The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making

Reader: Elise
Age: 15
Title: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making
Author: Catherynne M. Valente
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pub Date: N/A
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens Top10: Yes
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: This book is the perfect blend of old and new. The writing style has enough of a fairy tale-esque twist that the really unique world works. In a harder style of writing it would have felt like the writer was trying too hard, but, instead, it was cute, and quirky, and like your favorite bed time book that suddenly had deep insights into life, the universe, and everything.
Compelling aspects of the book: I honestly could not stop reading to find out what happened next. There was no way I could have predicted that ******. Even from sentence to sentence, the little things the author includes made me laugh out loud (herding wild velocipedes), made me cry (her shadow), and either way were insightful without sitting you down and telling you that this was a thought on life. I keep a little book next to my bed for when I'm reading, and I write down quotes that strike me. If I would have let myself, this book would have been written down verbatim in that notepad.
Were you disappointed with the book at all: No
Cover: This cover is the perfect mix of adorablity, charm, and intrigue. The more classic style of the outside, with framing and worn leathery stuff fits the style of writing. The illustration is the same way – it looks almost like a paper cut-out that came to life, Alice in Wonderland-y, with a touch of Tim Burton. The illustration style is carried through the book with amazing pictures that add a whole other dimension. And who doesn't love picture books?
Age Range: Under 12-18+
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

Comments: **ANNOTATION**

September is not entirely happy with her life of washing teacups, rude little dogs, and mothers who go to work, so when a Green Wind and his Leopard offer to take her to fairyland, off she flies. Upon arrival, however, she finds fairyland is not all it was, and it may just take a Wyverary, a djinn, and a very determined key to get to the bottom of the sudden appearance of taxes.