Shy, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild is suddenly transported by a mysterious book into the Land of Story, where characters from books hope to be cast into a tale of their own, and Una attends the Perrault Academy while trying to discover why she is there. - (Baker & Taylor)

Transported by a mysterious library book into the magical fairy-tale land of Story, lonely 12-year-old Una Fairchild befriends the loyal Peter and is compelled to hide her true identity from children who attend school to become archetypal characters, from Heroes and Sidekicks to dastardly Villains. - (Baker & Taylor)

When Una Fairchild stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, she thinks nothing of opening the cover and diving in. But instead of paging through a regular novel, Una suddenly finds herself Written In to the land of Story'a world filled with Heroes and Villains and fairy-tale characters.

But not everything in Story is as magical as it seems. Una must figure out why she has been Written In'and fast'before anyone else discovers her secret. Together with her new friend Peter and a talking cat named Sam, Una digs deep into Story's shadowy past. She quickly realizes that she is tied to the world in ways she never could have imagined'and it might be up to her to save it.

When Una Fairchild stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, she thinks nothing of opening the cover and diving in. But instead of paging through a regular novel, Una suddenly finds herself Written In to the land of Story—a world filled with Heroes and Villains and fairy-tale characters.

But not everything in Story is as magical as it seems. Una must figure out why she has been Written In—and fast—before anyone else discovers her secret. Together with her new friend Peter and a talking cat named Sam, Una digs deep into Story's shadowy past. She quickly realizes that she is tied to the world in ways she never could have imagined—and it might be up to her to save it.

Booklist Reviews

Most young readers have felt the desire to be magically transported into a book, and in Burt's debut, that's what happens to 12-year-old Una Fairchild. She travels to the land of Story, where students at the Perrault School take classes to become a fairy-tale archetype: a brave hero, a wicked villain, a lady in despair. (Comparisons to Hogwarts, anyone?) Una finds herself plunked down into a practical examination, where Perrault student Peter is playing the part of Hero. The two soon discover she has been "written" into the tale, which is strictly forbidden ever since the Talekeepers seized rule from the enemy Muses. But change is afoot in Story, and deep, dark forces are plotting to rise again. This is a richly imagined world, and readers will enjoy the mind-bending fun of puzzling together small details. Just don't expect a neat ending; sorry, it's a cliff-hanger. If fans are impatient for the sequel, hand them Cornelia Funke's similarly themed Inkheart (2003) or Roderick Townley's The Great Good Thing (2001). Copyright 2012 Booklist Reviews.

Horn Book Guide Reviews

Una is "Written In" to the land of Story, where children train as characters. She and friends Peter and Sam (a cat) investigate her mysterious arrival and unearth the administration's lies about missing Muses and a king no one remembers. Storybook themes and a game heroine may win Inkheart fans.

Kirkus Reviews

A 12-year-old girl finds herself to be an illegitimate visitor to the land of Story in this debut middle-grade fantasy. While in the basement of her school library, foster child Una Fairchild stumbles into a tale all about herself and a world where people practice to be characters in books--hero, villain or sidekick. When Una discovers that she has only been "Written In" to their universe for some mysterious reason, making her very existence precarious, a tumult of clandestine and protective activity ensues. Along the way she befriends a compassionate boy named Peter and an erratic girl named Snow. Meanwhile, Talekeepers spy, Muses are stifled and the Enemy lurks. Books and their supporters are in danger at every turn. In this allegory told by an omniscient narrator, the proceedings are often heavy-handed, and the limited character development can make it challenging to care about the fates of all involved. Yet readers who love fantasy may see an opportunity to snuggle up with a cup of cocoa and unravel the plot, which twists and turns in on itself, with happy surprises. While the novel doesn't reach the heights to which it clearly aspires--Harry Potter, Inkheart, A Wrinkle in Time--its high concept could have cinematic potential, with deeper character development and less contrivance. (Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus 2012 Kirkus/BPI Communications.All rights reserved.

Publishers Weekly Reviews

Burt debuts with an appealing fantasy built on the book-visiting daydreams of diehard readers. The life of chronically overlooked fosterling Una Fairchild, age 12, changes when she discovers a book with her name on the cover and begins to read. She wakes up in the world of Story inside the book, where she meets Peter, a Hero-in-training at a school where everyone is learning to be characters in the timeless Tales. But all is not well in Story—the Muses who once wrote the Tales are defeated and dead, and the tyrannical Talekeepers now control all books and information. Una and Peter's determination to find out what's in the hidden books lands them in the middle of a brewing revolution in which characters tired of rehashing the stereotypical Tales seek their Backstory and their freedom. Burt's concept isn't unique, but her strong writing and interesting characters make Una's journey enjoyable. The fantasy elements and meta-references are engaging, and the overall result will have readers on the lookout for the planned sequel. Ages 8–12. Agent: Laura Langlie, Laura Langlie Literary Agency. (Apr.)

School Library Journal Reviews

Gr 5–7—Having grown up in foster homes and feeling as though she never quite belonged, Una Fairchild is not too distraught when she is transported to the land of Story (by a book, of course), a place populated by characters from fairy tales, folklore, and fiction. With the help of Peter, who is studying to be a Hero, and Sam, a talking cat, Una discovers that she has been "Written In." Until she figures out who wrote her in, and why, she is in danger-and so are all of the Tales of Story. With its unique twist (her roommate, for example, is a snooty Snow White), Una's adventures should charm those who enjoy fairy-tale reboots, and the cliff-hanger ending could ensure demand for a sequel.—Laurie Slagenwhite Walters, Peachtree Montessori International, Ann Arbor, MI