Edgar Award-winning author Frances O'Roark Dowell pens this imaginative tale that evokes such delightful classics as Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz. While waiting outside the principal's office at school, Isabelle Bean stumbles upon another world. It's just like a fairy tale-until Isabelle is mistaken for a witch, all thanks to her favorite pair of boots.
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"I feel like this is a book my coworker's daughter Freya would have written. She'd probably like it a lot. It's a charming little oral fairy tale/folk tale with a quirky narrator. I liked it, although it was possibly too slight. Wouldn't call it particularly distinguished, though."
— Shelley (4 out of 5 stars)
" It was an OK read. The writing style was very good but took awhile to pull you into the story. I would say only read if you want to. Be kind to one another an continue reading! "
— Alexandra, 2/19/2014" I was warned of an annoying narrator, and sure, it is a little cutesy at times, but it never took me out of the story, which was interesting, fun, and distinctive. Too slight/insubstantial to merit Newbery consideration, though, IMHO. A fairly quick read, too. "
— Andy, 2/12/2014" There have been many books lately in which the narrator breaks the wall and talks directly to the reader. (None of which I can remember right now, of course.) What I DO remember is that it didn't work very well in this one. I felt as if the story was telling itself just fine, and the mismatch between the narrator and the tale took me out of the story to no affect. "
— Jamie, 2/6/2014" A whimsical fantasy book where changlings are defined and a focus of the book. For fantasy lovers it would be a fast read. For action adventure lovers it would be a painful read. "
— Kimberly, 2/1/2014" With sophisticated language and a sense of whimsy, this book is a great adventure and fairy tale story for younger readers. "
— Livia, 1/22/2014" Isabelle Bean is the ultimate misfit who finds herself in a fairy tale type world where she finally feels she belongs. Along the way she learns about family and friendship. The narrator's digressions during the story add some humor and quirkiness. "
— Ann, 1/20/2014" Yup. There is something here, but it is wandering loose in fairyland. Too much work to pull it out of the stew. "
— Judith, 1/19/2014" This book started off great and still was mostly good in the end. Individual chapters would be worthwhile to discuss voice and author style. "
— Susan, 1/8/2014" I like this author very much. This was an odd twist on an old story but not anywhere near as good as the other books by Ms Dowell that I have read. Less than perfect from her is much better than many others! "
— Kathy, 11/27/2013" The storyline was nice, but all of the chapter interruptions by the author were distracting. "
— Abby, 11/5/2013" In the end the moral of the story is how to deal with you life when it does not go the way that you have dreamed. "
— Traci, 10/24/2013" SO GOOD! One of my favorite books! I could read it over and over ... great for elementary and middle school kids! "
— Megan, 10/19/2013" so far it is so wonderful and it is true fantasy "
— Elizabeth, 10/18/2013" This is An amazing page turner type of story ! I just could not put it down. I loved the shocking twist and the various mysteries that this wonderful land contained! "
— Eliana, 6/3/2013" One Sentence Review: Dowell comes as close as she ever has doing fantasy and the result is a rather lovely reinterpretation of witch-related fairy tales. "
— Betsy, 3/29/2013" Wierd book. Didn't like it because I don't like witch hunting books. "
— Tiffany, 1/26/2013" Magical young adult novel. Love the narrator. "
— Terri, 5/28/2012" A pretty whimsical little book. I didn't like the ending much, (it sorta just ends awkwardly) but I liked the back and forth between the narrator and I kinda liked Isabelle...sorta. She's a hard character to like. "
— Shannon, 2/11/2012" This looks like a good book, but a little difficult for M. at this point. The plot is nonlinear, so she couldn't quite follow it. We'll come back to it sometime in the next year or so, and then I think she will really enjoy it. "
— Elspeth, 1/17/2012" I was half way through the book and still not drawn in. The storyline has potential but the telling was not grabbing my attention. "
— Lisa, 9/1/2011" Fun take on a modern fairytale. It will make everyone feel a little special. "
— Stefani, 8/21/2011" fun to read <br/>good read for everyone, not just kids <br/>interesting with good vocabulary <br/>herb pictures with their uses at the beginning of the chapeters <br/>quick read "
— Kathryn, 5/14/2011" A pretty whimsical little book. I didn't like the ending much, (it sorta just ends awkwardly) but I liked the back and forth between the narrator and I kinda liked Isabelle...sorta. She's a hard character to like. "
— Shannon, 4/26/2011" Too bad Isabelle can't stay at the world she likes. "
— Winnie, 4/22/2011" Think I really liked this book because I listened to it rather than reading it. Excellent production. "
— Melissa, 4/8/2011" Very little to this at all--and nothing much I like. It's a cute idea, I guess, but nothing more. And the description on the cover flap is very misleading, IMHO. "
— Polly, 4/6/2011" I thought this book is alittle scary because of a witch when I read it at night it gives me the creeps "
— Alexis, 3/25/2011" This book started off great and still was mostly good in the end. Individual chapters would be worthwhile to discuss voice and author style. "
— Susan, 3/25/2011" I like this author very much. This was an odd twist on an old story but not anywhere near as good as the other books by Ms Dowell that I have read. Less than perfect from her is much better than many others! "
— Kathy, 3/17/2011" Fun take on a modern fairytale. It will make everyone feel a little special. "
— Stefani, 3/11/2011" It was sort of confusing, but it's sort of about the power of imagination. Because she believes she falls through a closet into another world. It also is in the point of view of an outsider who never fits in. It's not my favorite book, but I still like it and it's an easy read. "
— Lucy, 3/7/2011" Fun to read! Nice mix of fantasy and reality with a real girl, struggling with her identity, falling into a fantasy world. Good for a upper elementary girl. "
— Cstrand, 1/26/2011" The storyline was nice, but all of the chapter interruptions by the author were distracting. "
— Abby, 1/23/2011" A good middle school book for ages 8-12. Fantasy "
— Geri, 1/11/2011Frances O’Roark Dowell is the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of Dovey Coe, which won the Edgar Award and the William Allen White Award; Where I’d Like to Be; the bestselling The Secret Language of Girls and its sequels The Kind of Friends We Used to Be and The Sound of Your Voice, Only Really Far Away; Chicken Boy; Shooting the Moon, which was awarded the Christopher Medal; the Phineas L. MacGuire series; Falling In; the teen novel Ten Miles Past Normal; and the critically acclaimed The Second Life of Abigail Walker. She lives with her husband and two sons in Durham, North Carolina.
Jessica Almasy (she, her) is an actress, theater teacher, and award-winning audiobook narrator. She has recorded over eighty titles, including the Earphones Award–winning Clementine series and Operation Yes. She is the winner of two Audie Awards and several AudioFile Earphones Awards.