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43rd out of 208 books
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254 voters
My Very UnFairy Tale Life (My Very UnFairy Tale Life #1)
by
Anna Staniszewski (Goodreads Author)
You know all those stories that claim fairies cry sparkle tears and elves travel by rainbow? They're lies. All lies.
I've spent my life as an official adventurer. I travel across enchanted kingdoms saving magical creatures and fighting horrible beasts that most of you think are only myths and legends. I've never had a social life. My friends have all forgotten me. And let'...more
I've spent my life as an official adventurer. I travel across enchanted kingdoms saving magical creatures and fighting horrible beasts that most of you think are only myths and legends. I've never had a social life. My friends have all forgotten me. And let'...more
192 pages
Published
November 1st 2011
by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
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I didnt expect much of this book i was just searching net galley and the title and cover got my attention so i downloaded it and i actually loved this book . It is about this girl jenny she is a teenage adventurer ( she helps magical creatures and worlds ) she lives with her aunt because her parents dissappeared on one of their adventures . The main problem was an evil clown he put this magic silence spell and jenny has to defeat him.
The thing i liked about this book is that jenny is a normal g...more
The thing i liked about this book is that jenny is a normal g...more
MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE is the story of Jenny, a 12-year-old adventurer who spends her free time in one enchanted kingdom after another, helping magical creatures in need. With corny, cliched nuggets of wisdom like "sharing is caring," Jenny saves fairies and elves and teaches unicorns how to share. The job comes with its own unique dangers, and sometimes Jenny has to escape dragons who want to turn her head into a flaming volleyball or unicorns who run her down when she attempts to show them...more
Review via Cracking the Cover
In “My Very UnFairy Tale Life,” Anna Staniszewski has created a magical world of unicorns, fairies and dragons. But she doesn’t stop there. Talking frogs, a kidnapped lamb and a garden gnome guide help round out a cast of unexpected but beautifully believable characters.
Jenny is the epitome of a plucky heroine — she’s engaging and witty with an adventurous spirit and just the right mix of imagination and independence. By making Jenny the narrator, Anna has not only p...more
In “My Very UnFairy Tale Life,” Anna Staniszewski has created a magical world of unicorns, fairies and dragons. But she doesn’t stop there. Talking frogs, a kidnapped lamb and a garden gnome guide help round out a cast of unexpected but beautifully believable characters.
Jenny is the epitome of a plucky heroine — she’s engaging and witty with an adventurous spirit and just the right mix of imagination and independence. By making Jenny the narrator, Anna has not only p...more
http://librarytalker.blogspot.com/201...
For years, Jenny has been an adventurer. With the help of her somewhat helpful gnome guide, Jenny has been traveling from world to world, helping to find the lost, rescue the stupid, and solve unsolvable problems.
But after one too many adventures that leave her scarred physically and emotionally, Jenny has had enough. It's quitting time. All she really wants is homework and some friends.
Unfortunately, the adventuring world needs her more than ever. Can she...more
For years, Jenny has been an adventurer. With the help of her somewhat helpful gnome guide, Jenny has been traveling from world to world, helping to find the lost, rescue the stupid, and solve unsolvable problems.
But after one too many adventures that leave her scarred physically and emotionally, Jenny has had enough. It's quitting time. All she really wants is homework and some friends.
Unfortunately, the adventuring world needs her more than ever. Can she...more
At First Sight: Jenny is an Adventurer, the person that goes about the magical kingdoms and helps them solve their problems. When she first started to adventure a few years ago, it sounded like loads of fun, but she now realizes that things rarely are what they seem.
Now her two former best friends seem to have forgotten her all together, her Aunt is more interested in animals than on her and she's tired of being chased by unicorns and having an unreliable gnome named Arthur for guide. And most o...more
Now her two former best friends seem to have forgotten her all together, her Aunt is more interested in animals than on her and she's tired of being chased by unicorns and having an unreliable gnome named Arthur for guide. And most o...more
My Very Unfairytale Life is an action-packed middle grade novel. While I wouldn’t classify this as a YA cross-over, I found myself being sucked into Anna Staniszewski’s story. Jenny was a bit young for me, but she was still funny and I liked her bravery. The writing, however, is what really steals the shows.
Staniszewski does an amazing job at creating suspense. She ends her chapters on the most intense notes, and you just have to keep reading to see where the story is going to go—it’s almost imp...more
Staniszewski does an amazing job at creating suspense. She ends her chapters on the most intense notes, and you just have to keep reading to see where the story is going to go—it’s almost imp...more
As I read this book, all I could think was that a 4th or 5th grade me would LOVE this book! Real Kingdoms with all the fairytale creatures? Unicorns? Fairy's? Dragons? Talking frogs? Yes Please!! I think the clincher for me was the talking Gnome! (I have an odd place in my heart for Garden Gnomes!)
