September's first visit
Begin with The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making and continue in numbered order.
Book Series · 6 Books
Fairyland Books
In order from The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making to The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland — For a Little While.
Five illustrated fantasy adventures following September as she grows from a curious visitor into a young person deeply tied to Fairyland's future.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Fairyland Books
Read the five numbered novels in order, beginning with The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making. September grows older and each adventure builds on people and changes from the books before it.
The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland — For a Little While is a 32-page prequel about Mallow, an earlier ruler. It can be read after book 1 for extra background, but it is not one of September's five numbered adventures.
Sources: Macmillan's official Fairyland series, Macmillan's official Mallow prequel page.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
Macmillan lists an age range of 10–14. The books are playful and beautifully illustrated, but the elaborate vocabulary, wordplay, and layered narration ask more of readers than many middle-grade adventures. Peril includes monsters, imprisonment, fighting, blood, death, loss, and sacrifice, though the tone often balances darker moments with absurd humor and wonder.
Where to start
Where Should a New Reader Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$1699
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2011
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
By Catherynne M. Valente, Ana Juan (Illustrator)
A girl must retrieve a talisman to save Fairyland from a fickle ruler.
247 pages
Hardcover
Summary: September's mundane life in Omaha shifts when the Green Wind whisks her to Fairyland. Tasked with retrieving a talisman for the unpredictable Marquess, she faces a challenge that could doom Fairyland's inhabitants. Alongside a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday, September navigates enchanted woods, uncovering secrets and forging friendships. Will she succeed in her quest, or will the Marquess's whims spell disaster for all? Dive into a world where adventure and danger intertwine, and a young girl's courage is the key to a realm's survival.
In reading order
Fairyland Series
6 books · Published 2011–2016
#1
Sale price
$1699
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2011
A girl must retrieve a talisman to save Fairyland from a fickle ruler.
#2
Sale price
$958
The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2012
A girl returns to Fairyland to reclaim lost shadows from a mysterious ruler.
#3
Sale price
$958
The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2013
A girl must save Fairyland from a powerful moon-Yeti.
#4
Sale price
$1139
The Boy Who Lost Fairyland
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2015
A troll becomes a human boy in Chicago, facing a magical identity crisis.
#5
Sale price
$1049
The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2016
A race for the Fairyland crown ensues. Who will claim the throne?
The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland — For a Little While
Chapter Book · 2011
No book description provided.
A short Fairyland prequel
Mallow's Story
1 book · Published 2011
The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland — For a Little While follows an earlier ruler and adds history without changing the five-novel count.
The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland — For a Little While
Chapter Book · 2011
No book description provided.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Fairyland series?
There are 6 books in the Fairyland series. It began with The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making in 2011, and the newest book, The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home, was published in 2016.
What order should you read the Fairyland books in?
Start with The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #6.
What ages are the Fairyland books best for?
The series is best for ages 10–14, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring Fairyland to life.
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