Julie & The Lost Fairy Tale, a Story by Janie Lancaster
June 13, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Parenting
(Although Julie & The Lost Fairy Tale isn’t specifically a time travel novel, like others we’ve mentioned duing Time Travel Week, it does take the reader back into the childhood of Julie’s grandmother and we learn about another era.)
Stories published as serials in newspapers before they’re compiled into book form dates back to Charles Dickens and other early novelists. Janie Lancaster, author of Julie & the Lost Fairy Tale, experienced this. Her book was available in numerous newspapers for the enjoyment of young readers before it appeared in book format this spring, published by Star Publish, LLC.
According to the synopsis, “In Julie’s story, you come across a mysterious travel chest, a lost fairy tale, Miss Eagle Eyes, an editor with a squirrel and kindred spirits. You travel back in time, go to an Extravaganza, and meet Cordelia Grimm, great, great granddaughter of one of the Brothers Grimm.”
While visiting her grandmother, Julie discovers in a travel chest, a manuscript in an old language. Supposedly it’s a fairy tale and getting it translated and published leads Julie into more adventures and discoveries.
This is a tale I enjoyed from a reader, writer, and teacher’s viewpoint. It offers many opportunities, too, for teachers and parents to use it as a springboard to study literature, history, immigration, genealogy, and writing. You’ll enjoy the illustrations, too.
Ms. Lancaster has free teacher’s lesson plans for the book available at her web site. Also see a more detailed synopsis and excerpts.
(Amazon image; click on book cover for details)
©2008 Mary Emma Allen
I guess I’ll be the first to thank you for such a great review of my book. I’d also like to share with you a letter that a 10 year old boy sent me. He said:
I loved the story of Julie & the Lost Fairy tale because it was a good story and when I read it, it made me happy.
Isn’t it wonderful, Janie, when we can make children happy with our stories? Then we realize that being an author is so worthwhile. Thanks for stopping by One Book Two Book and for sharing the letter from your young fan.
Midwest Book Review
Children’s Bookwatch: July 2008
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
First published as a serial story in the newspapers, “Julie & The Lost Fairy Tale” is now compiled into the form of a novel for children and young adults. An original and captivating tale, “Julie & The Lost Fairy Tale” follows the relationship between Julie, her grandmother, and a chest she’s forbidden to open. Highly recommended for community library young adult fiction collections.