Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Steph Su

In the city of New Avalon, located
in an alternate world, where people have personal specified fairies,
fourteen-year-old Charlie (Charlotte) Steele is having a hard time. Shes a
first-year at the highly prestigious and strict New Avalon Sports High, and she
has a parking fairy. She guarantees that whatever car Charlie is in, that car
will find the perfect parking space, right when you need it.

A parking fairy is so NOT what a
girl like Charlie wants. Not only is it not fun, it also attracts attention
from Danders Anders, a slow-minded star athlete who loves to borrow Charlie
for his car rides. Charlie would much rather have something like an
all-the-boys-like-you fairy, the one Fiorenze Stupid-Name has. Stupid-Name is
so nicknamed because she is annoying when she attracts attention from all the
guys. It gets even worse when the new boy, Steffi, whom Charlie befriends,
falls for Fiorenze as well because of her fairy.

How far is Charlie willing to go
in order to ditch her fairy? And whatll happen if she succeeds?

HOW TO DITCH YOUR FAIRY was so
much fun to read! Justine Larbalestier does a great job of creating engaging
characters who act their age. Charlie is a genuinely relatable
fourteen-year-old who worry about making the team and whether or not people
like her. The world in which this story is set is fabulous, a success brought
forth by the combination of language (lots of slang here, maybe Aussie? Not
exactly sure but they add to the books atmosphere), description, and quirks
(have you ever encountered such a regimented and sports-oriented high school? I
didnt think so). Overall, a story well done and highly recommended.