The Fairy-Tale Matchmaker

September 8, 2014
Cory Feathering is a reluctant tooth fairy, following in her mother’s footsteps and joining the Tooth Fairy Guild, despite her lack of interest in tooth collection. A bad night on the job helps Cory realize that it’s time to quit the guild, much to her mother’s dismay and the guild’s horror. Both parties begin to harass Cory, who moves in with her uncle and stands her ground amid increasing threats from the guild. Cory puts her energy into odd jobs while she figures out what she is meant to do, something she believes will involve truly helping people (Cory’s recurring hazy visions of friends meeting their soulmates just might offer her a clue). The story moves slowly, filled with details of fey life and meetings with fairy-tale and nursery-rhyme characters like Humpty Dumpty and Little Red Riding Hood, who get amusing and clever backstories (Red models outerwear, Jack Horner owns a cafe). Baker’s (A Question of Magic) fans will easily relate to Cory’s struggle to define her own path and identity. Ages 8–14.

August 1, 2014
In this new middle-grade series from princess aficionado Baker (A Question of Magic, 2013, etc.), a dissatisfied tooth fairy wants to make a difference in a fairy-tale world. Cory hates her tooth-fairy job. She believes her true calling is to help people. Swiping teeth from a child's pillow just won't cut it. Against her tooth-fairy mother's wishes, she quits the Tooth Fairy Guild, an unthinkable move since this job is a lifetime commitment. After a falling-out with her mother, Cory goes to live with sweet Uncle Micah, her pet woodchuck, Noodles in tow. She begins each day answering help wanted ads. Her odd jobs range from babysitting Humpty Dumpty to ridding Marjorie Muffet's house of pesky spiders. Meanwhile, Marjorie and other friends ask Cory to set them up on dates, but Cory's not convinced she has a knack for that. While it's fun to see the fairyland characters make appearances, Cory's jobs feel somewhat arbitrary and take up a good portion of the book. Readers may start to wonder when the matchmaking will begin, as the title suggests-a longueur possibly explained by the fact that this kicks off a series. Cory's journey becomes most interesting, near the end of the book, when she searches for an estranged family member and discovers a life-changing secret. Those in it for the long haul, particularly loyal fans of Baker's other books, will appreciate this lighthearted search for one's true self. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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July 1, 2014

Gr 5-8-When Cory decides to quit being a tooth fairy, she has no idea just how far the Tooth Fairy Guild will go to get her back. But she is determined to find a job that allows her to follow her heart. She tries babysitting Humpty Dumpty, an egg-shaped little boy who likes to climb, and the children of Gladys, the old woman who lived in a shoe. She helps can beans with Jack's mother, inventories Suzy's by the seashore's collection of seashell merchandise, and mow the lawn of the three little pigs. But the Guild refuses to leave her alone. And what about her visions? Do they really indicate a matchmaking ability or is something else wrong? In this delightfully reimagined fairy tale world, Baker takes readers for a funny yet sweet ride through the challenging task of finding where one belongs. Cory is an appealing heroine with a tender heart who faces the Guild with courage despite her mother's opposition. A variety of fairy-tale, mythological, and nursery-rhyme characters and stories make appearances in some highly amusing ways. This fractured fairy-tale radiates humor and creativity. It's thoroughly enjoyable in every way.-Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT

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