The Fairy-Tale Detectives

by Michael Buckley

Other authors: Peter Ferguson (Illustrator)

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: The Sisters Grimm (1)

Members	Reviews	Popularity	Average rating	Mentions
4,003	140	3,264	(3.89)	113
Orphans Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are sent to live with an eccentric grandmother that they have always believed to be dead.

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▾Member reviews

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Showing 1-5 of 138 (next | show all)

Independent Reading Level: Grades 2-8
Awards:
New York Times Bestseller
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
Kirkus Reviews Best Fantasy Book Award (

)

HaileeWilder | Dec 2, 2024 |

What fun! Silly but not to the point of being annoying, wraps things up but not to the point of excluding sequels (of which there are 6!), intriguing... I really loved it. Looking forward to reading the next one. (

)

jennievh | Sep 18, 2024 |

Independent Reading Level: Grades 2-7
Awards: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, Kirkus Reviews Best Fantasy Book award

anbaum | Apr 25, 2024 |

I am a sucker for Fairy Tales. (

)

cdaley | Nov 2, 2023 |

This was a cute and clever book, and I enjoyed it. It was not as involved as Harry Potter (written for a younger crowd), but still very enjoyable. (

)

RaggedyMe | Aug 12, 2023 |

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▾Other authors

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Michael Buckley	—	primary author	all editions	calculated
Ferguson, Peter	Illustrator	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Ganser, L. J.	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Belongs to Series

The Sisters Grimm (1)

Is contained in

The Sisters Grimm: Books 1 and 2 by Michael Buckley

The Sisters Grimm: Books 1-3 by Michael Buckley

Was inspired by

Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm

Has as a reference guide/companion

The Sisters Grimm: A Very Grimm Guide by Michael Buckley

▾Awards and Honors

Awards

Bluestem Award (Nominee – 2012)

Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee – Intermediate – 2009)

Nēnē Award (Nominee – 2009)

Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee – Grades 6-8 – 2007)

Sasquatch Book Award (Nominee – 2008)

Utah Beehive Book Award (Nominee – Children's Fiction – 2008)

Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Award (Nominee – 2009)

Notable Lists

Idaho Battle of the Books (Elementary – 2023)

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▾Common Knowledge

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Canonical title

The Fairy-Tale Detectives

Original title

The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives

Alternative titles

Original publication date

2005-08-01

People/Characters

Sabrina Grimm (almost 12)

Daphne Grimm (7 years old)

Relda Grimm (the sisters' Granny)

Mr. Canis

Mayor William Charming

(show all 46 items)

Important places

Ferryport Landing, New York, USA (fictional)

New York, New York, USA

Grimms' cottage, Ferryport Landing (fictional)

the woods outside Grimms' cottage

the Applebee Farm, Ferryport Landing (fictional)

(show all 8 items)

Important events

Related movies

Epigraph

THE DENSE FOREST BRANCHES scratched at their faces and arms, but Sabrina and Daphne couldn't stop runny, though they had long since passed the point of exhaustion. Fear was fueling each step now.

Another thunderous bellow rang in the distance, followed by the terrible sound of falling trees and shrieking animals.

"We have to find a way to stop it," Daphne cried between gasps.

Sabrina knew her little sister was right. But how? They were two children versus a vicious monster.

"I'll think of something," Sabrina said, dragging her sister behind an enormous oak tree for a much-needed rest. Sabrina squeezed her sister's hand to reassure her, while she forced oxygen into her own burning lungs. Her words were empty. She didn't have a plan. The only thing going on in her head was the thumping of blood roaring through her eardrums. But it made no difference. It had found them. Splintering wood and damp soil rained from the sky as the tree they stood next to was violently uprooted.

The two girls looked up into the horrible face above them and felt hot breath blow through their hair.

What's happened to our lives? Sabrina wondered. When had their world become unrecognizable? And what had happened to her, the eleven-year-old girl who only two days ago had been just an orphan on a train?

Dedication

In memory of my grandparents, Basil and Relda Gandee

First words

I'm going to die of boredom here, Sabrina Grimm thought as she looked out the train window at Ferryport Landing, New York.

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Original language

English