Dropping in comments from a Blog hop.
Val Muller: http://www.valmuller.com/2012/11/12/book-review-through-the-mirror-and-into-snow...

This is the first in a series of middle-grade books following two girls, Valerie and Samantha. The girls are best friends, but they are total opposites. Sam is fashion-conscious while Val is not, for example. But their opposites make them good friends, and even Val’s mother shakes her head at the creative games they come up with. In this book, the two girls sneak out to the barn in search of a mysterious possum Val’s mother has been talking about. They follow the possum through a mirror that had been covered in a tarp and find themselves in a mysterious world—the world of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. (I won’t explain the possum; you’ll find out at the end.)

The girls recognize some of the things they encounter, such as a girl named Snow (as in Snow White) and other familiar elements from fairy tales with which Val is familiar. Befriending Snow and some other helpful characters, the girls must navigate the world (and the villains) of fairy tales. It’s definitely a book primarily for girls, as both protagonists are female, and the story focuses on the fairy tales having to do with evil stepmothers and marriages. It’s a clever mix of modern storyline and classic fairy tale, and the author mixes it up enough that it never feels stale. The reader is also kept in suspense during the times when Val and Sam cannot remember certain elements of the tales—remembering them would have helped them solve the problems they encounter much more quickly. This suspense will keep the reader turning the pages. I could see myself having enjoyed these books when I was a girl Val and Sam’s age.

The narrator is kept a mystery for the first chapter or so, until we learn the narrator is actually the garden gnome that stands watch in Val’s parents’ garden. At times, the narrator’s personality came through, which I found enjoyable. At other times, the narrator’s personality faded into the tale, which disappointed me because I found the gnome’s voice and tone humorous, adding to the story.

Val’s mother also plays an important role in the story. She’s the one who points out the possum in the barn, and she’s been writing a story (that she knows Val and Sam are reading) about Valerie and Samantha going on adventures. It’s even hinted at that the whole tale might be the result of reading Val’s mother’s manuscript and letting their imaginations go wild—though the girls agree that it was all too real to have been simply imagination.

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. I’m reviewing the other two books as part of a blog tour, so stay tuned for more!

Valerie and Samantha are great friends. They love to spend time finding adventures, and their creativity never ends. When they spot a random possum one day, they decide they have to chase after it. This leads to the discovery of a strange mirror, and this mirror leads to an amazing world where all the fairy tales they only read about come true. When the girls pass through the mirror they meet a young girl named Snow, and Valerie and Samantha quickly realize who this girl really is. As they try to help Snow, the girls also meet several other fairy tale characters. They soon have the adventure of a lifetime!

This book had a super cute concept. I loved the idea of encountering fairy tales in real life. Valerie and Samantha were fun, and I think younger girls would find them very relatable. I enjoyed their fearlessness and resourcefulness. Those are awesome things for young girls to read about. The mishmash of stories was also really fun. It was a fun concept, and I liked the way they interacted together (both the story characters with each other and the characters with Valerie and Samantha).

One thing that kind of took me out of the story was the narrator. The story was told by a gnome as a narrator, but it was kind of jolting when he would insert himself into the story. This took me out of it a bit. However, I'm not sure that will be a problem for everyone. I think it won't read as awkward especially for younger readers. Overall though I thought it was a really fun book. I look forward to reading the next two books as well. I think young girls with a thirst for adventure and a love of fairy tales will definitely enjoy these books. They are age appropriate and quick to read. This was an enjoyable book, and I am ready to read the next one.

Book provided for review. ( )