Gr 3-6-Fisher's debut novel combines humor, magic, and the ups and downs of adolescent friendship in this clever tale of a modern-day descendant of Mother Goose. Fifth grader Pixie Piper feels like a fish out of water in her small town. Embarrassed by her quirky parents and their quirky home, an acorn-shaped caretaker's cottage on the grounds of an estate, Pixie just wants to fit in with the popular girls at school. After a run-in with a strange fortune-teller dressed in odd garb, Pixie's mother tells her that she is a descendant of Mother Goose, an inheritance that may or may not come with special powers. Pixie, always adept at creating rhymes, hides her penchant for poetry, as it makes her feel "like a weirdo." Equally wary of and intrigued by her mother's reveal, Pixie tries to go on with her life as usual. But after another encounter with the old fortune-teller and a fortuitous discovery of a goose egg abandoned in the woods, Pixie decides to face her destiny head-on. Readers will warm to Pixie and her familiar struggle to feel normal despite her beloved but eccentric parents. Her anxiety about friendships and her occasional bullying by classmates are as much a part of the story as her budding magical powers. Though the balance of these two themes feels a little bit uneven at times, the unique approach will please fans of both realistic fiction and fantasy. VERDICT A fresh new addition to middle grade stories of magic and friendship; recommended for fans of Kathryn Littlewood's "Bliss Bakery" series (HarperCollins) and Chris Colfer's "Land of Stories" series (Little, Brown).-Kristy Pasquariello, Wellesley Free Library, Wellesley, MA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Fifth-grader Pixie Piper wishes she could live in a modern house and hang out with the popular girls in her class, but certain things about her life make that impossible. Her dad is a caretaker for a toilet museum, her mom loves wearing costumes, her only friend's a boy, and she lives in a weird old cottage. Plus, Pixie can't stop compulsively writing poems and rhymes. Life changes drastically when she learns she's descended from Mother Goose and that her rhymes have special powers. But unexpected dangers loom, in particular, Raveneece, whose menacing agenda has potential consequences for Pixie and threatens to tarnish Mother Goose's cheery legacy. This entertaining, creative take on Mother Goose stories blends magic, humor, suspense, and literary allusions with a lively cast and plenty of verse. Pixie's an engaging protagonist, who faces both fantastical challenges along with familiar issues that will likely resonate with kids, including navigating friendships, family, and fitting in. An enjoyable read with room for a potential sequel, this will draw fans of classic tales with a twist.--Rosenfeld, Shelle Copyright 2016 Booklist