Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

From the Publisher

A Newbery Honor author spins a spellbinding story of adventure, romance, and song.

Publishers Weekly

Levine's enchanting, intelligent fairy tale, set in a kingdom devoted to singing, lends itself well to full-cast production; this one features 32 voices. Composer Todd Hobin has set Levine's lyrics to music; Naughton does a terrific job as maid Aza, the narrator, a demanding role that requires near-operatic talents. Homely Aza, abandoned at birth, not only sings like a lark, she can throw her voice and mimic others, a skill she calls illusing. In a chance meeting, the treacherous new queen, whose abrasive voice has a Valley Girlesque quality, discovers Aza's talent and blackmails the girl into secretly providing her voice for all of the queen's public singing. Additional background music augments the many perilous predicaments Aza finds herself in, as well as providing a backdrop to the fairy-tale romance that develops between her and Prince Ijori. This is a rare case: the book itself is superb, but the audio production surpasses it. Ages 10-up. (Reviews, July 24, 2006.)(Dec.)

Susie Wilde - Children's Literature

Aza, which means lark in Ayorthaian, wonders about her true parentage. She wants a reason to explain why she is so big and ugly and has such an amazing song voice. Her voice counts for much in a land where everyone sings. She is happy enough in her inn-home where here mother, father, and sister Areida adore her, and the guests do not annoy her all that much. She can usually satisfy them. She pleases herself with the voice trick of throwing her voice or the imitated voices of others, wherever she wants. When Aza is taken to court by the duchess whose dame is sick, she does not know she is walking into a hot-bed of conflict. Within days, she views a royal wedding, falls in love with Prince Ijori, sees King Oscaro suffer a blow that puts him in a coma-like state, and is pleased then horrified to become the waiting-woman of the new, foreign, manipulative, and non-singing Queen Ivi. Levine pulls on fairy-tale traditions of magic mirrors and other Snow White icons, but creates a wholly new tale. Once again, her once-upon-a-time voice takes us into lands frequented by a prophesizing gnome, frightening ogres, and the political tensions found in all courts. All of these become so real, you feel Levine has traveled them. Not since Ella Enchanted has Levine written such a compelling fantasy world, nor invented such a gutsy, unusual heroine. 2006, HarperCollins, Ages 8 to 12.

Children's Literature

In Ayorthaia, Aza was born singing with a beautiful voice, but is ugly in her appearance. She lives with her adoptive parents in an inn. When she turns 14, she learns that she can also throw her voice, a skill that she calls "illusing." A duchess who visits the inn plans to attend the king's wedding to a foreigner, and she invites Aza to attend as her maid. At the castle, the beautiful Queen Ivy learns of Aza's skills at illusing and singing--things that the queen lacks. She invites Aza to be her lady-in-waiting. When the king becomes injured, life for Aza takes a more sinister turn as Queen Ivy orders Aza to sing for her and "speak" for her. Much to Aza's surprise, she befriends the prince who sees in her more beauty than she does. As Aza is serving the queen, she stumbles upon a mirror that seems to transform her appearance. The mirror contains the creature, Skulni, who commands what the mirror can do. The creature casts a spell over Aza to make her beautiful. As the kingdom becomes more and more fractured, Aza finds herself and her family at risk. Her new found beauty does not give her the things she thinks it will; She must use her wits and rely on her friends, the gnomes. She must also learn where true beauty lies; something that Aza struggles to learn. After Levine's brilliant Ella Enchanted with its wonderful blend of humor and creativity, this story seems a bit confusing and has a darker mood. One needs to be very patient with this novel and its take on the Snow White fairy tale. If one is willing to keep reading, middle school and young adult girls would enjoy this novel.

VOYA

Once again the good fairy Lucinda has given a highly inappropriate gift, this time in the form of a mirror. As Ella Enchanted (HarperCollins, 1997/VOYA August 1997) is a humorous retelling of Cinderella, this novel is an offbeat retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac with a hint of Snow White (who is the fairest of them all?). In the kingdom of Ayortha, the people sing songs, and no one has a more beautiful voice than Aza. Aza also has the extraordinary ability to "throw" her voice, called illusing, to make it seem to come from places other than from Aza. This talent finds her in a deceitful arrangement with the new queen, an outsider who does not have the ability to sing in a kingdom that prizes singing. In the companionship of the queen, Aza will encounter a mirror that will beguile and bewitch her, and she will fall in love with the Prince. Throughout the story, Aza wrestles with her appearance and the idea that there can be beauty within. The book also tackles common teen issues such as standing up for what one believes to be right, deceit, and how to overcome mistakes to regain people's trust. Many readers will be drawn to the book because of the popularity of Ella Enchanted, but the kingdom of Ayortha and the "sings" can be difficult to get into, providing a more challenging read for younger teen audiences. Aza is a complex character with flaws, but teens will relate to her struggles with appearance and self-acceptance and revel in her first love. This story is more in the spirit of Donna Jo Napoli's fairytale retellings, with greater depth and less humor than its predecessor.

