Fairy Realm #1: The Charm Bracelet

(Suggested to me as part of the June challenge to read/review a book chosen by someone else in the Tamora Pierce fangroup on FB.)

This was a super cute read! I quickly got caught up in the drama and grew quite fond of Jessie even faster. I like that she's a dreamy girl who sits in the 'secret garden' in her grandmother's garden and loves the tales of fairies but also has a definitive practical streak - as does Marigold, at least, of those she meets through the hedge. (One that definitely comes in handy when the Fairy Realm is in trouble and has accidentally nabbed The Wrong Jessica!)

Jessica's mother provides a bit of a steady link to the real world but isn't unlikable for all that she thinks her mother and daughter both have their heads show more in the clouds (and possibly not the clouds of this world), which I appreciated. It's all too easy to have that grounded character be another type of antagonist and it's nice to have something different. Jessie's similarly very practical grandfather, even though only shown in memory after his death, turned out to be even more awesome than I expected and I kind of want to see his (and the original Jessica's) story as well, I admit.

I also quite liked the matter-of-fact way Jessie introduced Flynn, her grandmother's cat, as standing guard over her, and accepted him as slightly-more-than-mundane without pause for consideration.

While I could see a lot of the storyline coming (not unexpected given both the intended audience - it's a simple story, but a good one - and the number of fantasy and/or fairy world stories I've read) there were still the occasional bits that surprised me. The black and white illustrations accompanying each chapter were lovely, as well! show less

The Fairy Realm series are wholesome lighthearted reads featuring a secret fairy realm found through a doorway at the edge of the garden. There's magic and mythical creatures and miniature horses that talk (because what else would you find in a secret fairy realm? duh.) It's reminiscent of Shirley Barber's gorgeous picture books albeit with less impressive artwork (Shirley Barber is incredibly talented). It's a good series for tween girls. I loved this series as a kid, they were imaginative and magical and I loved every minute. I'm pretty sure this series is what started my love of charm bracelets too.

The Charm Bracelet
Great start to the series. Jessie is a very likable character - she's smart, brave and kind - for all she kind of show more loses it when being transported to a magical Realm with supposedly no way home. Because although panicked - she does rally and uses her practical, logical side to find out all the information she can and come up with a plan to fix things. Her plan to trick Valda to open the door by making her think she'd already gone through the door was inspired. Maybelle, Giff and Patrice were interesting and I liked the world building - even if there wasn't a whole lot in this first book. And I love that Jessie receives her own charm bracelet at the end and has collected her first charm to remember the Realm by. It's so whimsical. 5 stars. show less

My daughter read this book recently and it really helped get her back into reading. Though, not a hard reading level, the story was fun and engaging and she can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Jessie's grandmother has lost her charm bracelet, and Jessie can tell it's important she find it- but where is it? While Jessie is looking, she follows a call into another world- a world of fairies like the one her grandfather always paints. In this world, she discovers that someone is pretending to be her grandmother and has stolen her bracelet. She's not going to renew the spells that protect the realm from trolls and nasties. Jessie comes up with a plot to get her grandma back and save the realm. It works, and Jessie is given her own bracelet with the promise that she may return.