August 29, 2005
Tinker Bell, the feisty fairy made famous in J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan
as well as Disney's animated movie of that book, goes into freefall here, recast as a star of this flighty and confusing fantasy. Levine (Ella Enchanted
) introduces readers to "Tink's" world, Never Land—a magical island that can shift size and location, and where humans (called "Clumsies"), animals and fairies never grow old. The perpetual state of spring and summer is sustained by Mother Dove sitting on her magic egg. A new fairy named Prilla arrives on the eve of Mother Dove's Molt—her feathers provide flight-making fairy dust. But when tragedy strikes Mother Dove and the egg, Prilla and two other fairies are chosen to go on a perilous quest (involving Captain Hook) in order to save the ailing bird. Unfortunately, the detailed descriptions of Never Land life are overly precious (e.g., "a midge on a fairy was as big as a bee on a Clumsy") and the characters' qualities come off as cloying. Tink remains fundamentally petulant but does relate to Mother Dove her unrequited love for Peter, a point likely to be lost on readers who would migrate to this book's fairy themes. The conversational narrative frequently addresses readers directly, a convention that becomes tiresome ("Remember the worst pain you've ever felt. Close your eyes and think of it"). Though Levine takes Tink on new adventures, she probably won't win the fairy many new fans. Ages 6-10.
September 12, 2005
An infectious baby's laugh (said to be the genesis of fairies) kicks off this audio adaptation of Levine's (Ella Enchanted
) original novel about Tinker Bell, of Peter Pan
fame, and her friends on the island of Never Land. Tink is among the Never fairies who are curious about Prilla, the isle's newest arrival. But Prilla is having a rough transition to her new life; she isn't sure which fairy faction she belongs to, because she doesn't know what her talent is. When tragedy strikes Never Land, however, Prilla is called on to help lead a perilous quest to save the fairies and their leader, Mother Dove. Along the way, Prilla learns what she's really good at. Gordon, a British actress, reads with a softened accent and a kind, sunny tone that prove inviting. Fans of all things fairy may want to flit with Prilla and hear more about beloved Tinker Bell, but many young listeners are likely to find the myriad details of fairy life and the convoluted plot line a bit hard to follow. Ages 6-up.