Basil Beedon and Terry Clegg are neighbours, and that’s all they have in common. Terry loves sport and Basil loves books – but to Basil’s absolute dismay, he’s been roped into helping Terry with his reading. Every. Single. Saturday. However, that’s the least of his worries when Gretel comes shooting out of The Complete Fairytales of the Brothers Grimm. The boys are plunged into a dangerous world run by the Fairytale Alliance Network of Character Yunions (FANCY), where not everyone is what they seem, Hansel has been kidnapped and a plot hole threatens to destroy everything.
Witty, clever, with adventure at every turn, this is a fractured fairytale in a very surprising, Grimm world.
Recommended for ages 8+.
Buy a copy of Losing the Plot here.
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
Losing the Plot is a super fun, fantastical story about the adventures that occur when real-life and fairy tales collide. My five-year old loves slightly spooky stories, and this engaging read was a winner for her. Short chapters with clever titles make this a perfect read-aloud book. Brie, aged 5, QLD, 5 Stars
The captivating artwork of ‘Basil and Terry’s Enchanted Quest’ immediately enchanted both myself and my son, drawing us into a world of magic. Basil’s charismatic character became an instant favourite, adding allure to the promise of an enticing adventure. Navigating the story’s pages, the brief and lively chapters proved invaluable during our nightly reading sessions. In contrast to books with longer chapters, these manageable segments kept our bedtime readings engaging and full of anticipation. A minor challenge arose with the acronyms for the “yunions,” introducing a touch of humour aimed at adult readers but proving a bit too elusive for my young listener. Despite this, ‘Basil and Terry’s Enchanted Quest’ provides a delightful mix of quick, captivating adventures suitable for young readers. The universal appeal of characters like old hags, witches, and princesses ensures an engaging experience, even for those unfamiliar with the Brothers Grimm. In conclusion, ‘Basil and Terry’s Enchanted Quest’ masterfully weaves a whimsical narrative with endearing characters, making it an excellent addition to any child’s reading list. The charming storytelling, complemented by vibrant cover illustrations, guarantees a delightful journey through a magical world. Highly recommended for young readers seeking a magical and fun-filled experience! Dylan, aged 7, QLD, 5 Stars
A tremendous whooshing noise started up. It sounded like a million pages being riffled at once. I caught a strong whiff of gingerbread. Then The Complete Fairytales of the Brothers Grimm flew open and a human-shaped blur came shooting out … Basil Beedon and Terry Clegg are neighbours, and that’s all they have in common. Terry loves sport and Basil loves books – but to Basil’s absolute dismay, he’s been roped into helping Terry with his reading. Every. Single. Saturday. However, that’s the least of his worries when Gretel comes shooting out of The Complete Fairytales of the Brothers Grimm. The boys are plunged into a dangerous world run by the Fairytale Alliance Network of Character Yunions (FANCY), where not everyone is what they seem, Hansel has been kidnapped and a plot hole threatens to destroy everything. I got this book because I’m a bookworm. I love it. Now my friends are reading it. It’s is funny and has a lot of surprises, and sometimes scary but good. Elena, aged 9, NSW, 5 Stars
Annaleise Byrd’s Losing The Plot is a magical, whimsical and innovative story retelling and interweaving many of Grimm’s classic fairytales, and quite literally bringing them to life for our loveable main characters Basil and Terry. A rollicking ride told in short and action packed chapters, I would highly recommend this book for kids of all ages, and it is particularly fun to read together. All in all a fabulous offering that my 12 year old daughter also adored. Many thanks to Better Reading and Walker Books for the opportunity to read and review this little gem. Can’t wait to read more from Annaleise Byrd. Imogen, VIC, 5 Stars
This was so entertaining and funny, from the first page to the very last. I received my ARC from Better Reading and Walker Books Australia for an honest review and I can honestly say I loved it. It was my first time reading a child’s book, well other than when I was a child, too many years ago, and I was completely surprised by just how hilarious and captivating it was. From the very start you are introduced to Terry who has an amazing thought process that includes so many similes. I just loved it when he describes being “as happy as a snowman in a sauna”…..now there’s an image that will stay with you for a long time. Annaleise has a fabulous skill, and her fabulous use of funny acronyms will have you giggling throughout, especially when you become privy to the reasoning behind Yunion. As a library assistant at a local high school, I can see that there would be so many kids that would love this unique take on the classic fairytales and I would highly recommend it to both primary school and early high school age groups. Nerelle, NSW, 5 Stars