I think this book had everything a mid grade novel should have! A lovable main character who learns a lesson (the grass isn't always greener on the otherside) and spouts off good sayings (treat others...more
I think this book had everything a mid grade novel should have! A lovable main character who learns a lesson (the grass isn't always greener on the otherside) and spouts off good sayings (treat others...more
In the funny My Very UnFairy Tale Life, Jenny is a normal middle school girl, who also happens to lead a secret life as a fairy tale adventurer--she is sent to troubled fairy tale kingdoms to put out fires and help the fairy tale characters resolve their problems. Sometimes this involves danger (being chased by stampeding unicorns) and sometimes it involves imparting some simple wisdom to help the creatures help themselves (like "Waste not, want not" or "Can't we all just get along?"). Her adven...more
So so so funny :D
When I saw this on NetGalley I jumped at the chance to read it. The book starts with Jenny being chased by a herd of angry unicorns. I can tell you the imagery had me rolling about the sofa with laughter. The cross-over of the vast variety of fairy-tales used provided terrific imagery.
The third person narrative provides a means of layering the story. Not only was I immersed into Jenny's everyday life, I was able to identify with the fairytale elements and also the mystery of he...more
When I saw this on NetGalley I jumped at the chance to read it. The book starts with Jenny being chased by a herd of angry unicorns. I can tell you the imagery had me rolling about the sofa with laughter. The cross-over of the vast variety of fairy-tales used provided terrific imagery.
The third person narrative provides a means of layering the story. Not only was I immersed into Jenny's everyday life, I was able to identify with the fairytale elements and also the mystery of he...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Jenny is a 12-year-old adventurer who has learned that the magical dimensions are not all they are cracked up to be, and not all fairytale creatures are cute and cuddly. Saving unicorns and talking frogs all the time has left her zip time for friends and family, and she wants out. Now, Jenny’s already wavering confidence is shattered by a creepy clown-wizard who has a problem with talking animals. QUIRKY!
Girly book lovers of all ages will enjoy Jenny’s adventures and the lessons she learns. Jenn...more
Girly book lovers of all ages will enjoy Jenny’s adventures and the lessons she learns. Jenn...more
My Very UnFairy Tale Life is definitely a fun and light read, but unfortunately, was a bit too juvenile for my tastes. But still, this definitely put some fun into my reading life!
Jenny was such a great protagonist! I loved getting to go on her adventures with her, and the author definitely did a great job at making the adventures epic and interesting for the MG crowd. I'm a big fairy tale fan, so getting to see some fairy tales interwoven throughout the story really appealed to me. Plus, there'...more
Jenny was such a great protagonist! I loved getting to go on her adventures with her, and the author definitely did a great job at making the adventures epic and interesting for the MG crowd. I'm a big fairy tale fan, so getting to see some fairy tales interwoven throughout the story really appealed to me. Plus, there'...more
Jenny isn't just your average kid, she's an Adventurer. As one of the best Adventurers of all time, she's called in to handle all of the hardest jobs in an alternative world of fairyland creatures who all need some serious help.
Author Anna Staniszewski makes Jenny believable by showing the loneliness that goes along with being someone who can't talk to her friends about her adventures and has an even lonelier home life with an aunt who is more at home with her animals than Jenny. When Jenny get...more
Author Anna Staniszewski makes Jenny believable by showing the loneliness that goes along with being someone who can't talk to her friends about her adventures and has an even lonelier home life with an aunt who is more at home with her animals than Jenny. When Jenny get...more
This was such a cute and funny book. My daughter is probably a year away from reading this since it's for ages nine and up, but I'm sure this Summer she'll definitely want to read it. She got excited from the book just by the cover. Anyways, I loved this story. It was cute, charming and funny. I adored the main character, Jenny. Even though she was hopping through Fairytales, I could still in some way connect with her. I think because her character isn't magical in any way or portrayed as perfec...more
I had mixed feelings about this book. It was...bizarre, to say the least. But even so, I found it entertaining!
This was definitely a fluff read. The fact that I could read this without problems on only five hours of sleep says a LOT. However, despite all my problems with this book, I managed to enjoy it. Maybe not 'read the sequel NOW' enjoyment, but an 'aww, that's cute' enjoyment. Unicorns learn to share? Cute. Gnomes who like chocolate? Cute! Lamb princes who needs rescuing? Very cute!
