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Fablehaven
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Fablehaven: Book 1

Fablehaven (2006) (edit title/settings)

by Brandon Mull (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite. ... read more

Summary edit see section history

When Kendra and Seth’s parents go on a cruise granted to them in the will of a family member who had recently died, they are left at their mysterious grandparents’ house. They are uneasy about the idea of staying with their Grandma and Grandpa Sorenson because to them, they are quite odd. They... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

When Kendra and Seth’s parents go on a cruise granted to them in the will of a family member who had recently died, they are left at their mysterious grandparents’ house. They are uneasy about the idea of staying with their Grandma and Grandpa Sorenson because to them, they are quite odd. They grow even more suspicious when they are told that their Grandma Sorenson is away visiting her dying sister, Edna.

After some adventures in the forbidden areas, Kendra and Seth find even odder things than their grandparents in Fablehaven. There is a hidden lake behind some hedges which expand as you enter through them and something almost as strange is that is that there is an old witch imprisoned in a small cabin in the forest!

After Kendra and Seth disobeyed their grandpa’s orders by entering these places and witnessing the happenings going on in these places, Grandpa Sorenson finds out about it. He explains that he really runs a preserve for endangered animals, many of them being very dangerous.

Kendra and Seth drink the milk set out by Dale, and discover that the insects in the garden are actually fairies. Grandpa Sorenson finally reveals that he doesn't run a preserve for endangered animals but that it is really a haven for magical creatures.

On Midsummer’s Eve, despite warnings from their grandfather, Seth opens the window in the attic unwittingly letting in some of the monsters. When they venture out of the attic the next morning, Kendra and Seth find that the house is empty. There are signs that their grandfather and Lena have been kidnapped. They set out to rescue them. How will they do it all on their own without the help of their grandpa? Will they succeed? Find out in the first book of the series of Fablehaven.

Characters edit see section history

  • Kendra Sorenson: Kendra is one of the main characters of the story. She is the 14 year old sister of Seth. She is not as rash as Seth and follows rules.
  • Seth Andrew Sorenson: 11 year old brother of Kendra Sorenson. He is brave but makes rash decisions that get him into trouble.
  • Stan Sorenson: Seth and Kendra's grandfather.
  • Ruth Sorenson: Kendra and Seth's grandmother, who is mysteriously absent for the first half of the book.
  • Muriel Taggert: An evil witch who is trapped in a hut by magic knots
  • Dale Burgess: Grounds Keeper at Fablehaven.
  • Hugo: Hugo is a golem, a manufactured being made of soil, rocks, and clay, animated by a powerful spell and given rudimentary intelligence. He has no will of his own and will do whatever he is told.
  • Maddox Fisk: Maddox Fisk, a grizzly looking mountain man, is one of Grandpa's friends and a fairy broker, which means that he catches and sells or trades fairies. He presents to the Sorensons his collection of fairies that he had gathered from around the world.
  • Doren: a mischievous satyr who lives in fablehaven
  • Patton Burgess: One of the previous caretakers of Fablehaven.
  • Warren: Dale's brother. He is in a catatonic state, and it is unknown how to cure him.
  • Nero: a troll who lives in a cave on a mountain
  • Mendigo: Muriel's wooden animated puppet that does her bidding.
  • Lena: Lena is the Sorensons' housekeeper
  • Seth: Seth Is curious about everything and likes exploring new places big and small
  • Grandpa & Grandma Larsen: The fun loving grandparents that spent a lot of time with the kids.
  • Viola: Add a description of this character.
  • Aunt Edna: A vague aunt that lives in Missouri and is never actually present in the book.
  • Bahumat: The demon that Muriel releases.
Show all 19 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Smart people learn from their mistakes. But the real sharp ones learn from the mistakes of others.”
    Dale
  • “The curse of morality. You spend the first portion of your life learning, growing stronger, more capable. And then, through no fault of your own, your body begins to fail. You regress.”
    Lena
  • “I think Grandpa makes up phony excuses for her not being around. This is a dangerous place. He has lied about other things. I get the feeling he's trying to protect us from the truth." "I often wonder if lies are ever a protection.”
    Kendra and Lena respectively
  • “Questions that start with 'why' are the toughest to answer. You end up guessing more than knowing.”
    Dale
  • “Satisfying needs is the burden of the poor. The wealthy and powerful can afford to indulge their wants and whims.”
    Ruth Sorenson
  • “Life Sucks”
    Kendra Sorenson
  • “Drink the milk.”
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • “Smart people learn from their mistakes. But the real sharp ones learn from the mistakes of others.
    Highlighted by 174 Kindle customers
  • Was life like that? You could look ahead to the future or back at the past, but the present moved too quickly to absorb.
    Highlighted by 144 Kindle customers
  • You spend the first portion of your life learning, growing stronger, more capable. And then, through no fault of your own, your body begins to fail. You regress. Strong limbs become feeble, keen senses grow dull, hardy constitutions deteriorate. Beauty withers. Organs quit. You remember yourself in your prime, and wonder where that person went. As your wisdom and experience are peaking, your traitorous body becomes a prison.”
    Highlighted by 105 Kindle customers
  • “No mythology or religion that I know of holds all the answers. Most religions are based on truths, but they are also polluted by the philosophies and imaginations of men.
    Highlighted by 92 Kindle customers
  • What lunatic had decided that when people died you should hire a taxidermist to fix them up for one final look? She would much rather remember them alive than on grotesque display in their Sunday best.
    Highlighted by 68 Kindle customers
  • Evil likes darkness.” “Why is that?” Seth asked. Grandma thought about the question a moment before answering. “Because evil likes to hide.”
    Highlighted by 68 Kindle customers
  • “In their youth, mortals behave more like nymphs. Adulthood seems impossibly distant, let alone the enfeeblement of old age. But ponderously, inevitably, it overtakes you. I find it a frustrating, humbling, infuriating experience.”
    Highlighted by 67 Kindle customers
  • “Their personalities remain the same,” Grandpa said. “Shallow and self-absorbed. The change in appearance reveals the tragic side of that mind-set. Vanity curdles into misery. They become spiteful and jealous, wallowing in wretchedness.”
    Highlighted by 59 Kindle customers
  • the pleasures of mortality, the thrills of living, come with a price. Pain, illness, the decline of age, the loss of loved ones—those things I could do without.”
    Highlighted by 58 Kindle customers
  • asphyxiated. Grandma and
    Highlighted by 8 Kindle customers
Show all 17 quotes from this book

