Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg

by Gail Carson Levine

book data

868 ratings, 3.66 average rating, 128 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		27%
4		26%
3		32%
2		10%
1		2%

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published

September 1st 2005 by Disney Press

binding

Hardcover, 208 pages

isbn

0786834919 (isbn13: 9780786834914)

description

Seasoned fractured fairy tale teller Gail Carson Levine provides the captivating back story of Tinker Bell and Co. in this lavishly illustrated addit...more

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01/20/08

Emma rated it:

Read in January, 2008

Gail Carson Levine, author of the insanely awesome novel "Ella Enchanted," always thought that Wendy was crazy for going home when she could have stayed with Peter Pan in Neverland. At least that's what her mini-bio on the dust jacket of her new novel says. Levine also dedicates the book to her first boyfriend, Peter Pan.

One of Disney's newest marketing ventures is Disney Fairies, which is promoting Tinker Bell and the other characters found in Levine's novel among other fa...more Gail Carson Levine, author of the insanely awesome novel "Ella Enchanted," always thought that Wendy was crazy for going home when she could have stayed with Peter Pan in Neverland. At least that's what her mini-bio on the dust jacket of her new novel says. Levine also dedicates the book to her first boyfriend, Peter Pan.

One of Disney's newest marketing ventures is Disney Fairies, which is promoting Tinker Bell and the other characters found in Levine's novel among other fairies. (There's also a series of Fairy books for younger readers and a CGI film, not directly related to the events relayed in "Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg," which is due out this fall on Disney DVD. If you want to learn more, the Disney Fairies have their own website--but be advised it might take a bit to load on slower computers.) When I first heard about this new project, I was intrigued since I am a fan of fairies. At the same time, I was a bit worried. There's something very commercial, and even counterintuitive, about a writer creating a story with characters that have already been dealt with by other authors (and a lot of movies!). Still, I decided to give it a try.

Before even getting into the story, though, I have to say that this novel is quite beautiful. The actual book is made of high quality paper to accommodate the illustrations that often feature as tw-page spreads throughout the novel. These pictures, watercolors painted by David Christiana, are stunning. The colors are subtle and really the skill is just so obvious in all of the drawings that viewing them is a joy. Christiana manages to stay true to the original Disney vision for Tinker Bell while making her "look" slightly new and different to better fit in with the other fairies.

Unfortunately, it takes more than great illustrations to sustain a good book. The basic plot stays pretty true to some of the elements found in the original story of Peter Pan. The book starts when a baby laughs (every time a baby laughs for the first time, a fairy is born). This fairy, named Prilla, is special. Not only is she going to be a Never Fairy in Neverland, she is also unlike any fairy the island has seen before. Prilla says "please" and "thank you" like humans (called "Clumsies" by fairies). She even curtsies and apologizes. Stranger still, Prilla is able to move between Neverland and the dreams of Clumsy children.

Every Fairy in Neverland has a special talent (water, baking, pots and pans, etc.)--every fairy except for Prilla. However, when a storm strikes the island injuring Mother Dove (the source of the Fairy Dust that allows Never Fairies to work their magic) Prilla doesn't have much time to worry about not having a talent as she and two other fairies are sent out to try and find a way to heal Mother Dove.

I had several problems with the story. The idea of each fairy having a talent, while superficially cute, has deeper problems upon further investigation. It just feels too much like each fairy having a clique and, even worse, the story spends a lot of time focusing on Prilla being special in a bad way for not having a talent. This issue is resolved by the end of the story, but it just seems like a bad message to send to children. (And what's up with the name Prilla? Seriously.)

The narrative of the story also started to grate very near the beginning of the book. I haven't read J. M. Barrie's "Peter Pan" so I don't know if Levine was trying emulate his style or not--I think she was but need to investigate further--but it just didn't work. Frankly, it sounded like Levine was writing in a style that was not her own and with which she was not entirely comfortable.

"Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg" also seemed to be having an identity crisis. The book looks like a novel for older children. The print is small and there is a lot of it. But the story sometimes sounds like it was written for much younger children with prose that lacks the dimension and depth of books for an older audience. At the same time, though, the events of the novel (a fairy cutting off her own wings, a dying dove, among other problematic events) suggest that it's more appropriate for an older audience.

The best parts of this novel were when Levine was looking at the characters originally found in "Peter Pan." Her descriptions of the mermaids, and of Tinker Bell's relationship with Peter were really enjoyable. Captain Hook also features in the plot and was awesome. Unfortunately all of these events take only about ten pages combined(the book is 208).

