Customer Reviews

The Fairy Rebel

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Don't be fooled by the slim length and simple, straightforward telling of this story-- this is a treat for adults as well as for children. The simplicity of the storytelling reminds me of the Mary Poppins books-- there's more here than meets the eye.

I especially love that the story begins by telling us that if we go to school in London we might meet a little girl called Bindi, with an unusual history. That immediately makes this world of magic "real!"

Unusually for a children's book, the story begins by having us empathize with Jan, a sad bride and former child actress whose career was cut short by a leg injury, and who wants more than anything else to have a child. She is out in the garden weeping over her loneliness when she is startled by Tiki, a fairy who has been "earthed" (i.e., touched a human) when she couldn't follow her friend Wiljic through Jan's toes. Wiljic is mischievous and knew that Tiki was too fat to get through!

Tiki is wearing jeans under her frilly fairy skirt, although it's forbidden by the fairy queen-- "we love her"-- Tiki says loudly-- and fascinated by Jan's loneliness and tears. The lovely insouciance of all of the fairies-- when we eventually meet Wiljic it's too discover he longs for savory foods like boiled egg and is sick of nectar and nasturtium-- is just one of the many details that lend reality to this story. We also know right away that there is trouble in fairyland if the queen makes her subjects so nervous.

Tiki arranges for Jan to have a fairy baby (start a pregancy with a little help) and gets herself and Wiljic in trouble. Meanwhile, Bindi is a nearly perfect human child, with just a small tuft of blue hair... but the fairy queen has not forgotten the disobediance that led to her birth!

This story has all the elements of classic fairy tales but is set in a recognizable modern world. Characters are drawn quickly but have enormous personality-- in the chapter where Bindi wears a wasp necklace sent by the fairy queen which influences her to misbehave, we quickly get a feeling for her school companions, too. That kind of clear, sharp writing reminds me a bit of Lewis and the Narnian chronicles.

My only complaint about this book is that it isn't longer-- although it's just the length it needs to be!

A must-read for anyone needing a smile and a flash of delight.

I first read tis book years ago- literally! I was in a school library in Australia and I picked it up, and loved it at the age of 8. I never re-read it although I thought about it a few times when I got a litle older, and I actually tried to look for the book but had forgotten the name... Now that i've re-found it, let me tell all the potential readers out there that this is one of the most imaginative childrens books out there. Even if you don't believe in fairies, the story of Jan and Charlie who want a child- a wish granted by a jeans wearing rebelious fairy- is one that will entertain and amuse even an older audience. If you're 8 or 16, it's a book that should be read by children of all ages who need the spark of magic in their lives to flare up.

I read this book more than once when I was in elementary school. Over the years, I lost the title and have been searching everywhere for it. I'm so excited to see it's reprinted and still out there for kids to read. I'm also surprised to find out it's by one of my favorite childhood authors. I loved "The Indian in the Cupboard" as well. I would recommend this to any child, or adult, who loves fantasy. There are some parts that are a little scary if I remember correctly though. I still have to reread it : )

My fifth grade teacher read aloud to our class. It was a very fun book that she read, not boring. I listened intently every time. I am now in sixth grade, and I am using the characters for a Language Arts class. I really enjoyed this book, and even if you don't believe in fairies, I'm sure you will too!

As a child, any story with the word 'fairies' in it caught my attention. My older sister first read me bits and piece of this book when I was 4 or 5, as that she was reading it for a book review. I was fascinated by the way the fairies could change their clothes, their sweet tears, and allthe other magical things about the book. When I was older, I read the book, and I fell in love with fairies all over again. This book is fantastic for anyone of any age. I still own my copy and read it from time to time, and I am now 16! I definitely recommend this book to teachers as story time reading, or as a class read for 5th or 6th graders. To me, this is just as much of a classic as Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind or Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

This was my first book I read when I was 7 years old. LOVED it and read it 3 more times after that. I just picked it up again and fell in love with it again. Perfect book for a child who has a passion for reading and fantasy. Easy to read and understand!

When I was about 5 or 6 my mom picked this book up for me. It was the basis of my childhood fantasies. I am now 17 and I was led back to this book through the guidence of the faeries themselves. Dont think I'm crazy. This book was the beginning of the most beautiful journey I have taken and the journey I continue to take. Stay true to light, and stay true to love. Peace out! Love, Tamara

I read this book four times when I was in elementary school and I loved it! Now, I am a sophomore in college and when I think of this book, I smile. I still name it as one of my favorite books.I definitely would recommend this to any child.The reading makes you use your imagination and wish you were in the story. I always loved the gifts given to the girl. This book is extremely entertaining and well worth the time, plus one you will always remember

This is a really great book for ages 8 to 12. It's about a woman and a man named Jan and Charlie. They really wanted to have a baby but can't. With a little help from their fairy friend, she makes a baby for them, but when their child is around 7 or 8, scary things start to happen.

We read "Indian in the Cupboard" at school, Lynne Reid Banks' most famous book, and I just wasn't that enthralled. The Fairy Rebel, however, is another story completely. I distinctly recall getting delicious shivers of fear out of this book!

Though the book certainly has whimsical elements, its most remarkable feature is the amount of darkness and danger that it is willing to include, which raises the stakes far past that of most children's books while remaining an extremely enjoyable read. Usually, children's books have a very distinct "safety zone" beyond which the characters do not venture. Here, they pass all restrictions while at the same time not betraying the unspoken agreement between the author and reader that the book must have a satisfying ending.

This was one of the creepiest stories I read as a small girl, and also one of the best. I highly recommend it.