Annaleise’s debut novel Losing the Plot is a fantastic tumble into the fairytale wonderland that was written down by the Grimm Brothers. The story follows Basil Beedon and Terry Clegg – neighbours who have nothing in common except the street on which they live. Forced by their parents to spend time together, they are pulled by Gretel (of the Hansel and Gretel variety) into The Complete Fairytales of Brothers Grimm. This world is run by the Fairytale Alliance Network of Character Yunions (yes, with a Y) and the boys from ‘the real world’ are suddenly central to stopping – well, you’ll have to read the book to find out. A fantastic story for middle graders (ages 8 and up) who love magic, adventure, and a lot of humour. I can’t wait for my kids to be old enough for chapter books as this will definitely be one that they will go back to time and time again. Laura, QLD, 5 Stars
Thank you for letting me preview this book. It was fun and I liked that there were short chapters, it made reading it easier. Basil and Terry are different but work very well as a team and have each other’s back all the time throughout these adventures helping Hansel and Gretel and friends through a whole lot of madness and mayhem. There was always something going on, I was always entertained, it never got boring. It started well and ended well. I would recommend my friends to read this also. Allie, aged 10, VIC, 5 Stars
This was a highly captivating and enjoyable read for both myself and my son. The length of each chapter being comparatively short compared to longer chapter books kept my son engaged, not to mention being able to see all the fairytale characters come to life and interacting with each other was definitely an unforgettable experience. We both highly recommend this book! Jenny, son aged 7, VIC, 5 Stars
When a book-loving student is thrown together with a footy-loving co-student by well-meaning adults, what could go wrong? Basil has been tasked to help Terry develop a love of reading so as to maintain his position on the football team. Terry loves this idea as much as Basil, especially when he arrives armed with a book which turns out to be a Grimms’ fairytale collection. But the book hid a surprise, which when discovered launched both boys inside the fairytale world of Hansel & Gretel. And they must not create a plot hole, i.e. create a butterfly effect which changes the story’s original conclusion. This story is a rollicking journey through a fractured fairytale version of Hansel and Gretel. The boys begin to realise how dangerous the storyline is and now they’re tasked to see it through to the end. Working with Gretel, Basil and Terry navigate their scary and at times hilarious way back to the witch’s gingerbread house in an attempt to save Hansel. A great adaptation of a well-known story by Annaleise Byrd including a sharp wit and funny repartee. Perfectly suitable for 8 – 12 years reading group or fractured fairytale-loving adults! Merilyn, WA, 5 Stars
Reading “Losing the Plot” by Annaleise Byrd was a really funny experience, especially because of her very original view of the fairy tales characters and their world. The reading was really easy and made me laugh for real. The story is about two teenagers, which the only thing they had in common was being neighbours. They are obligated to spend every Saturday together in reading tutorials and both of them hate it at the beginning, but they had no idea about the craziest adventure they would live together in the fairy tale world. Gretel somehow shows up to ask their help because her brother was missing and her entire world was in dangerous because of it. They accept the challenge and not only save Hansel and avoid the fairy tale world of the hole, but also help the princesses to find their voices and request for acknowledgment and more freedom. If you have teenagers at home, I really recommend you to gift them “Losing the Plot”. This book is not only a very enjoyable reading, but also will make them evaluate their friendships and women rights with a smile in their faces. Cintia, VIC, 5 Stars
When Basil and his neighbour Terry accidentally fall into the world of Grimm’s fairy tales, they must – reluctantly – work together to save the Fairytale world from total collapse. Basil, an avid reader, would not have picked sports-fanatic Terry as his offsider in a group assignment, let alone a saving-the-world situation. However, with banter galore, the unlikely duo meet FANCY (Fairytale Alliance Network of Character Yunions) leaders, follow clues, and untangle a prickly missing persons case. My favourite part of this fun, fast-paced, laugh-aloud story was the way a genuine friendship developed between Basil and Terry, almost despite themselves, as they were increasingly forced to rely on one another in extraordinary circumstances. Losing the Plot is a fantastic middle-grade portal fantasy and will be cherished by fans of R.A. Spratt’s Hamlet is Not Okay and Chris Colfer’s The Land of Stories. Helen, QLD, 5 Stars
