Fairest by Gail Carson Levine Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Fairest
Book Review: PCE student review
Summary: 5 Stars
I highly recommend Fairest By Gail Carson Levine. Fairest is a spellbinding story filled with humor, adventure, and romance. This tale is about a girl named Aza who is definitely not "fairest of them all". People usually scoff at her and spurn her. Sadly, Aza was left at the Featherbed Inn when she was a month old. The innkeeper and his wife decided to take care of Aza and love and care for her like one of their own. Aza lives in the country of Ayortha (the land of singers) where Aza has a gift of her own even without fairy intervention! It is a voice that can do almost anything. One day, when a duchess comes to stay at the Featherbed Inn, she sees Aza and wants her to accompany the duchess to come to Ontio Castle to meet King Oscaro, his new wife, Queen Ivi, and Prince Ijori. When Ivi and Ijori hear Aza's voice, Ijori falls in love with her and Queen Ivi falls into deep jealousy... The amazing tale unravels as you read the book. It's filled with a tale for love and hate. I recommend this book for girls who love to read between the ages of 9-13. I hope you like it!Book Review: Snow White told with adventure, grace and excitement!
Summary: 5 Stars
Gail Carson Levine's style shines through once again as she breathes life into the overtold predictable fairytale of Snow White. Very similar to Ella Enchanted, Fairest takes place in the same world and has (as is Levine's style) a very unconventional twist to a well known story. The characters of Fairest will capture your heart and make you want to read Ella Enchanted again. A fantastic story for children and teenagers alike. Even the adults will enjoy this well told tale.Book Review: Snow White with a Head on her Shoulders
Summary: 5 Stars
Aza is so ugly that she was abandoned as a baby. Fortunately, the innkeepers who found her on their doorstep took her in as their daughter. Teasing and stares aside, she has grown into a beloved member of her family.
Aza's life changes when a special talent catches the new queen's eye. Asked to be the queen's lady-in-waiting, Aza is thrilled--until she learns the price she must pay. Trapped in a deal she dare not break, Aza will face love and danger, and a chance to gain the beauty she always wished she had. In order to find her way, Aza will risk everything she has, and more.
Levine has created a fresh interpretation to the Snow White story. Set in the world of ELLA ENCHANTED, FAIREST introduces us to a young heroine who is forced to rely on her talents and wit where other girls would use their pretty faces. Aza is strong, yet fallible, as she embarks on an adventure beyond anything she ever imagined. Her character is wonderfully realized within Levine's vivid world.
FAIREST provides girls and young women a strong message of self-worth. As they say, beauty is skin (or voice) deep. It is a person's character that counts, and girls are perfectly capable of handling their own problems--or accepting help when they need it. Aza does both in this story. She learns to stand up for herself and what's right, but she also finds out when it's wise to let others help.
As great as this novel is, the ending is wrapped up a little too neat. The villain of the story doesn't seem to get the sort of punishment that they seem to deserve, although this is an issue discussed at one point. Some other loose ends are left dangling at the end of the book, but perhaps this is a lead-in to more modern fairy tales.
I highly recommend this book for girls aged eight and up. In a world where "thin is in" and looks count, this is a super way to reinforce the importance of valuing the individual. Everyone has something special to offer, as long as we're willing to get to know them.
Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
9/17/2006
Book Review: So disappointed....
Summary: 1 Stars
To begin with, I loved "Ella Enchanted". It was a magical book. So it is with much disappointment that I write this review.
I really wanted to love this book. But I couldn't even stomach it most of the time. First of all, there was the obsession that the main character had with her looks. Every other sentence has something about her being "ugly". Either she's saying it to herself or someone else is saying it about her because it's understood that she's not good looking. The main character, on the other hand, is well known for having a beautiful voice. All the sentences that don't harp on her (bad) looks go into detail about her beautiful voice. (It makes one wonder what would happen to a character in that world who - HORRORS - doesn't have a beautiful voice or a great face.)
The Prince Charming of the book is also quite unlikable. Well, the reader is supposed to like him, but I found it difficult to like a hero who so readily turns his back on his 'beloved' - even when it means she will be imprisoned. And, then, when he sends her a letter asking her to forgive him, the heroine does it so easily that it's almost offensive to the reader that we're expected to just go along with it. I couldn't help but think that Ella of Frell would have kicked his rear end.
When I wasn't annoyed and turned off by the horrible characters, I was irritated by the inclusion of a song every two seconds. And they weren't even GOOD songs. So, I found myself skimming through most of the songs and that accounts for - at least - 50% of the book.
In short: If you must read, please get it from a library. I actually bought mine from a used bookstore at half off and I regret even spending that much.
Book Review: Superficial fairytale
Summary: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Mary Johnson (age 15) for Reader Views (11/08)
"Fairest" is set in the kingdom of Ayortha, where a young girl named Aza lives and works at the Featherbed Inn. Ayortha is a place where a lovely face and magnificent voice is admired by all. Aza has one out of two of these qualities. Her voice is amazing but her looks could use some work (at least she thinks so). But Aza has an amazing talent that no other person has; she can "throw" her voice. She tries to keep it a secret but that doesn't last for long. While she accompanies a duchess to the castle for a ball the newly crowned Queen finds out about her gift. Soon, after Aza becomes the Queens lady-in-waiting. Where Aza finds herself in situations she has never been in before.
Gail Carson Levine has a writing style all her own. Her writing is interesting but her storyline is annoying. Also, the way she makes Aza's character obsessed with looks is very superficial.
"Fairest" is a book for girls of all ages. But, I would not recommend it for anyone who thinks beauty is on the inside not on the outside. Although "Fairest" is a good book, it is in a sense that if like reading a book on a rainy day to pass time.
I have to say that I was disappointed in "Fairest." The constant obsession with looks is annoying and also the "songs" don't even make sense. They don't rhyme and also they take up a lot of pages. Even though I did not thoroughly enjoy "Fairest" by Gail Carson Levine, it was somewhat a good book.