The Fairy Godmother Academy #1: Birdie's Book, the first book in a series that will run at least eight books, if not more, came out in August. The next two books aren't due out until next year (see below for more details).
Product description from Random House, the publisher:
For girls who are fans of Harry Potter and have outgrown the Disney Fairies series and the American Girl books, the Fairy Godmother Academy is the perfect series—fantasy books filled with magic and adventure but grounded by contemporary girls and issues.
The series boasts an amazing Web site that allows girls to enter the world they visit in the books. There they can do activities both on- and offline, vote for things they'd like to see in the books, and connect with other Fairy Godmother Academy fans.
Zally Guevara always knows where she's going. She has a passion for maps of all kinds and can't wait to pack her suitcase and explore the world. But Zally doesn't have to wait to get her wish. With the help of a cup of magical cocoa from her grandmother, she travels to a place that only girls training to become fairy godmothers can get to—the enchanted dreamland of Aventurine, a place that has no map.
In Aventurine, Zally is given her quest: to save a fairy queen who has lost her will to live. Zally's companions are a young fairy with a broken wing, and a stallion prince. The trio's journey proves to be even more challenging than they could have imagined as they meet monsters and get lost in a ruined fairy city. All the while, Zally is making a map of Aventurine and discovering that she has a talent, passed down from generations of women in her family: understanding the thoughts of animals. But will this be enough to save the fairy queen and ensure that Zally can continue her fairy-godmother training?
Join the Fairy Godmother Academy!
Visit the Web site for games, activities, and networking with friends!
www.fairygodmotheracademy.com
While these books had been on my long list for a while, finding this article about the author, Jan Bozarth, and the series sparked my interest further, Weaving a world for girls: Austin author creates literary and online realm where fairy godmothers help tweens listen to their inner voices by Sharyn Wizda Vane.
Note: These fairy godmothers don't flit around warbling "Bibbidy Bobbidy Boo" while they swathe their young charges in ivory silk to impress Prince Charming. In Bozarth's parlance, fairy godmothers are women who help young girls listen keenly to their inner voices — in part to keep from getting swept up in a Bratz-meets-"Mean Girls" culture, in part to keep them asking the right questions: What makes me strong? What nourishes me? What challenges me?
In "Birdie's Book," 12-year-old Birdie Cramer Bright discovers her own answers to those questions. Happiest surrounded by nature near her California home, Birdie grumbles about being sent to New York while her mother travels on business. The only upside is finally meeting her fabled grandmother, who introduces her to the family secret — her fairy lineage. Once at Granny Mo's, Birdie finds a magical dream book, a collection of nocturnal yearnings and insights from all the women in her family, that leads her to the mystical land Aventurine.
As is the case with almost any site with minors as a primary audience, registation is required. I didn't do so, so I could only preview a small amount of the content, but there appears to be much to explore. There is another article about the website at 'Fairy Godmother' is a big project on the Web, too.
The Fairy Godmother Academy #2: Kerka's Book will be released on April 27, 2010according to Amazon but on December 22 of this year according to the Fairy Godmother Academy website.
The Fairy Godmother Academy #3: Zally's Book will be released on August 24, 2010.
When I created a Fairy Godmother t-shirt on CafePress years ago, it became somewhat of a bestseller for the store and I have added it to Zazzle, too. I even bought one for myself.
Over the years of building SurLaLune, Fairy godmothers aren't discussed very often, but they have a definite fan base. Women especially seem to grow past the "princess" stage at some point and begin to embrace the fairy godmother image. It is certainly more appealing culturally to the crone image. I still plan to cross stitch that Fairy Godmother by Lavender and Lace I shared last week.
Anyway, I'm surprised there isn't more scholarship on fairy godmothers. The topic is just begging for further exploration.
Excellent! I have been looking for a story like this. Will definately look for them!
ReplyDeleteThis looks really cool and I like the idea of looking at the fairy godmother side. That said, I am really surprised by the name of the land: Aventurine. No one -- not the author, not the editor, not any friends handed the book for opinions -- noticed the unfortunate ending of this land's name?
ReplyDeleteDespite that, this series' concept does look engaging and intriguing!
The books look wonderful but I couldn't help sighing at the way times have changed and the web side is taken on board for young readers as if the book itself can't stand on its own. Gee, I sound old enough to be a Fairy Godmother. Love the covers and the concept, however. xx
ReplyDelete