Setting & Locations edit see section history

Fablehaven, known to the world as the Sorenson's farm, but also a magical creatures preserve
  • Fablehaven: A magical preserve established to protect mythical creatures.
  • The Forgotten Chapel: An ancient church that houses an evil demon
  • Yard: The land directly surrounding the Sorenson's house

Organizations edit see section history

  • The Society of the Evening Star (SES): An arcane organization that are dedicated to overthrowing preserves in order to use them for their own purposes. They consort with demons and practice black arts.
  • The Knights of Dawn: An organization dedicated to stopping the Society of the Evening Star

First Sentence edit see section history

Kendra stared out the side window of the SUV, watching foliage blur past.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Chapter 01 A Mandatory Vacation
Chapter 02 Collecting Clues
Chapter 03 The Ivy Shack
Chapter 04 The Hidden Pond
Chapter 05 Journal of Secrets
Chapter 06 Maddox
Chapter 07 Prisoner in a Jar
Chapter 08 Retaliation
Chapter 09 Hugo
Chapter 10 Midsummer Eve
Chapter 11 Aftermath
Chapter 12 Inside the Barn
Chapter 13 An Unexpected Message
Chapter 14 Trolling for Grandpa
Chapter 15 The Far Side of the Attic
Chapter 16 The forgotten Chappel
Chapter 17 A Desperate Gamble
Chapter 18 Bahumat
Chapter 19 Farewell to Fablehaven

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • Obedience vs. Rebellion: Stan Sorenson repeatedly tells Seth and Kendra to follow certain instructions. Seth always disregards the instructions and usually something negative happens. Kendra maintains more of a purity because she obeys the instructions and has more protection from the magical creatures.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 5 in Fablehaven. (standard series)

Followed by Rise of the Evening Star.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Brandon Mull (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. Brandon Dorman (Illustrator)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Country: Salt Lake City, UT., USA
Publication Date: Aug-2006
ISBN: 9781590385814
Page Count: 359

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PZ7.M9112 Fa 2006 FT MEADE
  • Dewey: 813

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

This is a rich, engaging book and series. Brandon Mull weaves a magical world, where the kids are the heroes and the adventure never stops. He's one of a group of modern authors that truly understand how to use short scene completions that roll one into the other, to keep children engaged. At the same time, it's written to be deep enough for parents to read and enjoy, which is a critical feature for me. I can't recommend this series highly enough.

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Kestrel's Midnight Song
  • The Spiderwick Chronicles
  • A World Without Heroes
  • Magyk

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