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Disney Fairies #1

Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg

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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.

189 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

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3181 people want to read

About the author

Gail Carson Levine

65 books9,665 followers
Just letting you all know: I'm only going to review books I love. There's enough negative criticism without me piling on. A book is too hard to write.

Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City and began writing seriously in 1987. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Fairest; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; and the six Princess Tales books. She is also the author of the nonfiction book Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly and the picture book Betsy Who Cried Wolf, illustrated by Scott Nash. Gail, her husband, David, and their Airedale, Baxter, live in a 1790 farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley of New York State.

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5 stars
2,463 (34%)
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3 stars
1,819 (25%)
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1 star
154 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 528 reviews
Profile Image for J.C..
Author 4 books84 followers
May 3, 2016
I haven't read this since I was nine, but I decided to reread it now, just for fun ;) While the reading level is definitely below me now, I still very much enjoyed the story; perhaps not as much as I did when I was nine but I still appreciated the book all the same, as well as the many positive themes I saw worked into the plot.:) A truly awesome book, highly recommended to ages 7-10.
Profile Image for Emma.
3,343 reviews460 followers
March 2, 2018
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.

You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
Profile Image for Ximena.
94 reviews5 followers
January 27, 2019
Es un libro súper corto y ligero, la historia es entretenida pero para mi no represento nada significante. Tiene un lindo mensaje, pero ya lo he visto en muchos lados, tal vez para mi que ya he leído cosas así, no fue gran cosa. De todas formas, es un como un pequeño cuento, cuando te das cuenta ya estás en el final. Lo bueno es que tiene algunos personajes que ya todos conocemos, y te hace tenerles un poco de cariño a todos ajaja.
Profile Image for Librarian Jessie (BibliophileRoses).
1,725 reviews88 followers
July 28, 2022
Absolutely gorgeous illustrations partnered with an actually enjoyable story. Very familiar if you were in the age range that watched the Tinkerbell films Disney Channel featured. Cute, sweet, and a bit more complex which is just why I enjoy in children tales.
Profile Image for Sydney.
118 reviews14 followers
May 7, 2024
wow so wholesome. This is the type of fae fantasy Booktok needs to recommend lol
Profile Image for Coralie.
701 reviews134 followers
January 14, 2022
I've loved Levine's work for many, many years. And when she came out with this book, it started my mild obsession of all things Disney fairy. I read the sequels as they came out and then the little chapter books as those were released. (I've collected all but two slippery ones!) And I recently decided to reread them all just because I wanted something lighthearted and fun.

And that's really what this book is: lighthearted and fun.

I first just have to pause and comment on how stunning the artwork in this book is. It's half the reason I love these books and this world (and definitely why I recommend reading a print copy over listening to the audio book--you'd so miss out!!). You can argue that the art isn't your favorite or you prefer someone else's portrayal or whatever. But it is clear there was an extraordinary amount of skill and work poured into these illustrations. They're truly more like a collection of beautiful paintings than picture book illustrations. These really set the tone for the whole book and the world.

The world of pixie dust and talents and fairies that Levine created is such a simple, fun little world. It's truly enchanting. I love the personalities behind each of the fairies that she crafted and how she tied them to their talents. She also does a wonderful job of breathing life into our beloved TinkerBell. But what's really cool is how Levine took the shard of something (Neverland, Peter Pan, and what little we knew of Tink) and expanded it to create a whole new world of her own. Mother Dove and her egg and the whole society of fairies in Fairy Haven is like discovering something hidden and magical and entirely new in a childhood favorite story or nostalgic toy.

The adventure itself is fairly straightforward and, again, simple. But the book is written for children. I think this one is actually a perfect read-aloud. I read it to my little sister when it first came out and it's easy to break into smaller chunks because of the bite-sized chapters. Levine also does a great job of building the tension, suspense, and stakes as the fairies venture out on their quest. Neverland itself may age and die if the fairies fail!

What I love about rereading this is that it reminds me of the childhood wonder of the world around me. It's such a small thing, but the characters and world bring me joy. And the adventure reminds me of a simpler time, of things that truly matter like bravery and sacrifice. And Levine weaves in some big themes for such a simple plot. These fairies deal with getting along with mean or preoccupied people, feeling insignificant, discovering one's purpose, deep personal sacrifice, death, and so many more things. This is a great story to introduce some hard topics to little ones and really getting them to think about what is good and right and deep and meaningful.

I'd say the book is probably best for someone 7/8+ Old enough to invest in a longer story.