I have...more
This was definitely a fluff read. The fact that I could read this without problems on only five hours of sleep says a LOT. However, despite all my problems with this book, I managed to enjoy it. Maybe not 'read the sequel NOW' enjoyment, but an 'aww, that's cute' enjoyment. Unicorns learn to share? Cute. Gnomes who like chocolate? Cute! Lamb princes who needs rescuing? Very cute!
I have...more
Everything you heard about fairy tale creatures is wrong. And magic is overrated. The creatures who have it can't figure out how to use it to solve their own problems. For 3 years, 12 year old Jenny has had to cross the void from our world into theirs and do it for them. But when the magical Committee pushes her too far, shetells them straight: enough is enough.
My Very Unfairy Tale Life is a fun MG read. I love Jenny's preoccupation with how cheesy she sounds. And I love the new take on magic....more
My Very Unfairy Tale Life is a fun MG read. I love Jenny's preoccupation with how cheesy she sounds. And I love the new take on magic....more
Jenny has been an Adventurer for 3 years, being whisked off to fairytale lands to help the various magical folk resolve their problems in a common sense way. Although accompanied by a gnome, she lives alone with her Aunt Evie. Jenny feels lonely on these adventures and tries to quit. Magic, of course, follows her into her real life and the story comes to a great conclusion. Very nicely done! I think most tweens would get a kick out of this story and I am always looking for something new for the...more
My rating: 3/5 stars
Read the review in my blog!
May contain some spoilers
Jenny is a twelve year old girl. And what makes her special? She's an adventurer! She runs around helping magical creatures so everyone would just get along. She's been on the business for few years, originally taking the job because it sounded like fun.
But like many times, having fun may turn to something not-so-fun at some point.
This is a quick and fun read, but probably targeted for younger audience. This book is ful...more
Read the review in my blog!
May contain some spoilers
Jenny is a twelve year old girl. And what makes her special? She's an adventurer! She runs around helping magical creatures so everyone would just get along. She's been on the business for few years, originally taking the job because it sounded like fun.
But like many times, having fun may turn to something not-so-fun at some point.
This is a quick and fun read, but probably targeted for younger audience. This book is ful...more
I love the concept of this book! I mean, seriously, who didn't dream of being sucked into a fairytale world and helping out magical worlds as a parttime job? I sure did (ok, I'll admit I still do). And to have it then backfire and leave you wishing for a normal life, very interesting! And a good example of the grass is always greener and all that.
I thought Jenny was a good person, if slightly naive and not always reasonable. But hey, she's 12 and she's allowed to be all that. And she apparantly...more
I thought Jenny was a good person, if slightly naive and not always reasonable. But hey, she's 12 and she's allowed to be all that. And she apparantly...more
Things I enjoyed: The premise of this book I found quite enjoyable. A girl who travels to other worlds to help fairy tale like kingdoms solve problems. The situations were definitely unique, not like any others I've ever read. Jenny tendency to quote cliches is amusing, yet rather appropriate. I did enjoy the one world she visited that was ruled by a sheep, which I found ironic, since sheep tend to wander when left to their own devices. The various secondary characters that Jenny interacts with...more
Originally posted on Debz Bookshelf
This was a super quick, fun, and quirky book. I didn’t know anything about it besides it had an awesome title and cover, but that was enough to make me pick it up just in time for Fairy Tale Fortnight!
It was action packed and tons of fun! Jenny is an Adventurer, and as such, has the responsibility to keep peace among the many magical realms. This leads her on many strange quests, which result in things such as being stabbed by a unicorn horn and having her mout...more
This was a super quick, fun, and quirky book. I didn’t know anything about it besides it had an awesome title and cover, but that was enough to make me pick it up just in time for Fairy Tale Fortnight!
It was action packed and tons of fun! Jenny is an Adventurer, and as such, has the responsibility to keep peace among the many magical realms. This leads her on many strange quests, which result in things such as being stabbed by a unicorn horn and having her mout...more
This is a cute book. It is perhaps a bit younger-directed than the books I usually read, being aimed at what I suspect is the 8-12 crowd. It’s not long, due to that, but it is a good story. Jenny is a great character, and she will be relatable to children and pre-teens. The fantastic setting is a great plot twist, with just enough explanation to things that it’s fantasy without making it too complicated. It’s a great author that knows just how much to explain the magical workings without going i...more
Originally posted here.
In the acknowledgements for her book My Very UnFairytale Life Anna Staniszewski describes it as her "wacky little book". It is indeed a whacky little book but in a way that is fun and not too ridiculous especially if you are of the age of the intended audience. Elementary school me would have loved this book with a fervent and fierce devotion.