This book has a lot going for it and I wanted to like it more than I did, but all of the great pieces never come together (with the mediocre ones) to create a solid, enjoyable whole.(less)

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02/20/09

Allison rated it:

bookshelves: j-fantasy

Read in February, 2009

Prilla is a new fairy who lands in Never Land without a talent! Every fairy has a talent, and they should know what it is as soon as they land. When a ferocious hurricane hits Never Land, and threatens all they strive to protect, Prilla will have to go on a quest to help save everyone.

I guess I should have seen it coming that someday I would be the 22 year old to pick up this book for fun. In my defense, Ella Enchanted is my favorite book ever, and this is by the same author. Not ...more

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05/23/09

Lars rated it:

Read in May, 2009

At first a little too cutesy for me. David Christiana's watercolored illustration was exquisite but his fairies were just a bit too Disneyesquely precious, especially after being exposed to edgier work by him in Alvin Schwartz's 'Tales of Trickery from the Land of Spoof.' And the fairy protagonist of this story appeared a little too precious, too, until she entered children's dreams. Then a dreaming Captain Hook entered the story: 'Hook snored...but his snores were refined. He snored in iamb...more

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02/28/09

Taylor rated it:

The newest fairy to arrive in never land is Prilla. She is so odd that even the whole neverland can't figure out if she should be aloud as a never fairy. She evan says pleased to meat you instead of fly to meat you! There can't be more, but there is.. she calls Tinker Bell Miss bell all togetather she is just a total clumsy fairy instead of a normal calm never fairy. To make everything worse she can not figure out what her talent is or maybe she just has no talent at all? :( A hurricane, a selfi...more

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07/21/08

Shannon rated it:

(review of isbn 1423108191)

bookshelves: faeries

Read in July, 2008

recommends it for: All Ages

I realized part of why I like the Disney Fairies better than the Disney Princesses: Disney Fairies have everything they need and are happy. Disney Princesses get everything they want. I just think I would rather be the Fairies than the Princesses. Disney Fairies are happy with the way things are, especially happy with themselves. Disney Princesses… Sure they are happy because they get what they want. But are they happy with themselves, or just with the things they have?
This book starts ...more

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02/12/08

Timnah Gretencord rated it:

Read in February, 2008

Gag me with a tinker's bell and leave me to die.

Normally, I like Levine's work. This is an abnormal book. I don't know if the problem lies in the fact that Levine's best work is for an older audience (perhaps she misjudged her tone for this one) or that I am an older audience than the book was written for (I'm no longer a preschooler, sadly). But usually I'm pretty good at enjoying books written for any age reader. This one failed to draw me in. Instead, the saccharine whininess of t...more

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09/05/07

Julia Winknler rated it:

Read in September, 2007

This book is about 3 fairys called Prilla,Rani and Vidia who have to save Mother Dove.And all that started like this :

When Sarah Qurriel laughed her first laugh,it became a laugh bubble.This laugh bubble flew all along the shore of never Land.The Island did not want ot let the laugh in,because it was different!The laugh has to fight every single inch,untill The island gives up and lets the laugh through.It is like this:When ever a baby laughs the first time,it gts a laughbubble wih w...more

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01/10/09

Penny rated it:

Read in January, 2009

The illustrations are beautiful so I do give the illustrator 4 stars. But the story did not move me. One redeeming quote from the book which brought a smile to my face was the description of Captain Hook's snore..."Hook snored too, but his snores were refined. He snored in iambic pentameter, with an occasional spondee thrown in."

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12/05/07

Christine rated it:

Read in November, 2007

recommends it for: Parents with young children

My daughter got this book for a gift and of course I had to read it. It is an interesting incite into the world of fairies. You find the fairies are just like people, only smaller and wings. We all know and love Tink... and we know her love for Peter...this shows her other side. Who would've thought she had another side. This book also introduces us to a new kind of fairy. Great book for older children I'd say 1st grades would love to listen to this and 2nd/3rd graders would like to read i...more

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03/18/09

Elizabeth rated it:

Read in March, 2009

This is a childrens chapter book that I got for my 9 year old to read. She was to busy reading other things so I decided to read it since I like the author. It is a cute story starting around age 6-7. It is a more difficult read than say Magic tree house or Junie B Jones.

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12/11/08

Jessica rated it:

bookshelves: children--pics-in-it-

Read in February, 2005

recommended to Jessica by: My 4th grade teacher
recommends it for: Young-spirited people

This book is a story on how even the most unlikely friends can help save the day. Perfect for any fairy lover or young-spirited girl. I also just loved the art and the characters were beautifly described

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01/27/09

Mary rated it:

This is such a good book! Gail Carson Levine is really good at creating a spine-tingling climax while making other parts absolutely HILARIOUS! Read it today!

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04/30/09

Vicki rated it:

Read in April, 2009

This is not one of my favorites by her. Usually I find them clever and amusing children's books, but I didn't feel that way about this one.

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