Christina from the library’s Outreach Services Division provides today’s review:
In the mood for a fair
y tale? Far Far Away by Tom McNeal is YA fiction that fans of J.K. Rowling, Diana Wynne Jones, and Lemony Snicket will find familiar but entirely unique. From its spooky old style woodcut illustrations of baby-snatching skeletons, to its unusual narrator (the ghost of one of the brothers Grimm!) this fantasy adventure tale has light romance and clever humor mingled with a charming dark ambiance. Suitable for those who prefer their fantasy to be a pleasant dream, rather than a nightmare.
The eloquent and multilingual Grimm ghost haunts an oddball boy, nicknamed Moonbeam, who is the only one who can hear him. A bite of enchanted cake binds his feisty and beautiful classmate Ginger to their peculiar group. They are aided by the Grimm ghost to explore the ominous mysteries in their town, including disappearing persons, runaways and the rumored existence of an evil-minded power known as the Finder of Occasions.
Lovers of magical realism will enjoy this story of modern young people who deal with jerks, crushes, and school among otherworldly beings and a slew of riddles and puzzles.
If you long for the mood of a fairy tale, but want a novel you can sink your teeth into, this fantasy will take you there.
Check the WRL catalog for Far Far Away
Blogging for a Good Book 
I read this book and LOVE it.
I reviewed it on my own blog, but I don’t think I did it justice as I was just too emotional to make much sense.
I particularly love how the author uses fairy tales to within the narrative and ends up crafting a cautionary fairy tale of his own.
I want to read it again!
[…] -From Blogging for a Good Book, Far Far Away, by Tom McNeal […]