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The
Land of Stories #1
Read
by Chris Colfer
narrated by Chris Colfer
Hachette
/ Little, Brown Young Readers
July 2, 2013/
ISBN 161969820X
Tweeners - Ages 8 – 12 / Audiobook
– Unabridged / 8 hours and 59 minutes
Reviewed
by Brenda Weeaks
AMAZON
UK
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The
Wishing Spell opens in Prince Charming’s dungeon
with Snow White visiting the Evil Queen. Snow asks the Queen
a critical question then offers the Queen a chance to clear
her name. The Queen, holding her stone heart in hand, considers
it. Next, the author introduces his characters –Alex
and Conner Bailey (The Twins). The twins’ mother and
grandmother are the grownups in their lives. The twins’
story begins in the classroom with Mrs. Peters. Mrs. Peters
assigns homework about Fairy Tales and morals. Lucky for them
Grandma shows up with an old book of fairy tales. Coincidence?
Maybe. The twins discover the truth about grandma’s
book just before they disappear. Alex handles sudden trip
better than Connor. The two meet up with a character called
Froggie. He explains the Land of Stories with its many Kingdoms
and characters. He also tells them about a Wishing Spell.
While searching for the wishing spell items, the two visit
the various Kingdoms and meet some timeless characters. They
also discover the Evil Queen has escaped. Their adventure
has just become even more dangerous.
Fairy
Tales are much more entertaining when read aloud. Having them
on audio is even better. Colfer is the perfect narrator. Who
better to draw out the best and worst of these old familiar
characters, as well as the newest ones than the writer who
brought them together on the written page. Listeners will
be mesmerized from the moment they hit play.
The storylines deliver an old, yet a new world in the vein
of Harry Potter, Redwall, His Dark Materials, etc.,
and like those series, Land of Stories will live on and on.
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