The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives. Michael Buckley. Illustrated by Peter Ferguson. 2005. 284 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence (of the prologue): The dense forest branches scratched at their faces and arms, but
Sabrina and Daphne couldn't stop running, though they had long since
passed the point of exhaustion. Fear was fueling each step now. Another
thunderous bellow rang in the distance, followed by the terrible sound
of falling trees and shrieking animals.
"We have to find a way to
stop it," Daphne cried between gasps. Sabrina knew her little sister was
right. But how? They were two children versus a vicious monster.
"I'll
think of something," Sabrina said, dragging her sister behind an
enormous oak tree for a much-needed rest. Sabrina squeezed her sister's
hand to reassure her, while she forced oxygen into her burning lungs.
Her words were empty. She didn't have a plan. The only thing going on in
her head was the thumping of blood roaring through her eardrums. But it
made no difference. It had found them. Splintering wood and damp soil
rained from the sky as the tree they stood next to was violently
uprooted. The two girls looked up into the horrible face above them and
felt hot breath blow through their skin. What's happened to our lives?
Sabrina wondered. When had their world become unrecognizable? And what
had happened to her, the eleven-year-old girl who only two days ago had
been just an orphan on a train?
Premise/plot: Sabrina and Daphne are young sisters with a legacy or heritage about to catch up with them. When their parents disappeared over a year ago, the two had been placed into foster care or social services. Bounced from home to home, now the girls are on their final journey to a new home. A mysterious relative has stepped up to claim them. Now Ms. Smirt, their social worker, has only to deliver them to Ferryport Landing and her work will be done.
Smirt had made a mistake when she chose a career with children,
Sabrina thought, especially since she didn't seem to like them. Ms.
Smirt complained whenever she had to touch their sticky hands or wipe
their runny noses, and reading bedtime stories was completely out of the
question. She seemed to especially dislike the Grimm sisters and had
labeled them rude, uncooperative, and a couple of know-it-alls. So,
Sabrina was sure it was Ms. Smirt's personal mission to get the girls
out of the orphanage and into a foster home. So far it had failed
miserably. She'd sent them to live with people who were usually mean and
occasionally crazy, and who had used them as maids, house sitters, or
just plain ignored them. But this time she had gone too far. This time
Ms. Smirt was sending them to live with a dead woman. (2-3)
This 'dead woman' is their grandmother Grimm. Eccentric, yes. And the
environment is odd at best. And their are certain rules the girls will
have to adjust to...but it soon becomes clear...at least to the reader
that this will be a loving, adventure-filled home.
Here is a description of the house beginning with the living room: (can you guess why I like it???)
It
was enormous, a much larger room than seemed possible in a cottage so
small. Each wall was lined with bookshelves, stuffed with more books
than Sabrina had ever seen. Stacks of them also sat on the floor, the
tables, and every other surface. A teapot perched precariously on a
stack that looked as if it would fall over at any moment. Books were
under the couch cushions, under the carpet. Several giant stacks stood
in front of an old television, blocking any chance that someone could
watch cartoons. On the spines Sabrina read the strangest titles: BIRDS
OF OZ, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN EVIL QUEEN, and SHOES, TOYS, AND COOKIES:
THE ELVISH HANDCRAFT TRADITION. Mrs. Grimm led them through another
door where a dining room table sat littered with books, open and waiting
to be read. Sabrina picked one up and rolled her eyes when she read the
title: 365 WAYS TO COOK DRAGON. (15)
And it doesn't take
long for the adventures to begin....but I won't spoil them here!!! This
is one you'll have to read for yourself.
My thoughts: I have always meant to reread this series. I have. I remember absolutely loving it. I enjoyed rereading it. It was just a delight. And it's definitely been long enough--fifteen plus year--that it's like reading the book for the very first time.
© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers
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