Book Review: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (and a giveaway)

Sometimes a book gobsmacks me, and I have to tell the world about it. This is the case with Catherynne M. Valente’s The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making.

The Green Wind blows into Nebraska and asks a young girl named September if she’d like to go to Fairyland. Being a brave and smart girl and quite ready to take a break from home, September says yes. She flies out the window on a leopard into a place that is familiar but yet entirely unexpected. A wyvern, a wairwulf, migrating bicycles, and a city made of fabric are just a few of the delights of Fairyland. Though wonderful, Fairyland is not all glitter and gold. September learns of unfriendly ruler, The Marquess, soon after her arrival. She decides to take a path that will lead her right to The Marquess’ door. Adventure, lessons, madness, bravery, pain, and laughter ensue. Sometimes they happen all at once.

I really just want to squee and tell you to read it NOW, but I’ll try to tell you why I loved The Girl Who… in a coherent fashion.

I was fortunate and got to hear Cat Valente read an excerpt of this book on her tour (there are still a few stops remaining). I think I had a dopey smile on my face the whole time because I was just so enchanted by the single chapter she and her friend (he read the part of the Wyverary) read. The key word is enchanted. I knew after reading the first paragraph that this book is one I will treasure and go back to for the rest of my life. Valente writes with a style that is luscious but not flowery. Every sentence feels real and true, if that makes sense. The characters are not the plain vanilla good or evil that you find in most fairytales. Even September, the heroine, is a little selfish at times. She is not Dorothy, she is not Wendy. Nothing against them, but I like the cut of September’s jib much better. I prefer shades of gray. The creatures September meets are more than they appear to be. The Wyverary is half-Wyvern and half-library. Underneath his majestic presence, he’s figuring out who or what he is. The layers are subtly added under all of Fairyland. It’s more than a foreign place with marvels unheard of; it’s a foreign place with politics and oppression and a gritty underbelly that makes it feel real. September has to navigate through the inhabitants, the world, and a sea to complete her quest. Even though her journey is fraught with danger and the scary unknown, it is also filled with beauty. Valente’s creativity is mind-blowing. Really. Add to all of this some lovely art by Ana Juan, and I don’t know how you could resist. I’m glad I got to travel through Fairyland with September, and I think you will be, too.

September & the Wyverary by Ana Juan

If you have ever wished to be swept away to a magical place, if you enjoy words that drip with images, and if you need a little inspiration to say “yes,” – this book is for you. I could extend those qualifiers for at least a few paragraphs, so just go pick it up or get it from a library or download it to your e-reader.

Actually, I believe so heartily that everyone needs to read this book that I want to give you a copy. How do you enter? I’m going to follow the guidelines the author used in a giveaway she held.

• Tweet about the book, blog about the book, write a note on Facebook, mention it somewhere publicly on the interwebs. CLARIFICATION: You do not have to link to this post, just promote the book itself.
• Comment on this post with a link to said promotion by Friday, May 27 at 9pm PST.
• Subscribe to comments on the post to see if you won.

That’s it! I’ll pick a winner from the comments using a random number generator the night of May 27. I’ll post the winner in the comments and you’ll need to contact me with your address.

For anyone that can’t wait, you can buy the book on Amazon:
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making