a deal with a spider. She is resourceful, brave, and genuine. As she becomes attuned with her own magic, she decides she likes being a day fairy and makes her home in the garden with her new friends. Schlitz skillfully explores the miniature fairy world and delivers a satisfying magical adventure.

Fairy Lies by E. D. Baker
256 pgs.
Target audence" Age 8-12
Rating: Wizard

In this sequel to Fairy Wings, Tamisin, who has recently broken up with her cat goblin boyfriend, Jak, is kidnapped by fairies and taken to Oberon. Tamisin is not just any fairy, she's the daughter of Queen Titania and up until now has believed her father to be human. Oberon insists that Tamisin is his daughter and that he brought her to the fey world to bond with her good 'ole dad. Meanwhile Jak sets off on a quest to rescue her. At this point the story splits and alternates between Jak's ad Tamisin's adventures. The more time Tamisin spends three, the more muddled her thoughts become. There are encounters with trolls, goblins, sea monsters and a hidden enemy who wants to harm Tamisin. This is a fun book for fans of fairies. It is not necessary to read the first to enjoy this one.

The Humming Room by Ellen Potter
192 pgs.
Target audience: Age 8-12
Rating: Wizard

I absolutely loved this book. One of my favorite books growing up was The Secret Garden, so since this is an homage to that classic, I naturally I had to read it. Roo, orphaned when her parents are murdered, is packed off to live with an uncle in a mansion on the remote Cough Rock island. Her uncle stays away most of the time and Roo's only company is Miss Violet and Ms. Valentine who tells Roo all the hard and fast rules that MUST be obeyed. Roo is small and used to being alone. She loves to hide in small places and listen to the noises beneath the earth surface. The huge mansion, formerly a tuberculosis sanitarium, presents many mysteries ripe for her to solve. From the anguished cries of a young child to the strange humming noise reverberating through the very walls and secret boxes hidden in floorboards, Roo sets out to explore. She soon finds she has a cousin, Phillip, who remains sequestered in his sick room. She also becomes fascinated by a young boy who appears to just live in the wild, but turns out he is Sidh or fey. Roo befriends them both. But the biggest secret is discovered when she slides down the laundry shute only to land in what seems to be a long dead garden. Sound familiar? Together the three children work to revive the garden where other family secrets have been long buried. Even though Potter clearly brings elements directly from the original, she has created a singularly fresh tale. This book is shorter and more suspenseful with lovely gothic elements and a strong heroine. Highly recommended to middle grade readers.