Amazon.com Seasoned fractured fairy tale teller Gail Carson Levine provides the captivating back story of Tinker Bell and Co. in this lavishly illustrated addition to the Neverland canon. Freckled and eager to please, Prilla is a brand new fairy, born of a baby's laugh. Upon her arrival to Neverland, she is dismayed to discover she has no talent for any of the fairy avocations. Tinker Bell (a pots-and-pans-talent fairy) takes Prilla to see Mother Dove, whose single blue egg holds the secret of the island's eternal youth. But before the wise bird can advise Prilla, Neverland is shaken by a terrible hurricane. Mother Dove is thrown off her nest, and the precious egg is shattered. Immediately, Neverland folk begin to age.
The island's only hope is for some brave fairies to take the egg pieces to Kyto the dragon and ask him to restore it with his fiery breath. But first, the fairies must collect treasures with which to bribe the evil dragon. Mother Dove chooses Prilla to be part of the fairy team to undertake the quest for the egg. Can one little no-talent fairy help save Neverland from certain doom? While Fairy Dust is unabashedly based on Disney's Peter Pan, Levine's companion version feels wonderfully fresh and original. The charming maxims of Levine's fairy world (fairies say "Fly with you," instead of "Pleased to meet you," and need dust made from Mother Dove's feathers to fly) along with David Christiana's sumptuous illustrations breathe new life into a beloved classic. --Jennifer Hubert
Book Description Fairy Haven is abuzz with news about its latest arrival, Prilla. It's bad enough that she has no idea what her special talent is, but some of her behavior is remarkably, well, human. Prilla is heartbroken that she does not seem to fit in. She desperately needs help from Mother Dove, the most important creature in Neverland, who created and cares for the magical egg that prevents all who live in Neverland from growing old and dying. But tragedy strikes as the island is hit by a hurricane, and the Never egg is destroyed. Mother Dove must pick three fairies to set out on a dangerous quest to repair the egg. She chooses Rani, the best water-talent fairy; Vidia, the most selfish, but fastest fast-flying-talent fairy; and, to everyone's surprise-Prilla. The three embark on a journey filled with danger, sacrifice, and adventure. The fate of Neverland-and their world as they know it-rests on their shoulders.
- A happy return to the fairy tales of my childhood (5)
All of my nieces from 4 to 15 enjoy having me read them this delightful masterpiece. The illustrations are a real bonus. My little niece who just turned 4 has all of the fairies names memorized and says "Mother Dove" as if she knew her personally.
Casey - My daughter is hooked (4)
I bought this book to read to my class of second graders. Before that happened my 5 year old daughter saw it and wanted me to read it to her. It was a bit long and took a week, but she loved it! We sat reading and discussing the book every night. She told me what she thought would happen next and about the fairies. She loved it so much that I bought the other Disney fairy books. These books were easier to read; we read them in about two days. She is eagerly awaiting the new book about Rani due in May!
When I finally took it to my class of second graders, they enjoyed it too; even the boys. - Absolutely great! (5)
We received this book as a gift for my 4 year old. We read a chapter each night before bed and my husband and I, as well as our daughter thought it was amazing. Very exciting and kept us wanting more every night. - A riveting, beautifully written work of modern fantasy - destined to be a classic. (5)
Never Land has its doubts about the newest Fairy, Prilla. She speaks oddly and even tries to call Tinker Bell "Miss Bell"! What's worse, she doesn't seem to have any special talent at all. But despite her oddness, she's chosen by Mother Dove to join two other fairies in a desperate quest to restore Mother Dove's Egg and save Never Land.
Fairy Dust is a riveting, engaging return to the setting of Gail Carson Levine's favorite childhood novel - Peter Pan. It is full of references to James M Barrie's classic, but stands on its own even for readers who have never before ventured to Never Land. The power of its dramatic development and presentation of interesting, three-dimensional characters will surprise and delight many a demanding reader, and its breathtaking conclusion reaches out to draw children into the story to do their own part to save Never Land.
Illustrations beautifully render the special, enchanting ambiance of Levine's fairy tale into snapshot frames of various sizes. These may be essential for helping younger readers keep up with the often-complex story, but unfortunately their placement is not always optimal. Events are frequently depicted slightly before they have been detailed in the story, giving away a few surprises and often making it necessary to read ahead and flip backwards in the book to re-view them.
This is one of the most delightful fairy tales for children I've ever had the pleasure to read. I'm hopeful that this will be the first of many returns to Never Land by this talented and capable author/illustrator team. - A Fanciful Adventure Reminiscent of Peter Pan (5)
Wendy thought Neverland was a nice place to visit, but she didn't want to stay there forever. Author Gail Carson Levine's favorite book while growing up was PETER PAN by James M. Barrie, and she thinks "Wendy was an idiot for wanting to leave Neverland." In her new book, FAIRY DUST AND THE QUEST FOR THE EGG, Carson Levine creates an opportunity to explore the questions that PETER PAN left in her fertile, whimsical mind. Her love of fairy tales and the great lessons they can teach have led Carson Levine to write a fanciful adventure that would intrigue Barrie himself.
The fairies, who live and work in Home Tree of Fairy Haven on Neverland island, are getting a new fairy. When baby Sara Quirtle laughs her first laugh, Prilla the fairy is born and swept away to the land of the fairies to assume her post as --- no one knows what. Fairies are usually born fully aware of their talent, so they can join the baking-talent fairies, the cooking-talent fairies, the scouting-talent fairies, or the whatever-talent fairies as soon as they arrive. But Prilla doesn't have a clue as to what her talent is or how to figure it out. Tinker Bell, the pots-and-pans fairy, and the rest of the fairies are shocked!
Prilla is told that her talent is her joy, the one thing she can do easily and that brings her pleasure and satisfaction. Her talent is her service to Neverland. Tinker Bell takes her to visit different fairies while she experiments with one talent after another seeking her one special gift. Nothing is perfect. Not even Mother Dove, who sits on the eternal egg of Neverland's secret to permanent youth, can understand what Prilla's special ability is. Prilla is so depressed.
While not aware of her particular talent, Prilla is bothered by a curious habit she is unable to explain or control. Being such a young fairy and so new at everything, she isn't sure what she's supposed to be or do. Every once in a while and out of the blue, Prilla will find herself back on the mainland teasing sullen children or grumpy adults --- Clumsies, as they are called by the fairies. It feels a little bit like daydreaming, but Prilla is sure she's bouncing between Neverland and the mainland and doesn't know what to do about it.
When Prilla and the rest of the fairies are just about to begin an annual celebration that is very, very important to the success of Neverland's flying inhabitants, tragedy strikes the island. A hurricane demolishes almost everything, including the magical egg guarded by Mother Dove. The egg is cracked and burned, and Mother Dove is hurt when her home in the great hawthorn tree is thrown to the beach in the merciless storm.
Everyone must come together to try and restore the egg and nurse Mother Dove back to health. Prilla is chosen to take part in the quest that hopefully will return Neverland to its young self, but can she do it as she continues to blink back and forth to the mainland? How can she be of any help if she keeps popping in and out of places? And will everything be okay in time for Mother Dove to provide the magical fairy dust she helps make to keep everybody flying?
Although FAIRY DUST AND THE QUEST FOR THE EGG is 189 pages long, each of the 30 chapters is brief enough to make for a great read out loud or for middle-grade readers to enjoy finishing on their own. Carson Levine's use of language is charming, and the story gently sends the message that we each have our own special gifts.
--- Reviewed by Joy Held