FAIRY DUST AND THE QUEST FOR THE EGG
by Gail Carson Levine
Disney Press
ISBN: 0786834919
Ages 6-10
189 pages

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

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