FernGully

by Diana Young

When Hexxus, the forest's ancient enemy, begins changing the weather in FernGully, Crysta, a young fairy, with the help of Pips, Batty Koda, and Zak, attempts to save the forest from certain destruction. Movie tie-in.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Novels, Media Tie In

130 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story follows Crysta a fun loving, rule breaking fairy as she learns more about the magical rainforest she calls home and the dangers that threaten its existence.

I can't remember if I saw the movie or read the book first but this story has always been one of my favorites (and not just because Christian Slater did the voice of Pips in the movie).

Caring for the Earth and the harm we can inflict on it is a strong lesson. One I feel children should be exposed to at a young age. That doesn't mean this story just shoves it's enviromental message save the rainforest  on you but is an adventure that is fun and easy to read.

[Freya Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book as a kid, we finished the unit with a camp at Midjinbul, in the foot of Mt Warning, I think that may have made it a bit more special. But when you grow up in that country, any 9 yr olds mind loves to imagine it is filled with the magic of fern gully.

[Seren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ultimate nostalgia and I still love it just the same as 12-year-old me 20 years ago. Wonderful. I've just got a new copy of the animated film too.

[Ayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Cute story, but bees do not collect honey. They make it with the nectar they eat.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

I watching the movie over and over again as a child. It has been years since I last watched it, but from what I remember, the plot and dialogue of the book closely follow that of the movie.

Lovely world-building. Some parts felt a bit rushed, but overall I enjoyed the level of description. It was also interesting to learn more about various Australian flora and fauna. Nice emphasis on how human impact can be dangerous and harmful to the environment. The incorporation of magical elements helped gets its message across without coming off too preachy.

This book also includes detailed sketches of the animals mentioned, which are gorgeous.

A fun novel for those who love the movie.

[skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

re read this last night and omg the nostalgia!!

i loved this book when i was little and it was so nice to re read it however i obviously enjoyed it way more back then than now coz it is a kids book lol

it’s a really short, quick read which is so magical but also has quite a like political message behind it as the book is trying to show the damage that humans do to nature like testing on animals and the issues of deforestation etc but it was done in a fun way.

so yeh i love this book!! i just wish it was longer coz i wanted longer with the characters coz i love them all, especially batty! so i’m giving it 5 stars because that’s what younger me would’ve rated it :)

[Mak Hoeksema · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this movie as a child and I love this book as an adult. It’s a great story about a fairy who meets a man, just to teach him about the importance of her home and magic, something he is destroying without even knowing it. They band together with the other creatures of the forest to fight the “masheen” and Hexxus, another evil entity set out against Ferngully. It’s all my favorite elements in a story, a slight forbidden love, a love triangle, a deeper meaning, and the driven goals of a community. Easy and thoroughly good story.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5 stars)
This gave me a feeling of nostalgia... I grew up watching the movie over and over...
This little book isn't as detailed, and it took a while to get to the part where Zak enters their forest.
Mostly it follows Crista's POV. Crista has more family in this book than the movie. I'm not sure she had any in the movie, except maybe her father and Magi Lune. In this book she has sisters...
I did enjoy it though.

[Kaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely written for children in the 90s. Lots of Australian fauna mentioned and described. It was okay, but not something I'd go out of my way to read about again. It felt really rushed at the end to give magical powers and make everything better in 30 pages.

[Amy Reich · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good as the movie, but with additional stuff in the story that was not included in the film. Even though the cover is illustrated with a scene from the film, the interior has a few lovely drawings of some rainforest critters including some most people are not familiar with.

[Adel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my first loves of reading of when I was a kid. My love for the rainforest school project brought this book to my hands. I read it within a few hours, and months later, I saw the commercial trailer on TV, and my little heart soared. But the book is 1000 times better.

[Ash.O · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this movie as a child, still love it, and was overjoyed to find it as a book! It's still an amazing story and one I will cherish. A quick read too and one that I will enjoy over and over again.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childhood favorite. Gave me a better respect for nature.

