A fresh, modern take on the classic fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Horn’s first in his Tairy Fails series features wizards, mythical mountains (aptly named the Mythical Mountains of the Lost), and an unsolved mystery: what really happened to Sylvia's parents, who, as the story goes, abandoned her one day in Farmington? Spoiler alert: they didn’t really abandon her, and there’s more—much, much more—to their disappearance than anyone, including Sylvia, knows. Despite that truth, unveiled later in the book, Sylvia’s a pro at masking her pain over their disappearance, mostly with a mean attitude and a penchant for trouble making. Her reputation proceeds her on the journey, but, still, she manages to make new friends and eventually stumbles onto the truth of her heritage.

Sylvia’s comical adventure, paired with Horn’s lovingly eccentric characters and Judit Tondora’s charming black and white illustrations, will wow middle grade readers—and transform them into instant devotees of the next in the series. Sylvia’s over the top antics are laugh-out-loud worthy, and, though her aversion to following the rules is entertaining, she also provides readers with a worthwhile glimpse of determination, taking initiative, and friendship along the way.

Takeaway: Fresh, laugh-out-loud funny retelling of a classic children's story.

Comparable Titles: Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!, Jen Calonita's Mirror, Mirror.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A