Reread:
01.10.22
Profile Image for Cheryl.
1,520 reviews
September 1, 2013
Although it was destined for the children's library, I am tempted to keep this one just for the illustrations, they are wonderful! Cute, well-written story with little twists and a heart-warming ending.

Profile Image for Abigail McKenna.
911 reviews150 followers
May 5, 2025
this got like way dark by the end bro WHOA I wasn't prepared, lol. I wasn't a big Pixie Hollow girlie growing up but I did enjoy the Tinker Bell films, and I thought I'd revisit the story this spring. what I did like is that this discussed how Fairy Haven fits into Neverland as a larger whole. it did have a lovely, cozy, nostalgic feel all the way through, and that was nice. four stars from me!
Profile Image for K.J. Haakenson.
Author 1 book33 followers
September 19, 2024
This is oddly dark and intense compared to the Pixie Hollow books BUT OH MY HEART it is so good. Gail Carson Levine takes the original whimsy of Neverland and weaves a bleak but heartfelt magical tale. I don't remember ever reading it as a kid, but I think I will cherish it more as an adult.
Profile Image for Catherine Lefay.
794 reviews407 followers
November 1, 2020
Me siento muy tonta porque me costó agarrar interés al inicio, pero al 60% del libro por fin agarra vuelo y se forma la 'misión', de ahí en adelante la historia cobró mas dinamismo y los personajes comenzaron a brillar más. Me dio mucha pena la historia de Campanita con Peter, y al final igual se me cayeron un par de lagrimas porque corazón de abuela xDD
Profile Image for Lenno Vranken.
Author 7 books45 followers
September 2, 2023
Ik heb dit boek lang geleden uitgeleend bij de lokale bib en ben door de dolle heen dat ik het nu heb kunnen teruglezen!
Dit is het boek (geschreven door de schrijfster achter Ella Enchanted) dat in 2005 de hele Disney Fairies-lijn lanceerde. Hierop volgden een serie van nog meer boeken en speelgoed, waarna er in 2007 een eerste film verscheen (die ik als kind best vaak heb gekeken). Het valt mij al meteen op hoe duister dit boek is in vergelijking met de Disney film. Eigenaardig, want dit boek is toch ook uitgegeven onder toezicht van Disney. Heel bijzonder, maar daardoor voor mij ook des te leuker, natuurlijk.
Ik vond het erg fijn om eventjes weg te duiken in een compleet andere wereld, waar elfenlogica zeer gedetailleerd wordt uitgelegd en ik mocht kennismaken met een diverse cast aan wezens en personages. Ik vond het ontroerend om te lezen dat Tinkerbel in dit boek een emotioneel trauma probeert te verwerken nadat haar hart werd gebroken door Peter Pan, hoe het elfje Prilla haar plaats niet lijkt te vinden tussen de andere elfjes en zich daarom afgezonderd voelt en hoe het elfje Rani haar vleugels laat afsnijden zodat ze Nooitgedachtenland kan redden.

Mocht je ooit zin hebben om dit boek te (her)ontdekken, dan raad ik aan om deze playlist ondertussen op te zetten: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdLXm...
Profile Image for Julia.
112 reviews5 followers
July 6, 2023
This was a childhood favorite of mine. I needed to read something lighthearted and easy after Demon Copperhead, cause yikes.

The story is as magical as I remembered. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and make the book stand out so much. I breezed through it cover to cover thanks to the oversized font and wide pages. I love the OG Disney fairies and this makes me want to pull out the dolls I have of Tink, Beck, Fira, and Rani.

If I remember right, there are two other novels that follow the events of this one that are darker and more spooky. Definitely going to have to check those out. All in all, reading this was a wonderful trip down memory lane and my brain feels cleansed.
Profile Image for Jacqueline.
140 reviews28 followers
July 23, 2018
Les contaré una historia muy triste.
Hace mucho tiempo, cuando tenía unos 8 años, mis papás me compraron este libro en físico y lo adoraba. Lo leía a todas horas, me encantaban sus ilustraciones (son tan hermosas) y siempre me imaginaba cada escena del libro. Tiempo después, cuando tenía unos 14 años, le preste este libro a una compañera del colegio ¿Y que creen? Jamás me lo devolvió 😭.
Y así perdí el libro que representa mi infancia.
Durante estos años he estado buscándolo por todos lados en físico (solo lo tengo digital) mientras lloro su pérdida 😭🤧💔 pero creo que ya no lo venden, ya ha pasado mucho tiempo.

