Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, two orphans, are dropped off at their grandmother’s house 18 months after the disappearance and suspected murder of their parents. Street-smart Sabrina isn’t buying sweet old Relda Grimm’s story that she and her sister come from a long line of fairy-tale detectives; that Ferryport Landing — their new home — is the enchanted settlement of Everafters (old fairy-tale heroes and villains); or that Relda Grimm is anything more than a senile old bat who has mistaken her and her sister for blood relations. Yet, before she has a chance to escape with Daphne, the two find themselves caught in the center of a supernatural mystery. This book is an Oppenheim Toy Award recipient.

Featured in:

2006 Toy Award Winner Spotlight (4/1/2006) Tweens Want Stories That Never End (1/1/2006)

TDmonthly Review:

What Is It?
Sabrina and Daphne Griimm, two orphans, are dropped off at their grandmother’s house 18 months after the disappearance and suspected murder of their parents. Street smart Sabrina isn’t buying sweet old Relda Grimm’s story that she and her sister come from a long line of fairy tale detectives; that Ferryport Landing — their new home — is the enchanted settlement of Everafters (old fairy tale heroes and villains); or that Relda Grimm is anything more than a senile old bat who has mistaken her and her sister for blood relations. Yet, before she has a chance to escape with Daphne, the two find themselves caught in the center of a supernatural mystery.

What We Thought
At times funny, harrowing and touching, this adventurous tale takes readers on a surreal romp through magic forests and pristine balls. As witnessed through the disbelieving eyes of Sabrina and Daphne, all the mad ins and outs of Ferryport Landing spring to life in this easy to read, 304-page book. Rather than sugarcoat events, the story explores issues of death and abandonment between walloping readers with an amusedly mocking Mirror (“as in mirror, mirror, on the wall”) and hoards of stinky, blood-thirsty giants.

Why They’ll Want It
Prince Charming as a corrupt mayor, the Big Bad Wolf as a tormented, modern-day werewolf, Jack the beanstalk climber as an egomaniacal ne’er-do-well — what’s not to love? Author Michael Buckley reinvents favorite fairy tale characters with wit and compassion, creating a unique world that readers will be eager to revisit in his second book, “The Unusual Suspects.” The two young heroines are intelligent, bold and human — solid role models for both boys and girls of all ages.