Direct; Colorful
In Fablehaven we get some descriptive writing that both accurately tries to convey what's going on, and also tries to spice things up with a bit of character. Worry not—we'll give you some examples of both.
When Grandpa brings a misshapen Seth to Muriel to transform, she dramatically acts surprised to see him:
Muriel looked up, a slow grin revealing decayed teeth […] She rubbed her eyes theatrically and squinted at him. (8.139)
Clearly this is exaggerated for humorous effect, right? But it also accurately portrays what's happening.
For another example of where description meets color, check out the big showdown at the Forgotten Chapel:
Four winged creatures were rising to meet the fairies. The huge gargoyles were at least ten feet tall, with razor claws and horns like rams. (18.59)
Here we get a factual statement (the size of the gargoyles, in real-world and easy to follow terms) as well as a simile (they had horns like rams). This helps us imagine the action and stay involved.