Claire Rosser - KLIATT

Over 300 pages of rather challenging fantasy, with motifs we all recognize: a mirror that reflects beauty and talks; gnomes who live in caves; a king, a prince, a girl who doesn't know who her real parents are; a shallow but beautiful queen. Levine adds many original ideas, especially that of the importance of singing. The main character is NOT the fairest. She is Aza, with intelligence, a kind heart and a beautiful voice, but she looks awkwardly different from everyone else. When the king falls ill, his young wife grabs as much power as she can grab, threatening to turn a benevolent kingdom into a tyranny. She pulls Aza in with her, holding over Aza the well being of the parents who lovingly raised Aza as their own. Throughout is the question of who exactly Aza's true parents are; she looks different from everyone else, and she has gifts no one else has. For instance, she knows how to throw her voice like a ventriloquist would, and when the evil queen learns of this talent, she forces Aza to make it seem that the queen has a lovely voice, when in fact it is Aza's voice projected from the queen's mouth. The choirmaster is suspicious and arranges for the two to sing a duet, which of course would expose the fraud since it is only Aza who can sing. Inventive and original; readers who like Ella Enchanted will be primed to try this fairy tale as well. KLIATT Codes: JS--Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2006, HarperCollins, 328p., $16.99.. Ages 12 to 18.

KLIATT

To quote the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, September 2006: Over 300 pages of rather challenging fantasy, with motifs we all recognize: a mirror that reflects beauty and talks; gnomes who live in caves; a king; a prince; a girl who doesn't know who her real parents are; a shallow but beautiful queen. Levine adds many original ideas, especially that of the importance of singing. The main character is NOT the fairest. She is Aza, with intelligence, a kind heart and a beautiful voice, but she looks awkwardly different from everyone else. When the king falls ill, his young wife grabs as much power as she can grab, threatening to turn a benevolent kingdom into a tyranny. She pulls Aza in with her, holding over Aza the well being of the parents who lovingly raised Aza as their own. Throughout is the question of who exactly Aza's true parents are; she looks different from everyone else, and she has gifts no one else has. For instance, she knows how to throw her voice like a ventriloquist would, and when the evil queen learns of this talent, she forces Aza to make it seem that the queen has a lovely voice, when in fact it is Aza's voice projected from the queen's mouth. The choirmaster is suspicious and arranges for the two to sing a duet, which of course would expose the fraud since it is only Aza who can sing. Inventive and original; readers who like Ella Enchanted will be primed to try this fairy tale as well. Reviewer: Claire Rosser

School Library Journal

Gr 6 Up- In Gail Carson Levine's adventure fantasy (HarperCollins, 2006), Aza, the large, unattractive daughter of an inn keeper, gets the opportunity to go to the castle and witness the king's marriage to a beautiful, princess. While considered so ugly that she holds her hand in front of her face so that others will not see her, Aza has a perfect voice, truly an asset in this kingdom where music is considered the finest form of communication. The new queen has no singing talent, and convinces the girl, who can throw her voice, to help her deceive the court. When the ruse is discovered, Aza must flee. Through a series of adventures, Aza realizes that looks are not important and finds romance. Viewers are transported to a magical land of ogres, gnomes, and lyrical kingdoms. The performance by Sarah Naughton and a full cast is excellent. Listeners will be dazzled by this entertaining production.-Jeana Actkinson, Bridgeport, Bridgeport High School, TX

School Library Journal

Gr 6 Up-In a world in which elegance, beauty, and singing ability are revered, Aza is bulky, awkward, and homely. Her saving grace is that she can sing and has a gift of voice manipulation that she calls "illusing." Through a chance meeting at her family's inn, a duchess invites Aza to act as her companion and accompany her to the palace to attend the king's wedding. When the beautiful new queen discovers Aza's gift for throwing her voice and for mimicry, she sees a way of protecting her reputation and disguising her own lack of talent. Pressured by the woman's threats upon her family, Aza deceives the court into believing that Ivi is a gifted singer. When the ruse is discovered, Aza is forced to flee the castle in order to save her life. Through her adventures, she discovers her own strength of character, learns about her true heritage, and decides that her physical appearance is not worthy of the stress and worry she has wasted on it. The plot is fast-paced, and Aza's growth and maturity are well crafted and believable. Readers will enjoy the fairy-tale setting while identifying with the real-life problems of living in an appearance-obsessed society. A distinguished addition to any collection.-Melissa Christy Buron, Epps Island Elementary, Houston, TX Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

A musical maid with a love for gnomes discovers there's more to life than being pretty. Abandoned at the Featherbed Inn in the kingdom of Ayortha, Aza was raised lovingly by the innkeeper and his wife. In Ayortha beauty and singing are prized above everything. Aza's voice is the "finest," but her "htun" hair and large physique mark her as ugly. She longs to be pretty. Fate takes Aza to Ontio Castle, where her voice charms everyone including Prince Ijori. Aza quickly becomes embroiled in castle intrigue when the king is injured and his scheming bride, Ivi, blackmails Aza into "illusing" her voice to make it seem that Ivi can sing. With Ayortha verging on rebellion, Aza realizes Ivi's magical mirror will transform her into the fairest of all, but at a terrible price. Fans of Ella Enchanted (1997) will find Aza a kind-hearted, spirited heroine who uses her wit and voice to rescue the kingdom and who learns the hard way that beauty isn't everything. A song-filled, fast-paced fairy tale. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Product Details

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Read a Sample Chapter

Fairest

HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

All right reserved.