[Bobbi Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favourite childhood book

[Brian Trull · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captures environmental issues through the lense of a child's eyes. The book inspires you to make better choices for the environment. The characters are funny and dynamic.

[kirsten paige]

read this multiple times as a kid and just remember loving it. then to watch the movie multiple times and still love it.

[Eunice Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read ( and re-read) this a long time ago as a child, and remember it fondly as a part of my childhood. A cousin of mine lent me this book and I'm glad he did. It was so magical to read. Crysta is probably the only fairy I like till now. She is so funny, mischievous yet strong and audacious. The other characters like the good humored Pip, the mysterious Magi Lune,the human Zak, the atrocious Hexxus and a bunch of other amusing fairies and beetles made the story come alive. Above all I loved Batty Koda, the brain fried Bat, the most comical character in the book. This is my favorite from Batty,

"Batty Koda: Really?
Zak: Positive.
Batty Koda: Only fools are positive.
Zak: Are you sure?
Batty Koda: I'm positive... I fell for it! I should have known! "

The book has a great theme, Eco-Consciousness. Overall the story is simple, delightful and fitting childish imaginations. I'd recommend it to every child, and adult who loves very very easy reads.

[Brad Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I enjoyed reading it to my kids. It is full of characters that they loved!

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

The peaceful forest faces a dire threat when an ancient enemy named Hexxus starts manipulating the weather. To protect their home, Crysta, a young fairy, joins forces with her friends Pips, Batty Koda, and Zak. Together, they embark on a mission to save FernGully from impending destruction caused by Hexxus.

Get ready to scratch your head and wonder what on earth you just read! This book is a mind-boggling roller coaster of confusion. It's like the author took cramming so much into its measly 130 pages that it forgets to actually touch on anything substantial.

The illustrations are the saving grace in this topsy-turvy tale. Sadly, though, this book missed its mark. It had so much untapped potential that it only managed to reach the motion picture adaptation.

[Laura Morrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ferngully is a rainforest near Mount Warning in Australia. In it live many native animals and fairies. A long time ago, an evil gieng called Hexxus was imprisoned in a tree, but when loggers cut down the tree, he once again becomes a threat, as are the loggers. A rebellious young fairy girl, Crysta, along with a crazy bat who has escaped from a lab where he was experimented on by humans and a young man who has been shrunken by magic take on the evil together. Full of humour, adventure and likeable characters, this is a great kid's story with an environmental theme. A movie was also based on it, which came out the year this edition of the book was (presumably) reprinted.

[Jody Ellis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Parts of this book made no sense at all, the personalities... Or lack there of. The book is rushed and so much is crammed into just 130 pages it doesn't touch on much and so heaps of this book make no sense at all. All these different species are thrown in without an inch of description. The only saving grace were the beautiful illustrations. Sadly, I think this book missed out on its potential which was thankfully brought to glory in the motion picture.

I might read this to my toddlers who wouldn't care for detail anyway, but even as a teen I don't think I would have enjoyed this book. Sadly, i can only award two stars.

[Elizabeth Behrens · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much better than the movie! Even after seeing the movie hundreds of times, this book outdoes it. While the story is much the same as depicted in the movie, you really feel the forest in the book deeper than in the movie. Hexxus is harder to picture throughout the book as he is barely touched on until then end.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just beautiful. Seen and loved the film too, of course. It's not Disney, but it does a good show of acting like it!

[Kirby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED this book as a child...not sure how I'd like it now, but I read it over and over back then! I recommend it for any child.

[Casey Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story. Good messages for kids. Very close to the movie with a few minor differences that actually make the book more true to life. I think we all need to be reminded to listen to the forest.

[Lizzy Lane]

its a wondful tail

[Toni Umar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and funny but with timely reminders told in a lovely way. My grand daughter Emilia is the next to read and looking forward to hearing her opinion.

[Amy]

This was bought for me as a gift by my best friend Ashley Gerbino and it was the best gift she ever got me (also there was a matching bookmark).