You know all those stories that have fairy godmothers coming into change the lives of ordinary girls? Well this is that in reverse....more
In the acknowledgements for her book My Very UnFairytale Life Anna Staniszewski describes it as her "wacky little book". It is indeed a whacky little book but in a way that is fun and not too ridiculous especially if you are of the age of the intended audience. Elementary school me would have loved this book with a fervent and fierce devotion.
You know all those stories that have fairy godmothers coming into change the lives of ordinary girls? Well this is that in reverse....more
4.5 stars
My Very Unfairy Tale Life by Anna Staniszewski was such an adorable book. I absolutely loved it - and what a fun take on fairy tales and their outcomes! I cannot wait for book 2 to hear more of Jenny's fun story.
This was such a clever book - I loved the idea of adventurers helping all the magical creatures along to make decisions and make sure the outcome of the stories is what people want to see. It was so fun to learn about Jenny's world. I loved the focus on friendship and family th...more
My Very Unfairy Tale Life by Anna Staniszewski was such an adorable book. I absolutely loved it - and what a fun take on fairy tales and their outcomes! I cannot wait for book 2 to hear more of Jenny's fun story.
This was such a clever book - I loved the idea of adventurers helping all the magical creatures along to make decisions and make sure the outcome of the stories is what people want to see. It was so fun to learn about Jenny's world. I loved the focus on friendship and family th...more
Reading this was like watching a parody of a favorite movie. Everything traditional to fairy tale had been put under a different light, kind of humorous but I didn't get many of the jokes. I'm suspecting that's what made it hard for me to enjoy part 1 of the story.
However, part 2 flowed a lot better for me and certain things in part 1 finally made sense even though I'm still like "huh?".
Does it mean I didn't like the book? not really. My experience left me somewhere between 3 and 4 over 5. Goodr...more
However, part 2 flowed a lot better for me and certain things in part 1 finally made sense even though I'm still like "huh?".
Does it mean I didn't like the book? not really. My experience left me somewhere between 3 and 4 over 5. Goodr...more
I wish I'd read this when I was in middle school -- I would have ADORED it. The blend of fantasy-world adventuring mixed up with the concerns of middle-school daily life would have spoken directly to my nine-year-old soul. The book reminded me a little bit of my all-time favorite book in fifth grade, which I think was called "The 7th Princess" or something like that -- a book I loved so much I wanted to live in it, and also be the book's author. That book inspired me not only to daydream about a...more
Fabulous tale for middle graders!
Jenny wants nothing more than a normal life, and yet she keeps getting pulled into adventures. Armed with her wit, her bizarre magical friends, and a pink golf ball, she fights to right magical wrongs.
I loved the creative twists and turns, and quirky characters in this must-read.
Can't wait to read a sequel! Let's hope Anna Staniszewski has more Jenny adventures up her sleeve!
Jenny wants nothing more than a normal life, and yet she keeps getting pulled into adventures. Armed with her wit, her bizarre magical friends, and a pink golf ball, she fights to right magical wrongs.
I loved the creative twists and turns, and quirky characters in this must-read.
Can't wait to read a sequel! Let's hope Anna Staniszewski has more Jenny adventures up her sleeve!
This book was just okay. The problem I had with it was that it felt like a second book where you are just thrown into the middle of a story. Often authors do this well, giving you snippets of the past to make sense of the present, but sadly I thought that this was not the case here. The story was odd and felt incomplete. There are just so many better books to recommend in this genre.
“You know all those stories that claim fairies cry sparkle tears and elves travel by rainbow? They’re lies. All lies. No one tells you the truth until it’s too late. And then all you can do is run like crazy while a herd of unicorns tries to kill you.”
So begins Anna Staniszewski's 'My Very UnFairy Tale Life'...
Whether your 13 or 30, this is a must read.
So begins Anna Staniszewski's 'My Very UnFairy Tale Life'...
Whether your 13 or 30, this is a must read.
Middle grade girls are going to LOVE this book! Oh, my gosh, this book is adorable! You will love Jenny and her magical friends (especially the frogs!) and Prince Lamb (too cute for words) and my favorite, her aunt. Jenny's aunt is priceless. She's always talking to ducks or trying to feed Jenny dog biscuits--I love her.
The humor in this story is constant throughout--from page one to the very last paragraph. One of the most playful aspects is Jenny's use of cliches, which work wonders for her. M...more
The humor in this story is constant throughout--from page one to the very last paragraph. One of the most playful aspects is Jenny's use of cliches, which work wonders for her. M...more
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Anna Staniszewski lives and works in the Boston area. She's the author of the My Very UnFairy Tale Life series and the upcoming Dirt Diaries series–-both published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky–-as well as the occasional dinosaur picture book. You can visit Anna at www.annastan.com or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/annastanisz.
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Mar 30, 2012 02:33am