The Sisters Grimm Book One: The Fairy Tale Detectives

Buckley, Michael. The Sisters Grimm Book One: The Fairy Tale Detectives. Amulet Books, 2005. ISBN 978-0-8109-9322-8

Plot

Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are orphaned when their parents disappear. They are eventually taken to their Grandmother, Relda Grimm. She reveals that their family is descended from Wilhelm Grimm, one of the Brothers Grimm who collected fairy tales. According to Relda, fairy tales are not stories. They are historical records of real events. The characters in fairy tales, called Everafters, now reside in Ferryport Landing. The girls were told by their parents that their grandmother was dead. Sabrina does not believe Relda is her grandmother or that fairy tales are real. She wants to run away. Daphne is happy to stay and find out more about her new grandmother. The girls try to escape Granny Relda's house but are attacked by pixies. They are rescued by Granny Relda and her Great Dane named Elvis. Sabrina and Daphne set out with their Grandmother and her friend named Mr. Canis to solve the mystery of a giant's appearance in Ferryport Landing. Granny Relda and Mr. Canis are kidnapped by the giant, so the girls are on their own until Puck, the Trickster King, shows up. He torments them but then realizes he must help the girls find Granny and Mr. Canis. Granny takes care of him, and he doesn't want to lose his meal ticket. The fairy tale detectives believe that Jack the Giant Killer may be able to help them, so they help him escape the city jail. The girls find that a secret society, the Scarlet Hand, is responsible for their parents' disappearance and is plotting to destroy the Grimm family. If the Grimm family is killed then the fairy tale citizens of Ferryport Landing will be released from a spell that keeps them from leaving the town.

Critical Evaluation

The story is charming and fast-paced. It is fun to seek clues and try to solve the mystery along with Sabrina and Daphne. The reader is repeatedly introduced to new yet familiar fairy tale characters like the three little pigs and the man in the magic mirror. The characters of Sabrina and Daphne are fun to read about. Sabrina is a typical tween. She is bossy to her little sister and very suspicious of the people around her. Daphne is an adorable little sister. She is trusting and sweet, but she can give her sister a hard time when she wants to. Puck, an Everafter, acts like a teasing older brother to the girls. The resulting sibling dynamic is funny and appealing to read about. There is a great deal of humor in the story which makes reading even more fun.

Annotations

Sabrina and Daphne Grimm become fairy tale detectives when their parents disappear and their Granny Relda takes them in. The girls must find out why a giant has been set loose in their new home town, rescue their Granny and her friend, and find clues to the disappearance of their parents.

Author

Michael Buckley has written eight novels in this series. He recently published the first book in a new series, NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society.

Genre

Fiction – fairy tales and mystery.

Curriculum Ties

Language arts – fairy tale stories and characters, elements of a mystery story.

Booktalk Ideas

Review favorite fairy tale characters with listeners. Ask listeners to describe their favorite fairy tales. Introduce Sabrina and Daphne and their situation as orphans newly arrived in Ferryport Landing. Read the first few pages with the group.

Reading Level/Interest Age

Grade 4 (age 9) and up.

Challenge Issues and Defense

Children in peril and magic.

The fairy tale characters are easily recognizable which sets this story clearly in the realm of fiction.

Why is it here?

I used this book as an on-going read aloud with a fourth grade class. They loved it.