Nell of Gumbling: My Extremely Normal Fairy-Tale Life
Emma Steinkellner
Labyrinth Road
Available September 26, 2023!
Ages 8-12

Twelve-year-old Nell Starkeeper lives in the magical world of Gumbling with her younger siblings and two star-farming dads. She is extremely disappointed when she is not assigned as an apprentice to the famous painter, Wiz Bravo. Instead, Nell is assigned to the apprenticeship with the stern lorekeeper Mrs. Birdneck and is bored with the lorekeeping work in the deep, dark dungeon of the archives. Nell is further dispirited when her two best friends, Myra Didwell (a half fairy) and Gilligan Bugg (a Thumbkin), receive their first-choice apprenticeships. When two opportunistic developers from New York city try to take control of quiet Gumbling to construct a buzzing resort, Nell and her crew use their apprentice skills and strong bonds of friendship to rescue their adored kingdom.

Emma Steinkellner creates a charming world where events in the story seamlessly unfold. The apprenticeships teach each character a specific skill needed to solve a puzzle later. Knowing the kingdom’s history from her archive work, Nell can open some latches on a door to save Gumbling. “I pulled one of the stars hanging from a string down in the direction of Star Farm for the story of the first Starkeepers. Another latch opened. Yes!” (p. 171). The text illustrates the need to appreciate what we already have and not take things or the people around us for granted. A rotation of Nell’s journal entries, hilarious text with illustrations, and comic book panels in muted vintage pastels enrapture the audience. Steinkellner encapsulates the personality and emotions of each character through their detailed facial expressions to captivate bibliophiles. The themes of creating community and building strong friendships will have a far-reaching appeal for many young readers.