ALA Booklist (Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2003)

Although this is for a slightly younger audience than her Rowan of Rin books, Rodda's latest, first in the new Fairy Realm series, will also have kids sitting on the edge of their seats. Every 50 years or so (once in a blue moon), the magic of the Realm must be renewed to prevent the evil trolls of Outland from overtaking the kindly creatures of the land. The person entrusted with renewing the magic is the Realm's true queen, Jessica, who, years before, fell in love with a mortal and moved to his world, promising to return at the blue moon to renew the Realm's magic. Taking advantage of the situation, evil cousin Valda intervenes, hoping to destroy the Realm. It's Jessica's spunky granddaughter, Jessie, who comes to the rescue. Cats, one good and the other evil; a talking horse; a nervous elf; and a cloak of invisibility aid Jessie in assisting her weak, aged grandmother in fulfilling her queenly obligation. Intergenerational teamwork and a girl's levelheaded thinking combine with intrigue and imagination in this exciting fantasy.

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4-Jessie's grandmother's health is failing rapidly and the woman seems unconcerned that the charm bracelet she always wore is missing. She knows she had something important to do before her upcoming 70th birthday, but she can't remember what. In a parallel world, the fairies are trying to save their kingdom from an evil ruler. Jessie accidentally travels to that world, becomes embroiled in their struggles, and saves the day by retrieving the magical charm bracelet, thereby restoring her grandma's memory of her connection to the fairy world and what she must do. It's all a bit predictable, but beginning chapter-book readers will appreciate Jessie's take-charge attitude to defeat the evil usurper and revel in her success at saving her grandmother and the fairy kingdom. Geared toward transitional readers, the short chapters each begin with one full-page, black-and-white illustration, aptly showing the magic of the book.-Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Writing for a younger audience, the Aussie author of the "Rowan of Rin" series sends a human child to rescue a fairy land about to be overrun by, as one hysterical elf puts it, "trolls and—ogres and—goblins—and dragons—and—giants—and—monsters—and—and—." Searching for her failing grandmother's prized charm bracelet, young Jessie stumbles into a realm that bears an astonishing resemblance to the paintings her grandpa used to create before his death. As it turns out, Jessie's grandmother is not only a former resident, but heir to that country's throne—and so the only one who can renew the spell that keeps the baddies at bay. Giving Jessie a talking pony and other allies, an invisibility cloak, a fast-approaching deadline, and an imposter claimant with nefarious intentions, Rodda tells a suspenseful, well-knit tale, enlivened by humor and heroism, climaxed by a clever ruse and some nick-of-time spell casting. Though restored to youth and beauty when brought back to her land, Jessica's grandmother opts to go back with her granddaughter to the world of humans—but Jessica, now with a charm bracelet of her own, is definitely slated for future visits. The series has been running overseas for several years, and to judge from its opener, should have made the jump long ago. (final illustrations not seen) (Fiction. 7-9)

Horn Book (Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2003)

A magical doorway in the garden allows Jessie passage to "the Realm." In Charm, Jessie must find a missing bracelet in order to outwit an impostor queen, and in Flower, her challenge revolves around scary griffins and flighty fairies. The problems Jessie faces in the real world balance her fantasy adventures. The series' small trim size, short chapters, and fanciful setting will quickly win over young girls. [Review covers these Fairy Realm titles: The Charm Bracelet and The Flower Fairies.]