My Fair Godmother - Hardcover

In her latest effort, Rallison returns to themes of sibling rivalry and romance, familiar to readers of Revenge of the Cheerleaders (2007). Here, though, she adds fractured-fairy-tale magic to the breezy plot. Sixteen-year-old Savannah is devastated when her boyfriend dumps her for her studious older sister, and she dreams that her life will take a fairy-tale turn, complete with a handsome prince, a ball, and a happy ending. Her wishes bring the astonishing arrival of Chrissy, an aspiring fairy godmother. Still in training and not quite in command of her magical abilities, Chrissy sends Savannah through a chain of otherworldly mishaps, including visits to Cinderella and Snow White’s stories and finally to the Middle Ages, where Savannah defeats a cast of magical creatures and discovers that regular guys are sometimes preferable to princes. Memos from Chrissy and her professors alternate with Savannah’s often hilarious narrative. The irreverent references to familiar tales, romantic twists, and frequent comedic asides will delight fans of light fantasy, as will the likable characters, who move beyond stereotype. Grades 6-9. --Gillian Engberg