FAIREST ~ Gail Carson Levine. 1st HbDj 2006 Ella Enchanted #2 UNread! in MELB

Description: In the kingdom of Ayortha, who is the fairest of them all Certainly not Aza. She is thoroughly convinced that she is ugly. What she may lack in looks, though, she makes up for with a kind heart, and with something no one else has—a magical voice. Her vocal talents captivate all who hear them, and in Ontio Castle they attract the attention of a handsome prince—and a dangerous new queen. In this New York Times bestselling novel filled with humor, adventure, romance, and song, Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine invites you to join Aza as she discovers how exquisite she truly is. About the AuthorGail Carson Levine's first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Ever, a New York Times bestseller; Fairest, a Best Book of the Year for Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal, and a New York Times bestseller; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; A Tale of Two Castles; and the six Princess Tales books. She is also the author of the nonfiction books Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly and Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink, as well as the picture books Betsy Who Cried Wolf and Betsy Red Hoodie. Gail Carson Levine and her husband, David, live in a two-centuries-old farmhouse in the Hudson Valley of New York State.Very Entertaining read!Reviews"Readers will instantly fall in love with the heroine, whose heart proves to be as warm as her voice." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "[Readers will] sink into the fairy-tale romance, the remarkable characters, and the wild, magical adventures." -- ALA Booklist "A song-filled, fast-paced fairy tale." -- Kirkus Reviews "Inventive and original" - KLIATT I liked this. .... I enjoyed the gnomes and I liked the songs (which in the written book just look like poems). I don't think I would like an audio version. I liked that Aza wasn't pretty, and didn't have to be, to win the prince. However, she was blessed with an amazing voice in a country where that mattered hugely - so it still sends the message that there is no hope for those who are neither oustandingly talented nor beautiful, which is the majority of girls (at least in their own opinions). The author missed an opportunity here, I think. YOU COULD READ IT OVER AND OVER .... This book had everything a book should have. Each page had a different way to it and it was impossible to put it down! Gail Carson Levine is a magician with words! # fairest. The deeper meanings behind this story... I pulled this book off of the Young Adult shelves expecting some light fiction, but I really enjoyed some of the deeper meanings behind this story! Yes, it is a retelling of Snow White, but with insights that really apply to most women today. First of all, the two most prominent female characters are alike in that they find themselves unacceptable- like two sides of a coin, even their names are like each other. One, however, becomes the villain, and the other, the heroine. But Levine paints the two characters so you can see how one, in coming to accept herself as she is, finds happiness and bestows grace on those around her, and how the other, in hating herself and trying to be other than what she is, ends up destroying the kingdom. Women are so good at obsessing over their weaknesses - an extra ten pounds, a lower grade in math than someone else, etc. What is interesting about this story is that Aza (the heroine) has one of the best singing voices in the kingdom, but thinks and worries more about her ugly face. She gets to the point where she will do almost anything to be beautiful. She finds her appearance so offensive that she believes that she causes pain to anyone who has to look at her. But another character, Ivi, is so obsessed with the idea of beauty that she actually does begin to destroy people in order to appear to the best advantage. Her pursuit to correct her one weakness begins to cause major problems in her life and those of others. We are constantly distracted by the idea that our external weaknesseses hold us back from true happiness; when really it is the inability to accept our imperfection that is the bane of our existance. Why is it easier to notice and worry over an extra five pounds, when the real problem is a dissatisfaction with ourselves and a belief that if we were other than what we are in every respect, things would be better? Levine poignantly portrays the incredible harmfulness of envy and shows how hatred of self can come to destroy our worlds, if we let it. Snow White but so much more. .... When I picked up this volume I was unaware of the ties to Ella Enchanted so I giggled maniacally when I came to mentions of Sir Peter of Frell and Areida. I love Ella but I feel like with Aza there is so much more like Levine simply stepped everthing up a notch. I think people tend to see fairy tales as having to be about the pretty princess getting the handsome prince and happily ever after, but personally I love fairytales because they can call into question what is beauty? What is friendship? What is love? What is happiness? And they ask these questions in a way that makes you see the story as if there was a fun house mirror but it has been taken away. Aza has a beautiful voice and a beautiful spirit but physically she is nothing to be admired. She gets swept away from the Inn of those who raised her to the castle and there meets the beautiful new queen who is her polar opposite, only attractive on the outside or so it seems. The prince has ears that are too big and a saucy hound by the name of Oochoo. In this tale of magic and mystery things are not hardly ever as they seem, they are never as they seem. FIVE STARS – IT’S BRILLIANT!! … I give it five stars because it is a GREAT book! It's about a girl called Aza who has an amazing singing voice and can illuse. I enjoyed it because it is full of songs, character s and adventures. I would recommend it to people aged 9 -12. Marvellous Reading! WHY do ebayers buy from US?Because you KNOW what you're getting. My close up photos are of the actual item & form part of my description!! POSTAGE IS $9.90 WITHIN AUSTRALIAWe pack your books with care - using secure, lightweight, waterproof packaging to ensure that they are well protected in transit.*All items will be shipped within 3 business days of receipt of payment. Payment can be made by Direct Deposit Bank Transfer or Paypal. Check out my other items- *Buyer to make contact within 3 days of auction end and payment within 5 days. *Cash on pick up is fine. *Bank deposit & PAYPAL available. *Any questions? Just ask! Please look for my other items in our new Ebay Store 'Jingle Bells Books' ~ as there are lots & lots of old, RARE and COLLECTABLE BOOKS to be cleared from our bookshelves. We're new retirees downsizing from 30+ years teaching & clearing an 80 year, 3 generation private family collection of often valuable books ! *HAPPY TO COMBINE POSTAGE up to 3kilos of BOOKS can post WITHIN Australia for $16.90! THANKS FOR DROPPING BY

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