The Five Sisters

by Margaret Mahy

Book Overview

A row of five linked paper dolls is whisked away by the wind before Sally's Nana can draw all their faces. Tossed by winds, drenched by water, and scorched by fire, the five sisters search for a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670870420
• ISBN13: 9780670870424
• Release Date: March 1997
• Publisher: Viking Children's Books
• Length: 79 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.4" x 9.4"
• Age Range: 7 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Grades 2 to 5

Customer Reviews

Very Underrated Story

I had an audiobook of this as a child and adored it. Glad to have the story at my disposal once again. It's one of my favorite children's stories, and I've always been surprised that not many know about it. Every inanimate object has a voice and a part to play, sort of like The Velveteen Rabbit. Encourages creativity and seeing the magic in the everyday. As a child I'd make my own paper dolls and set them loose in the wind, hoping eventually they'd return to me. 10/10.

A different kind of doll story

Five paper-chain dolls - initially with only Alpha, the first, drawn in - have adventures, and eventually all five sister personalities emerge through the artistry of various people over the years. This is a magical tale, though some of the language is a bit off and reads like vocabulary builders - all the synonyms for "said," for example ("declared," "cried," "agreed") - which slows the fairy-tale momentum. But this is a different kind of doll story, full of adventure and imagination, and each of the five paper dolls has her own strong personality. I am one of four sisters close in age, and I do love a charming sister story!

The Five Sisters

Out of all the books I've read by Margaret Mahy this is my favorite, The Five Sisters. The story starts with Sally's nana cuting a row of five paper dolls. She picks up a pencil and draws the first face. But before she can finish the rest of the faces, the five sisters are of to their journey. Saved by winds, soaked by water, and almost burned by fire, they never stumbled in their search for a mysterious island on the edge of the sea. As you can see the five sisters is a magical fantasy. I assure you that while your reading this story you willl have laughter, wonder,and adventure in you. If you are looking for an enjoyable book, The Five Sisters is the one you should read.

MY REVIEW: I LOVE IT

It sis a wonderufl book. The pictures are really interesting and the wordds are very descriptive.I like the way the authour sends the five sisters into an adventure from evil pig magicians to mighty whirlwinds to burning fire and finally to the island where they finally stopped holding hands. I also liked the way the gave each sister a special characteristic. Alpha is adventurous, Cathabelle is literate, Elodie is represenatitive of sadness and joy, Icasia is very intelligent, and Zamira is the clown. I thik that this book is good for kids all ages.

WWWWWOOOOOOWWWWWWW!

This is a book that a friend of mine was reading and said it was a really good book and that I should read it. So I read it and loved it. This book is about a chain of paper dolls that are hooked together [you know like a set of things where you cut out one design and unfold it and you have that design repeated but the hands in our case are hooked together.]Well a girl's grandma makes her set but they are doll's and the girl draw's one's fetures and does'n get the chance to finish them [by the way there is five dolls hint hint] anyway every person that gets one of the dolls puts there own personalty and feelings at that time into the five dolls or sisters so that they are all differant and I can't tell you any more or it well ruin the story.

What an adventure, what imagination!!

Five paper dolls begin their existence on a hot summer day with a child and her grandmother only to be taken on their first adventure with the wind. Each doll is finished at separate stops along the way, some taking on some scarely possibilities. I can see this book being used in a school setting as a read-aloud and then having the class make a chain of paper dolls, animals whatever and sending them onto their own adventures via pen pals, family members, friends with each location being recorded and eventually finding their way back home, even as the dolls in this story did. Simple things made fun by a great author, encouraging the imagination of others. Thanks.