The Problem Child (the Sisters Grimm #3): Volume 3

Eleven year old Sabrina Grimm desperately wants to find her kidnapped parents. She has a chance to rescue them but is foiled by a deeply disturbed Little Red Riding Hood and her pet Jabberwocky. Sabrina finds out that the only thing that can defeat the Jabberwocky is the vorpal blade, which is in three pieces and in three different locations. Sabrina, with the help of her Uncle Jake, sets out to find all three pieces and is willing to do anything, even magic, to get the pieces. But Sabrina finds out that while magic is easier, there is always a price for using it. I've enjoyed all the books in this series and "the Problem Child" is no exception. Michael Buckley does a great job playing with the fairy tale mythology and he'll surprise readers with how he treats certain characters such as Little Red Riding Hood, The Big Bad Wolf, Snow White, the Blue Fairy, and Prince Charming. Little Red Riding Hood is not the only problem child, Sabrina is so angry at the kidnapping of her parents that she will do anything to get them back, even if it means placing her family in danger. She is headstrong and flawed - a very believable character. Uncle Jake is in many ways a grown up version of Sabrina, although it's harder to forgive those kind of flaws in an adult who should know better. The fantasy elements are wonderful, although Ferryport is so fraught with danger I wouldn't want to live there! "The Problem Child" offers fantasy and fun for young and old alike.

Loved this whole series so far. I couldn't put it down, and went straight from book 1, to 2, to this one. All three were excellent stories. They're very clever and well written. And, my 13-year-old son loved them too!

Book three is the darkest of the lot so far and picks up the plot from the cliffhanger ending of book two. Sabrina Grimm is in deep, deep trouble, staring down the claw of a Jabberwocky. Her arm is broken, and her only hope lies with Puck, who of course wants to be paid for the rescue. It appears that her parents have been kidnapped and bewitched by Little Red Riding Hood, a mentally unbalanced child and certified nutcase, who may or may not be a ringleader of the scary Scarlet Hand movement. This book introduces Daphne and Sabrina's Uncle Jake, who helps them in the search for their parents, and also gets them in a lot of trouble as he encourages them to break their grandmother's rules. They learn that the only way to defeat the Jabberwocky is with the Vorpal blade, a sword that has been broken into three parts. Once they get the first section, they find the clues they need to locate the other two pieces, but it'll take more than all the King's horses and all the King's men to put them together again. To make things more complicated, this is an election year in Ferryport Landing, and for the first time ever, Mayor Charming has an opponent. Politics makes strange bedfellows, and the Grimms and Everafters need to form alliances against their enemies. The moral of this story is that there's no such thing as a free lunch, every action has an equal an opposite reaction, everything has a price etc..etc.. but then I'm sure you knew that already. This book doesn't end as abruptly as book two, but again we're left with a tantalizing glimpse of what the next episode holds in store. Bring it on! Amanda Richards, August 6, 2006

This book was a great book for all ages. I started with book #2 instead of the first one, and I loved it. Since then I wanted the first and third books. When I finally recieved the third as a gift, I read it right away and read it in a day!!! I couldn't put it down!! Sabrina and Daphne are the main characters. Sabrina Grimm, age 11, and Daphne, her seven year old sister, are related to the famous brothers Grimm and live in a town filled with popular fairy tale characters who are stuck in the town because of a curse. They have lived with their Grandmother ever since their parents were kidnapped by the scarlet hand. Puck also lives with the Grimms. He is an Everafter fairy who can shapeshift. The Problem Child begins where The Unusual Suspects leaves off, with the Jabberwocky hovering over Sabrina. Luckily Puck is able to save her and get her to the safety of an abandoned old barn. After they return home, Sabrina discovers that she has an Uncle Jake who no one in the town remembers. They also learn more about Little Red Ridding Hood, their parents captur. Soon after, they discover that they must find the Vorpal Blade, a sword that can kill the Jabberwocky...and open the barrier keeping all the Everafters in the town, but the sword was split into three pieces and they all must be found so the sword will work. The Grimms must find these pieces so they can defeat the Jabberwocky and save Sabrina and Daphne's parents. They also need it to open the barrier because of Puck who was hurt by the Jabberwocky and is growing weaker by the second. This books leaves you with another cliffhanger wondering what will happen to Puck. This book was great and I feel as if I could read it over and over again. It was because it develops characters such as granny Relda, and tells a little more of the Sisters Grimms past. You also learn more about Puck such as his feelings about Sabrina and having to help and be a "hero" all the time instead of The Trickster King, as he calls himself. Some new characters are also meet and it envoles a lot of adventure. I loved this book because I thought it had adventure, good characters, new love, and the excellent description of how some changed and learned important lessons. I loved this book and can't wait to read the fourth one. I am sure everyone who has read the privious books will love it too.

For anyone who hasn't heard of the Sisters Grimm Fairytale Detective books, do yourself a favor and get yourself the whole set! They are WONDERFUL! And they're not just for kids! The style is very similar to JK Rowling's Harry Potter series, and The Sisters Grimm are certain to delight children and adults alike! The books are told from 12 years old Sabrina Grimm's perspective. It turns out that she and her sister, Daphne, are descendents of the famous Grimm brothers who recorded many of the fariytales we know and love today. However, the fairytale characters actually exist and are living in secret in upstate NY! Prince Charming is the mayor of this secret fairytale town, and he is still courting Snow White (they've been having a lovers' quarrel for the past 800 years). In this third novel, The Problem Child, Sabrina and Daphne are trying to confirm the identity of their parents' kidnapper and are doing everything in their power to save their parents. They are aided (and thwarted) in their quest by their Granny Relda, Puck the Trickseter fairy from A Midsummer Night's Dream, and a host of other characters from The Little Mermaid to Baba Yaga. Michael Buckley keeps his readers guessing by taking many twists and turns, heightening the mysteries and throwing in very important life lessons. I loved this book! It took this 37 year old reader back to the excitement of being 12 again and delighted me to no end. I can't WAIT for the next book!