What a ride! A story full of fun and wonder. This book will keep young readers turning the pages. My grandson and I both read this book, he is an avid reader but was a little lost around the Yunion and some of the bigger words. However, pushing past that found the book entertaining and a good read. I enjoyed recalling the story of Hansel and Gretel and fairy tales which sometimes feel forgotten to younger generations. For me the story is a reminder that we all want to write our own story and be seen for who we are and that reading is enjoyable and there is something for everyone we just have to find it! Tracey, grandson aged 9, VIC, 5 Stars
Losing the Plot is a fun book which kept myself and a young reader aged nine years interested and laughing throughout the book. The storyline starts with Basil unwillingly helping a neighbour Terry with his reading skills. The pair of them get drawn into a portal in the fairy tale world when Terry chooses the book The Complete Fairytales of the Brothers Grim as his reading material. Basil and Terry have many adventures meeting various FairyTale characters along their journey some were fun others challenging. until eventually they find the return portal and are back in the bedroom where the adventure started. I recommend this book for children aged about 9-12 years as I think that it encourages reading when a book is humorous, and you go from one adventure to the next not knowing what the outcome is going to be. Katrina, aged 9, QLD, 5 Stars
I really enjoyed losing the plot after every chapter I wanted to keep reading. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery and investigating books. Annie, aged 10, NSW, 5 Stars
My daughter read it in one sitting over the weekend. She loved it and couldn’t stop until she finished it. Karen, QLD, 5 Stars
Losing the Plot is a surprising, confusing, fun and familiar book that will need a second read as it has so much in it. Loved it. Martina, SA, 5 Stars
As a big fan of fractured fairytales, Losing the Plot was everything I wanted it to be and so much more. Clever, funny and tightly-written, the story moves along at a cracking pace without leaving the reader feeling rushed. Byrd draws us into the fairytale world with as much fun and satire as a Shrek movie, sprinkling just the right amount of character development into the mix. There are some great twists and turns and a few loose ends to keep us hooked for the sequel. Not too long, this book would suit emerging readers. Rebecca, QLD, 5 Stars
Losing the Plot by Annaleise Byrd is a humorous, adventurous fractured fairytale. From the blurb: “To Basil’s absolute dismay, he’s been roped into helping football star Terry with his reading. Every. Single. Saturday. When Gretel comes shooting out of The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, the boys are plunged into a dangerous world… where not everyone is what they seem, Hansel has been kidnapped and a plot hole threatens to destroy everything.” The two male leads, Basil and Terry, are relatable characters. Their reactions to mayhem are authentic and hilarious as they try to help Gretel rescue Hansel without opening any plot holes. My favourite part comes about a third of the way through the book where, for some reason (no spoilers!), Basil, Terry and Gretel end up in a pile of slop, sludge and slime. Byrd’s words paint a nose watering picture and include the phrases, “glistening trails of ooze crisscrossed its surface like tiny rivers of radioactive rankness,” and “I couldn’t tell whether it was a rotten apple or a bobsledding rat.” This playful use of language, smattering of clever acronyms, and short chapters, will entice readers and non-readers aged 8+. Sophia, QLD, 5 Stars
What a good way to get children reading!! Nothing like turning your favorite fairy tales upside down and round about to create a story that is funny, unpredictable and uses language that will ignite the imagination of anyone that reads it. The book is not too long to lose interest in the story. The characters could be anyone’s children. I recommend it and I look forward to further titles from the author. Cheryl, VIC, 5 Stars
This was fun book to read with ‘The Littles’ at bedtime. Even though Mr 11yo thought it was going to be ‘young’ for a reader like him – he was engaged and enjoyed the story. Mr 7yo thought it was ‘cool’ and liked the idea of ‘being sucked into another world’…. look out, we have a future fantasy reader. The boys enjoyed how Basil and Terry were ready to jump in and help. They thought the story was fun how it called in different fairytales and thought the sayings that didn’t make sense were funny. Some of the humour might have been a bit above them but, like Shrek, I liked that it had something for those of us who read the bedtime stories to the kids. I also think certain characters wanting to be independent of their designation in a fairytale/the story, might have gone over the boys’ heads a bit, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I read it to my niece that she would have understood that. Overall, I thought it was a charming story which weaves the known stories with something fantastical that kept the boys engaged and eager to get to the end of the story to see how it all works out. Aotea, children aged 10 and 7, QLD, 4 Stars