Es un libro maravilloso, con unas ilustraciones tan hermosas y una historia encantadora. Esté libro siempre estará en mi corazón.
Profile Image for Delani.
35 reviews3 followers
June 5, 2017
I read this book over a decade ago, and it showed me a whole new world. And gave me a view of Tink other than the mean ball of light that followed peter like a love sick bug. And after this, once they started the Disney fairies line. I got the first few books. Before I realized they only intended to talk about Tink in the movies, and barely about any other fairies they introduced. The girl in this is never in the movies, neither is Mother Dove. Rani cut off her wings for Pete's sake. Smh. Oh well, just the rants of a 22 year old who saw the book on her kid siblings' shelf, years after she handed it down.

This is a great read, and definitely should be shared with the kids of today.
Profile Image for Nilsson.
232 reviews4 followers
Read
August 1, 2016
An engrossing account of the devastating tragedy that the fairies underwent repairing the damage done to the egg. Well done. I take my hat off.
Profile Image for Lissa .
859 reviews
April 14, 2025
4.5 Stars

This was so good!!!! Bit darker than I remembered tbh but sooo much fun!!! Loved it.

- First read as a kid don’t remember when

- forgot about the different types of fairies (mainland, never…) & the wands!!!

- So weird seeing Queen Clarion referred to as “Queen Ree”

- Peter Pan more prominently mentioned in the books. Esp in regards to Tinker Bell. Also feel like Tink’s characterisation is more in line w the Peter Pan story (gets angry & frustrated easily)

- Loving the depiction of the Home Tree! So cute!! Would love to live there!!

- Oooh lots of fairies died of disbelief, then along comes Prilla!! Who makes them believe. Hadn’t made that connection

- The lore w Never Land, mother dove & her egg is so interesting!! I’d forgotten a lot of it. Also just love how Never Land is written - real & alive

Profile Image for Christina Marie.
20 reviews2 followers
March 13, 2024
It’s hard to explain, but this was probably one of the most important books of my childhood. I related so much to Prilla! I have never been particularly talented and I struggled in school. I had a hard time with my self-worth because it felt as if I had little to offer, especially compared to my peers. Like I didn’t have a “gift” either. I love that this book is so much deeper than it appears on the surface. The illustrations are beautiful and the world building is surprisingly thorough for the intended age group (but what else can you expect from Gail Carson Levine?). I so appreciate the ultimate message that our worth is not found in measuring up to the people around us and that we all have intrinsic value, regardless of ability.
Profile Image for Emily Oswald.
63 reviews4 followers
August 6, 2024
Bit of a filler book for me, plus some nostalgia - I enjoyed the Tinkerbell movies, and someone I follow on Twitter always speaks fondly of the books they came from. I'm definitely "too old" for them to hit in the same way, but Gail Carson Levine was one of my favorite authors growing up, and I liked this book! The illustrations are just lush and beautiful and soft, and I adore them.

Also I liked the characterization of Tink in this - lowkey autistic nerd who wants to fix people the way she fixes pots and pans, and gets mad when that's not how people work.

I'm going to read the other two this week, since they're part of the same storyline.
Profile Image for Poppy✨.
151 reviews
May 6, 2025
If I was a kid, I would have ate this up. Not sure why it never crossed my path. Maybe the Jacqueline Wilson niche I was reading in just prevented me from reading the whimsical Disney fairy novels.

The story is simple and executed well. I will say it was a little jumpy with the focus. For example in one chapter we could jump from Tinkerbell to the quest then back to Tinkerbell. The book is so short anyway that the jumping around feels unnecessary and doesn’t really add anything.

The illustrations were beautiful and I especially loved the last one of Rani and her wings.
Profile Image for Katherine.
77 reviews
July 28, 2017
It's obviously a children's book, but I highly enjoyed the story! It was just a fun, easy read! There are some plot issues and such, but after all I enjoyed it! I probably would have loved it even more when I was 12 (which was when I got it). The illustrations are beautiful!
Profile Image for Natasha Hassan.
104 reviews12 followers
May 16, 2024
Gail Carson Levine is the first author that I truly fell in love with. I’ve been rereading some of my favourite childhood books this year, and getting to go back to this one felt like visiting a long lost friend. The illustrations are just as beautiful as I remember, and all the fairies are so sweet and special.
Profile Image for mia.
36 reviews
January 28, 2022
bro what the fuck are they putting in children's books these days
Profile Image for Zoe Kaylor.
358 reviews25 followers
January 4, 2023
I enjoyed coming back to Levine's fairy stories! There's definitely nostalgia here, but also good writing and characterization, and this is a great book for children and middle grade.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 528 reviews

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