ISBN: 0060734094

Chapter One

I was born singing. Most babies cry. I sang an aria.

Or so I believe. I have no one to tell me the truth of it. I was abandoned when I was a month old, left at the Featherbed Inn in the Ayorthaian village of Amonta. It was January 12th of the year of Thunder Songs.

The wench who brought me to the inn paid for our chamber in advance and smuggled me in unseen. The next morning she smuggled herself out, leaving me behind.

I know what happened next. Father and Mother--the innkeeper and his wife--have retold the tale on the anniversary of my arrival since I grew old enough to understand the words.

"You were left in the Lark chamber," Mother would say. "It was the right room for you, my songbird."

"It was a chill morning," Father would chime in. "Soon you were howling." His shoulders would shake with laughter. "I thought you were Imilli."

We would all smile--my younger sister Areida, my two older brothers, Mother, and I. Imilli was our cat--kitten then.

Mother would burst in. "I knew straight off you were a babe. I knew you were a singer, too." She'd sing, "It was all in your lovely howl."

We'd laugh at that.

She'd shake her head. "No. Truly. It was lovely."

My favorite part would come next. Mother would throw back her head and imitate my howl, a high pure note.

Ayortha is a kingdom of singers. In our family and in Amonta, my voice isthe finest. Mother often said that if I tried, I could sing the sun down from the sky.

"I opened the chamber door," Father would say, continuing the tale, "and there you were."

I was in the center of the bed, crying and kicking the air.

"I picked you up," Mother would say, "and you gurgled such a musical gurgle."

My brother Ollo would break in with his favorite part. "Your bottom was wet."

Areida would giggle.

Father and Mother would never mention that the blanket I had arrived in was velvet, edged with gold thread.

The story would go on. Mother carried me into the Sparrow room, where my brothers slept. Father headed for the attic to find Ollo's old cradle. When he came down, I was lying on Ollo's small bed while Ollo, who was two years old then, gently poked my cheek.

No one has told me what happened next, but I know. I can imagine the sight I was. Yarry, who was five, would have spoken his mind, as he does to this day. He would have said, in a tone of wonder, "She's so ugly."

Then--they have told me this--he said, "Can we keep her, Father?"

Father and Mother did, and named me Aza, which means lark in Ayorthaian. They treated me no differently from their own children, and taught me to read music and songs from our treasured leather songbook, kept on its own high table in the entry parlor.

I was an unsightly child. My skin was the weak blue-white of skimmed milk, which wouldn't have been so bad if my hair had been blond and my lips pale pink. But my lips were as red as a dragon's tongue and my hair as black as an old frying pan.

Mother always denied that I was ugly. She said that looking different wasn't the same as looking amiss, and she called me her one-of-a-kind girl. Still, she promised I'd grow prettier as I grew older. I remember asking her a dozen times a day if I was prettier yet. She would stop whatever she was doing--cleaning a guest's chamber or bathing Areida--and consider me. Then she'd sing, "I think so."

But soon after, one of the inn's guests would stare, and I'd know the transformation hadn't really taken place.

If anything, I became uglier. I grew large boned and awkward. My chubby cheeks were fine for a babe, but not for an older child. I resembled a snow maid, with a big sphere of a face and round button eyes.

I ached to be pretty. I wished my fairy godmother would come and make me so. Mother said we all have fairy godmothers, but they rarely reveal themselves. I wished I could see mine. I was sure fairies were supremely beautiful and glorious in every way.

Mother said fairy godmothers only watch from afar and sympathize. I didn't see the good of a hand-wringing fairy godmother. I needed one who'd fly in and help.

With no hope for fairy intervention, I wished for a magic spell to make me pretty. At night I'd sing nonsense words to myself after Areida had fallen asleep. I thought I might stumble on the right combination of syllables and notes, but I never did.

I attempted to make myself more presentable by pinning my hair up this way or that, or by tying a ribbon around my neck. Once, I sneaked into Father's workshop and smeared wood stain on my face and arms.

The results were streaky brown skin and a rash that lasted a month.

The inn's guests were sometimes friendly, but more often they were rude. As bad as the ones who stared were the ones who looked away in embarrassment. Some guests didn't want me to serve their food, and some didn't want me to clean their rooms.

We Ayorthaians are sensitive to beauty, more sensitive than the subjects in other kingdoms, I think. We love a fine voice especially, but we also admire a rosy sunset, a sweet scent, a fetching face. And when we're not pleased, we're displeased.

I developed the habit of holding my hand in front of my face when guests arrived, a foolish practice, because it raised curiosity and concealed little.

Mother and Father mostly gave me chores that kept me out of sight, helping the laundress or washing dishes. They did so to protect me. But it was common sense, too. I was bad for business.

Continues...

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Excerpted from Fairest
by Gail Levine
Copyright © 2006 by Gail Levine.
Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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