The Great Good Thing

Starred review from September 30, 2002

"This clever, deftly written first novel gives life to Princess Sylvie and her cohorts, characters from an out-of-print and rarely read fairy tale, by having them cross over to the dreams of Readers," said PW, calling it "as much a romantic paean to reading and writing as it is a good story." Ages 10-up.

May 21, 2001
In his clever, deftly written first novel for young readers, Townley gives life to Princess Sylvie and her cohorts, characters from an out-of-print and rarely read fairy tale, by having them cross over to the dreams of Readers. In this new context, the characters must perform without scripts, and so imagine stories beyond their own. For 12-year-old Sylvie, this is a venue to break out of her safe and "storied" life as an obedient girl and become the heroine of the kingdom. This narrative line is interwoven with the story of three generations of woman Readers who cherish the original tale. Sylvie and her friends, with the help of a "first" Reader, known as the girl with "dark blue eyes," cross from her granddaughter's dreams to her great granddaughter's to preserve the story, The Great Good Thing. The title takes on a double meaning—it not only applies to the book itself, but also Sylvie's quest to save it. In the process, an invisible fish and a blind owl come to her aid; there's even a palace coup. The novel, as a journey through ephemeral spaces between thought, dreams and words, is as much a romantic paean to reading and writing as it is a good story. Older readers will most appreciate its layered meanings, but the book can be enjoyed at many levels. Ages 10-up.

June 11, 2001
What if the characters in books were literally alive—and ready for new adventures—not only within their stories, but also in a reader's dreams and memories? In his children's book debut, Townley takes this idea and runs with it, presenting a tales-within-a-tale tome, ripe for audio adaptation. Actress Blair Brown initially sounds stiff and detached, but after a few chapters warms to the material and reads with emotional gusto as 12-year-old Princess Sylvie ventures from her role as heroine of the storybook The Great Good Thing
into the dreamscape of Claire, the book's Reader. The great unknown brings Sylvie both excitement and peril, teaching her important lessons about the lives—and dreams—of humans. Exploring beyond her character's dimensions helps Sylvie appreciate that staying within the boundaries of her oft-told tale serves a great purpose, even if it can get a little boring. Brown's capable and ultimately vibrant performance will have listeners cheering for Sylvie as well as imagining their own reading experiences in a whole new light. Ages 8-up.