Thank you for the opportunity to review ‘Losing the plot’ I was excited about reading this book with son as it was a little different to most out there at the moment and it didn’t fail. We completed this book after our school homework and we were excited and intrigued to see where the story goes. The way the characters and atmosphere were described really made the story pop and my son was excited every night to read this book. Highly recommend it for ages 8 up! Christie, aged 8 ,NSW, 4 Stars
This fantasy adventure begins with Basil helping Terry with his reading. Unfortunately he has to read Hansel and Gretel. Suddenly a tremendous whooshing sound fills the room and Gretel appears! She is in tears because her brother Hansel is missing! Someone is interfering with the fairy tale stories and risking more plot holes every day. It is up to Basil and Terry to help Gretel find her beloved brother. This book is perfect for 8+ aged readers. It explores a theme of friendship between the characters and is a page turning mystery themed novel. I personally loved it because the style of writing was funny. Mila, aged 11, NSW, 4 Stars
Losing the Plot is an exciting book with a twist on the original fairytale Hansel and Gretel. It keeps the reader interested and makes it impossible to put down with lots of plot twists and action as well as funny scenes such as the Extraordinary FANCY Meeting with all the different Yunions. Two boys Terry and Basil unwittingly become involved in a drama in the fairytale world when Gretel suddenly pops into their room from the Complete Fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm and the have many adventures whilst trying to prevent plot holes and keep the fairytale on track and to script. This is a very clever and engaging book that takes a story and characters already familiar to readers and puts them right in the middle of the action with an exciting adventure that is very different to anything done before. Andy, aged 11, NSW, 4 Stars
Basil Beedon and Terry Clegg don’t like each other but are forced to rely on each other when they fall into a book of Grimm’s Fairytales. Who knew fairytales were so complicated and that enemies would become friends? It took a while to get into this book but when I did I could not (would not) put it down. A funny and engaging fractured fairytale. Alyssa, aged 10, VIC, 4 Stars
I gave this to my 10 year old grandaughter and this is her report LOSING THE PLOT was a peculiar tale of friendship and fairytale. A great book for all ages who love a good twisted tale. From the honored and followed F.A.N.C.Y – Fairytale Alliance Network of Character Yunions >Was F.A.N.C.Y > Act F.A.N.C.Y >Super F.A.N.C.Y >Vaguely F.A.N.C.Y >Most F.A.N.C.Y I think losing the plot would be a great book overall and a lovely read filled with adventure and courage. When I first picked up this book I wondered if it was for me but as I read on and got to about the 3rd chapter I got interested and by the 5th chapter I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. I completely loved it. Daisy, aged 10, VIC, 4 Stars
It was an amazing read , like i wasn’t expecting the ending of it and finding it very sad and emotionally touched me. Kathy, NSW, 4 Stars
Losing the Plot by Annaleise Byrd is an enjoyable, light-hearted read. A fractured fairy tale full of fun, adventure and humour, aimed at a middle grade audience. At just 128 pages, it feels accessible to both avid and reluctant readers. The story crams a lot into the plot in a short space of time, which means it flows quickly, with big laughs and fast action on almost every page. The protagonist, Basil Beedon, is a likeable character who amuses the reader with quips and comical anecdotes as he and his counterpart, Terry, find themselves faced with a series of predicaments. While the narrative finds its foundation in the safety of fairy tales, there is enough of a spin on the well-known stories to keep it interesting. Believable and relatable characters engage the reader in the plot as you cheer them on to success. Despite the short length, this book doesn’t leave the reader feeling short-changed. If anything, it leaves you wanting more. Hopefully we will have the chance to accompany Basil and Terry on more adventures in the future. Roxanne, NSW, 4 Stars
As an adult I enjoyed reading Losing the Plot and I think children would love it. It is well written, humerous and imaginative. It is a different way of looking at Grimms fairy tales. The idea was to get a non reader student interested in reading, encouraged by a young friend who had the imagination to make it possible. Gloria, SA, 4 Stars
Amazing book, it held my attention and my kids the whole way through. Jessica, NSW, 4 Stars
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