The Sisters Grimm- Michael Buckley

The Sisters Grimm, by Michael Buckley, is a relatively pleasant addition to the genre sometimes known as "fractured fairytales," i.e. conventional themes and characters from world folklore updated and adapted for new settings, contemporary environments, or additional adventures.

In this case we have the sisters of the title, Sabrina and Daphne, who are the great great grandchildren of the legendary Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. In the story, the Brothers Grimm were not just compilers of the stories they grew up recording, but recorders of actual events in Europe and the rest of the world.

Once contact between the characters of the stories (Prince Charming, the three little pigs, Jack-he of "and the beanstalk" fame-, the Queen of Hearts, Beauty and the Beast, Shere Khan from The Jungle Book, Mama Bear, Puck, among many, many others...) became too frequent, they moved to the then unsettled by Europeans continent of North America. There, a spell was cast by the legendary witch Baba Yaga confining all of these magical beings (referred to as "Everafters") to a small town in upstate New York. The descendants of the Grimms also live in the town and serve as the town's detective and overseers. The spell keeps the Everafters trapped in the town as long as there is a Grimm living there. Needless to say, the Grimms are not very popular with the denizens of the town...

As the story begins, Daphne and Sabrina are unaware of their heritage and destinies. Their Father, Henry, had turned his back on the family business and raised them oblivious in New York City. Unfortunately, Henry and the girls' mother, Veronica, have disappeared at the beginning of the story.

The girls have been bounced around from one foster home to another for the better part of a year. Eventually, they end up on the way to live with a grandmother they never knew they had in the town of Ferryport (originally "Fairy"port...get it?) New York.

Their grandmother, Relda Grimm, greets them enthusiastically with her companion Mr. Canis and an enormous great dane named Elvis. He's a major "Everafter" but I'll let you find out who for yourself. His name is a big hint, however. Sabrina, the older of the two sisters, is very wary and suspicious (especially after a year of awful foster home experiences) and is keen to escape from the house as soon as possible. The younger Daphne is more loving and trusting and is quick to believe Relda's story about being their grandmother.

After an escape attempt is foiled by an attack of malevolent pixies, the girls are forced to accept that there may be more to Ferryport than initially meets the eye. Just as they start to learn about their role as Grimms they run afoul of an angry giant and a mysterious plot that may or may not lead back to Ferryport's mayor, the nefarious Prince Charming.

Relda and Canis are kidnapped, and the rest of the story follows the attempts of Daphne and Sabrina (along with the aid of Puck, a magic mirror, and Jack of FEE-FI-FO-FUM fame who has particular expertise regarding giants) to save their new family and friends from the giant, avoid the attention of three porcine policemen, and figure out just what exactly it is that Charming is up to.
along the way we see Ichabod Crane, Dorothy's Ruby Slippers, Ali Baba's flying carpet, and even Excalibur! Buckley has a lot of fun with these beloved and familiar characters, and he balances the story well with tantalizing hints about a larger conspiracy involving the disappearance of Daphne and Sabrina's parents. Presumably, this larger mystery will be examined and solved over the course of the five subsequent sequels. I have heard that the sequels get pretty repetitive over time, the same fate that I felt befell the latter Series of Unfortunate Events books which became the same story over and over and over. It remains to be seen whether or not Buckley can keep his relatively original idea fresh. I'd love feedback from any readers who are familiar with any of the sequels; leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Sisters Grimm Site