This book pissed me off! The reasoning behind the three items makes zero sense and the way that they work is just so incredibly stupid. First of all, I don’t understand why the items were so subject-specific. I was willing to give them the satchel representing reading and writing (relating back to the spelling bee), until they brought in the science goggles for science and only science because apparently no other subject exists in the Rainbow Magic world. Reading and writing are essential to every subject, so in that same vein, we could’ve had another item representing concentration or studiousness - generic enough that it could apply to any subject, but we could still use it during the science fair. And the glitter ball should’ve been used for school dances and other similar events specifically; they even had moments in the third part where Carly explained how the glitter ball was making people like Jack Frost and his goblins - that’s something that they could’ve highlighted as being unique to school dances.
If you thought the items themselves were dumb, wait until we get to how they were used throughout the book! Why in the world would anybody but actual students be affected by these items?! The missing satchel apparently meant that the judges for the spelling bee couldn’t read or write either, which is ridiculous! And I don’t even like that the goggles are science-focused to begin with, but why the fuck would they affect actual exhibits at the museum?! And what the items represent is also so inconsistent because first Carly said the glitter ball represents dances and then she said it represents all special school events… so what is the truth??? Oh, the worst moment was when Carly said that her glitter ball turned the goblins and Jack Frost into good musicians - fuck the Music Fairies I guess!
Other stupid shit that pissed me off.
-A regular spelling bee would’ve sufficed, the Quickfire Challenge just brings unnecessary chaos.
-Kirsty having her teacher drive her to Rachel’s house so early in the morning was just silly, if she could go there for breakfast, then surely she could’ve gotten permission to just stay at Rachel’s?
-Everything about the sequence where the girls and Carly try to get the goggles back. First of all, why would you be scared of model planes hitting you Carly? Secondly, even if they were to be swinging around, you can still fly around them. Thirdly, how is you flying a model plane yourself any different than using your wings? And finally, how would turning Rachel and Kirsty into fairies do any good since you yourself were scared to fly?
-Carly is pissing me off because what do you mean you’re going back to Fairyland mid-adventure? Fairies never go back mid-adventure, especially not without the girls!
-Not that I didn’t love seeing Jade the Disco Fairy, but why would there be disco music at an elementary school dance?
-“You see, girls, although Jack Frost shouldn’t have taken Carly’s objects, he did a good thing today by returning the glitter ball. And good acts should always be rewarded.” - Shur up, King Oberon! No wonder Jack Frost is always taking your shit, good god, put the Fairy Godmother in charge at this point. (Usually, I’m very forgiving of this thing in the series where we always forgive Jack Frost so he can keep being the villain, but this book just made me so mad!)
-This isn’t really something that pissed me off, it’s just something I wanted to mention - I prefer the UK cover just because red suits Carly better than pink does.
Little things that managed to salvage this god-awful book.
-The idea of an inter-school competition is really fun because we rarely see these girls in a school setting and I would’ve never guessed that they have uniforms.
-Putting the girls on different teams for the competition was a great idea because it also shows their different interests and skills.
-“I am the spellmaster and therefore the most important thing about this competition.” - lord give me Jack Frost’s level of deluded confidence
-Rachel trying to hide so Jack Frost won’t recognize her was kinda funny.
-Even though they didn’t say it, I choose to believe that Jack Frost and the goblins were the ones to lock the real spellmaster in a closet.
-The goblins arguing over the loudspeaker at the museum made me laugh.
-Carly manipulating the goblin guarding the goggles was her one good scene.
-Goblin with wings!!! Also, it was sweet of Kirsty to hold his hand as they flew to the ground.
-My headcanon for Kirsty’s science fair project is that it was inspired by the Rainbow Fairies and specifically Amber because bubbles were her motif. (I got nostalgic, sue me!)
-The dramatic irony of them figuring out Jack Frost’s plan midway through part three when we’ve known since the goddamn poem at the beginning was smart.
-That one scene of Rachel and Kirtsy linking arms! <3