Sprite's Secret: A Branches Book

Pixie Tricks #1

by Tracey West, Xavier Bonet (Illustrator)

Fairies + magic + fantasy + New York Times bestselling author Tracey West = Pixie Tricks! Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow! Eight-year-old Violet didn't expect to find a portal to the fairy world in her backyard. And she certainly didn't think she would have to defend the human world from trickster pixies! With the help of her new fairy friend Sprite, Violet sets out to catch Pix, a lively fairy who just wants everybody to have fun- all the time . Pix's playfulness starts to cause serious trouble, so it's up to Violet and Sprite to put an end to his fun and send him back to the fairy world! This is an exciting refresh of the popular Pixie Tricks series, with updated text and brand-new art for today's young readers! This series is perfect for fans of Tracey West's New York Times bestselling Dragon Masters series!

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Fairies, Middle Grade, Fiction, Chapter Books, Kids

96 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2000

About the author

Tracey West is the New York Times bestselling author of Dragon Masters, a series in the Scholastic Branches line. She has written more than 400 books for kids, including the Pixie Tricks series and the Underdogs series with Kyla May.

Some readers also know Tracey for writing books based on animation such as Pokémon and LEGO Ninjago.

She currently lives in the western Catskills of New York with her husband, Bill; their adopted dogs; and a whole mess of chickens.

Reviews

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Pixie Tricks as a child. It was one of the first books I ever really got into. It was easy to read, fun, adventurous, witty, and I loved the characters. As a little girl who doesn't love fairies,especially mischievous fairies? Plus as a bonus there are stickers in each book, so you can keep track of all the fairies that were caught throughout the series. I suggest this book to read (on second thought it is such a simple book they could probably read it themselves) to your kids, younger siblings, grandchildren, nieces/nephews,and any child with a love of books or fairies.

[Emma Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the series that started it all for me. My love for the written word grew with every captured pixie and clever trick. It's been over 14 years since I read this book and the nostalgia is overwhelming. This book is magic and adventure and so sweet. I was just shy of 8 when I read the series and I related so much to Violet, I didn't have an annoying cousin Leon though. This is the one series I managed to hold onto from my childhood, it might be falling apart, but I'm so glad I can still call it my own. The adventure and excitement are just as real now as they were 14 years ago.

[Oerba Yun Fang · Rating 5 out of 5]

i don't remember when i read this series last...it was so long ago!! it was my first series and i loved them SO much! for young children, they bring out imagination and put the right amount of adventure out. I wished i had met a fairy when i was small, so i could go through what violet goes through! it was such an adventure....

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that got me hooked on reading as a kid. I still absolutely LOVE all things magic & Fairy’s!! Wanted to re-read as I’m just so grateful I’m a reader again and wanted to feel 8 again 💚

*secretly I still believe there’s pixies living in trees….

[Aneesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda creepy, especially when my kid started playing hypnotized.

[Lorelai Didur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really loved this book and my favourite character in the book was Pix, I felt sad for him because he just wanted to play all day.

[Juliet T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how she met the pixie.A frog ate her favorite ball and hopped into the big tree. And as she was crying Sprite the pixie gave back her ball and told her about all the evil pixies let loose and how they need to bring them back.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure childhood magic wrapped in a tiny, adventurous package. This was the series that first truly captured my imagination as a kid, and even now, the nostalgia hits hard. I loved everything about it like the easy-to-read style, the quick wit, the mischievous fairies, and especially Violet, who I related to so much when I was around 8 years old.

There’s just something so special about this story. It's simple enough for young readers to dive into on their own, but still packed with enough fun, heart, and excitement to make every page feel like an adventure. Plus, stickers!! Every book came with stickers so you could track the pixies you caught, which made the experience feel even more magical. I used to wish so badly that a fairy would appear in my backyard so I could have my own secret quest just like Violet.

Even after all these years (and even though my copies are falling apart!), Sprite’s Secret still makes me smile. It’s the kind of book that sparks a lifelong love of reading, the perfect gift for a child who dreams of magic, fairies, and a little bit of mischief. Honestly, part of me still believes there are pixies living in the trees, just waiting to be found.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tracey West’s Pixie Tricks is the newest addition to Scholastic’s “Branches” books designed for early chapter book readers in grades 1-3. In Sprite’s Secret, main character Violet meets a pixie named Sprite who has been tasked with returning 14 missing fairies to their home in the Otherworld and a fun-loving fairy named Pix is their first project. But Sprite is new at his job of Royal Pixie Tracker so not everything goes as planned! Readers who enjoy other fantasy series in the Branches line such as Owl and Unicorn Diaries are sure to enjoy this one as well.

[Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing series from Tracey West. I'm so happy we started reading Dragon Masters and then moved over to this series while we wait for the next Dragon Masters book! This is a great premise for a series, a fairy that has to hunt down some tricky escaped pixies! The first fairy they hunt down is a fun one, a pixie who makes everyone play with him forever! I like the way this problem is solved and the characters as well!

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series about a situation with some escaped fairies. A pixie named Sprite contacts a girl named Violet to help him capture the missing fairies. At first, she is shocked to see the fairy tricker. Even though she is skeptical, Violet soon discovers the problem is getting out of hand and decides to help. Girls will love this fantasy/adventure series. Highly recommended for Grades 3-5.

[Tess Jones-Orta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing compared to the Dragon Masters series. Story is not very interesting, the plot is slow and repetitive, and the sentence structure is weird. Example: "Cold raindrops fell from the cloud. Right onto Violet's head." A lot of short, choppy sentences that made it difficult to read aloud.

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick read. Lottle too young for me. Too simply written. Had to force myself to finish it.

[Andréa]

Note: i accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kid knocks off a star because she wanted all the pixies to be tricked in one book.

[Keshia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Hajer]

Read to my sons. I love everything written by Tracy West as much as they do!

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trying to read the first couple books in each of the Branches Scholastic books as they are popular in my library. Great for kids new to chapter books.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when they fight pix,ha ha ha .

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my faves as a kid. The whole series is fun and keeps you awake way past your bedtime.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids will really enjoy this.

[Susan Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute read for a young reader.

[Gene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good series for a 5 year old. Nothing is scary, sexist, or racist. The last 3 books in this series are weirdly hard to find though, we had to buy them from an online used book retailer.

[Cristine Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!!!

[subject 117 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read. My four year old loved it !

[Alexandra Maag · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a while for my 5 year old to get into the book but she really enjoyed it near the end.

[Thea Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great and magical.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted an ARC to read and review with my boys. They really like the Dragon Masters series so they were excited to read this one. My 5 year old loved this book and he can’t wait to read more books. My 7 year old liked the book. And was able to read it on his own, but prefers dragons. I really like the story and how it’s easy to follow. It’s long enough book to transition from little kid stories to chapter books. My 5 year old loved how each page was some little excitement that really kept him engaged and asking “oh boy what’s going to happen next!” Will be sure to get the next book in the series.

[Jigme Choedak]

This book is all about violet whom ones was playing a marble and then a toad appeared at once and take away the marble by hopping.she tried to catch it but couldn't.. after that a fairy named as sprite help her to take it..
after a long time violet and sprite became friend and they tricked a pixie named sporty...

[Jigme Choedak]

fourteen fairies have been escaped and they are causing trouble in earth. so sprite a good pixie was sent to earth to tricks them all and sent back in otherworld. so sprite said violet for a help...
in this story they tricks Pix, the fairy who loves to play, but his fun can get out of hand. Now Sprite and Violet have to beat Pix at his own game, or he will never go back to the Otherworld!