My 8-year old loved this book, and so do I. This story includes many subtle lessons: the pitfalls of obsession with beauty, the importance of family support and self-reliance, making the most of your strengths, and how good deeds and considerations can pay back in unexpected ways.
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Fairest
(2006, Fiction - Fairy Tale, Written by Gail Levine)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Fantasy charms with a refreshingly homely heroine.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 10 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Fairest
Parents need to know that in this fairytale from the author of Ella Enchanted, the heroine, Aza, is refreshingly less attractive than your average protagonist and suffers from quite a bit of self-doubt because of it. Aza is tricked and imprisoned in a dungeon where she is tied up with a gag in her mouth. When she escapes there is the threat of being killed by a guard or eaten by an ogre. There are also mild love exchanges between Aza and a prince, which includes some kissing.
Read our full review by Pam Gelman
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about why Aza is a good and kind person worth rooting for. Is it because she grows up in a house of love and respect? Can you relate to Aza's feelings about herself and how others judge her? How did it feel as a reader to hear Aza's description of herself as a "blemish" or others calling her an "ogre"? Does this make you feel differently about first impressions and judging others?
Our Members Say
See all 14 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Another wonderfully empowering story from Gail Carson Levine.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved this. In the beginning Aza is completely concerned about how she looks, but READ ON, later Aza finds out that inner beauty is what really matters. I think this is best for girls 10+ but younger girls CAN read this, it just might not make a lot of sense. Boys are VERY likely to NOT be interested in this story. But girls will probably LOVE it.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
It's a great book for about 12 years of age and up.
Me...personally, I loved it. It's about somethings that aren't real...but it's exciting to read. I never really liked to read. But, whenever I started reading it...I would barely put the book down. It's really a great book for kids to read. But just so you know, it does have a couple of curse worlds in it, so if you want your kids to read it, then let them wait until they're maybe about 12 to 13 or even 14 years old. I didn't read it until 14. But, it also has some tricky words to pronounce as well. But, either way, it's still a freat book.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the girl in this book is shallow and thinks you need beauty to survive!!!!! she is always talking about how she is ugly!!!!!!!! GET A LIFE
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
My Favorite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE THIS BOOK! It is my total favorite. I reread it once a month so I don't forget it. I t should be turned into a movie so i can watch it over and over and over again. Did I forget to say I read it in two days. The book is like 300 pages. I loved it! I could'nt put it down! I would totaly recomened this to anyone who likes a twist on a tale(Snow White)!
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 100% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
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