“Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand” is a stylish sequel to the first “Disney Fairies” hardcover

Jim Hill

17 years ago

It’s almost been two years since Gail Carson Levine first introduced the world to Fairy Haven (i.e. The secret home of Tinker Bell and all the other Never Land fairies) through her best seller, “Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg.” Now Ms. Carson takes her readers back to Never Land with the stylish sequel, “Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand” (Disney Press, July 2007).

“Quest for the Wand” literally picks up where “Quest for the Egg” left off. In that Soop — the selfish mermaid who reluctantly helped to save Never Land in Carson’s first book — is now demanding payment for her services. And what does Soop want more than anything in life? Her very own magic wand.

But when the fairies aren’t able to give this mermaid a wand, she then uses her Merish magic to slowly begin flooding Fairy Haven. As Tink and her friends hustle to save the creatures of Never Land from the rising waters …

… a plan is formed to send a delegation to Queen Tutupia, the ruler of the Great Wanded Fairies. With the hope that she will give the Never Land Fairies a magic wand, which can then be handed over to Soop.

Well, Tutupia agrees to give the magic wand to the Fairies. Which Tink herself then picks out.

The only problem is … Wands have hearts and minds of their own. And the magic wand that Tinker Bell selects has a particularly small heart and a meanish spirit. Plus — as the Fairies make their way back to Never Land — they find themselves falling victim to Wand Madness. Which is that desperate urge to use a magic wand to grant wish after wish after wish.

In Tinker Bell’s case, when she just can’t help herself anymore and finally picks up that wand …

… She remembers that Peter Pan has been rather mean to her lately. Which is why Tinker Bell then uses the magic wand to make the Boy Who Never Grew Up fall in love with a clam shell.

Meanwhile, as more & more fairies fall victim to Wand Madness, the waters keep rising back at Fairy Haven. Which necessitates moving Mother Dove and her magic egg to a higher branch in the hawthorn tree where they make their home.

Will Tink and her friends actually be able to get the wand to Soop in time to save Fairy Haven from the flood? And what’s going to happen when that selfish mermaid finally gets her hands on an unending source of magical wishes? Or — worse than that — what’s to become of Never Land once this wand (Which thrums ” … with mischief and a large dollop of spite [in] its weak, chilly heart”) awakes from its magical slumber?

You’ll find the answers to all these questions and more in “Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand.” Carson’s carefully crafted text — coupled with David Christiana‘s stylish illustrations — elegantly expand upon the world that J.M. Barrie created back in 1904.

Perhaps that’s the nicest compliment that one can pay to “Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand.” In that — as you read through this 191-page hardcover — it never comes across as some crass extension of the “Disney Fairies” franchise. No, Carson has written a really-for-real book here. One that has wit and charm to spare.

So don’t let the Walt Disney Company’s most recent attempt at brand extension prevent you from picking up a copy of “Fair Haven and the Quest for the Wand.” Even if this book weren’t so obviously tied to the “Disney Fairies” franchise, it would still be loaded with whimsy. Which is why — if you have a fairy or Peter Pan fan in your house — you should make a point of picking up a copy of Gail Carson Levine’s latest.