The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell

By Chris Colfer

235 ratings 349 reviews 274 followers
Book 1 of 6 in the  Land of Stories Series
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 4 - 8Grades 3 - 5U598248
The first book in Chris Colfer's #1 New York Times bestselling series The Land of Stories about two siblings who fall into a fairy-tale world!
 
Alex and Conner Bailey's world is about to change, in this fast-paced adventure that uniquely combines our modern day world with the enchanting realm of classic fairy tales.

The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.

But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9780316201568
ISBN-10: 0316201561
Published on 7/2/2013
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 464

Book Reviews (339)

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If you wish to feel lost in a magical, fantastical world of fairy-tales and fables that you might have read when you were younger, then "The Land of Stories" is the perfect book series for you. Alex Bailey was always a studious kind of girl; she payed attention in school with utmost respect. Her twin brother, Conner, is similar appearance-wise with his blue eyes and strawberry-blonde hair. His personality, on the other hand, is quite the opposite of Alex's. Conner is constantly sleeping in class, and doesn't put forward his best effort toward school. Even though Bailey twins didn't realize it, their life was about to change drastically, and the word "normal" would take on a whole new meaning. For their birthday, they received an old storybook as a present from their beloved grandmother. The twins felt shocked. Conner and Alex's grandmother had owned this storybook (titled The Land of Stories) for a very long time, and now she was passing it on to them. They reluctantly accepted the gift from her. When Alex noticed the storybook's pages glowing, the twins discovered its magical qualities and accidentally tumbled into it. They were transported into the breathtaking Land of Stories. It's an incredibly different world where fairy-tales are real and quite alive. The twelve-year-old twins met familiar characters they know and love from stories they have read in their childhood, as well as a talking frog who warmly welcomed them. As enthused as the twins feel about this magical world, they desperately want to return home to their mother. Alex and Conner don't have the storybook they used to teleport to the Land of Stories, so they have no clue how to get home to their mother. That is, until they learn about a powerful spell which can take them back home safely: the magical, wondrous Wishing Spell. The Wishing Spell allows one to wish for anything they could possibly want. (Although I'm not exactly sure if you can wish for more wishes. How about wishing for more Wishing Spells? Ha-ha, I don't know, honestly.) The Bailey twins craft a plan to wish their way home. To create the Wishing Spell, one would need to collect these eight rare items (and of course they're phrased in a riddle-like manner): 1) glass that housed a lonely soul up 'til midnight's final toll, 2) a saber from the deepest sea, meant for a groom's mortality, 3) the bark of a basket held in fright while running from a bark with bite, 4) a stony crown that's made to share, found deep within a savage lair, 5) a needle that pierced the lovely skin of a princess with beauty found within, 6) a wavy lock of golden rope that once was freedom's only hope, 7) glittering jewels whose value increased after preserving the false deceased, and 8) teardrops of a maiden fairy feeling neither magical nor merry. Conner and Alex Bailey embark on a treacherous journey that will take them across the amazing Land of Stories. And, in addition to all of the good characters in a book, there's always an antagonist. The Land of Stories is no exception. There are trolls and goblins, but that's the least of Alex and Conner's worries. Little do the twins know that someone is also after the Wishing Spell ingredients for themselves. Chris Colfer has an phenomenal writing style that makes you feel as if you were traveling with the Conner and Alex in the Land of Stories. This is truly one of the best series I've ever read, and I can't recommend this book enough! If you do read "The Wishing Spell," enjoy!

If you want to know what happened to our favorite fairy tale characters then read this series and you'll know!!!

This book is a magical story about two twins who are story time travels! This book is appealing to both boys and girls and is a great timeless story about sibling trust and love and daring adventures. I highly recommend and luv this book! Pease read!!

I enjoyed reading about the adventures of Alex and Conner who are twins (brother and sister). I like how the author made the story of two 6th grade children make the readers feel as if they are in the story. Funny I say, because Alex and Conner do go into land of stories. I enjoyed this book and the other books in the series. I recommend you should read this book!

Hanna Hanna

This book was amazing!! I loved how it is detailed so I can really understand what's happening. The best book I have ever read.

A great book!!! A great book!!!

you MUUUUST read the other books in this series

This book was amazing! I loved how the world of Alex and Conner changed so fast yet slow enough to understand their story! It's Alex and Conner's birthday (They are twins) and they don't expect much to happen, it's just an ordinary day they thought. It was not an ordinary day! Alex and Conner's grandma came and gave them a book and delicious food! In the night the book started to glow and Alex could hear birds in it. She started to throw pencils into the book and it fell right through! She wondered...What's on the other side....Conner saw the book and was amazed! Alex wanted to know and got sucked in! Conner came with her and they were in a MAGIC WORLD!! Read the book to find out what happens to Alex and Conner!

It looks great! I want to read this!

This book was so good! Alex and Conner Bailey's father died in a car accident several years before. Ever since, their life has been a little off. But on their 12th birthday, their grandmother comes over! She makes their day good with presents, cake, a delicious dinner, and a story book. This was the same storybook that she would read to them when they were younger. Alex takes it to read, but something strange starts happening. The story book glows and vibrates! If you put your ear to it you can even hear...birds chirping? So Alex begans experimenting with the book and drops things in it. They fall down into the book and somehow go to somewhere else! So one day Alex gets sucked up into the book! Conner goes down with her, and they fall right into the Land of Stories! There they meet a Frog who they nickname, Froggy. They also learn about the wishing spell. This is the only way they can get back to the human world. Unfortunately, it seems that someone is also trying to collect the ingredients for the wishing spell. Will Conner and Alex make it out or will they be stuck in The Land of Stories forever? Full of fantasy, adventure, and everything in between this book is such a good book! Plus if you like this book, you're in luck! It's a series, so...why are you still reading this review? Go get the book! Happy reading!

If you are into fantasy and adventure then you will love this six-book series.

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