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By Barb Bentler Ullman
Reviewed by TFK Kid Reporter Rebecca Joskow
Genre: Fantasy
Number of pages: 224
What's the basic story line?Zelly is a troubled girl who lives with her mom, Willa, and has never met her dad. She and her mom move to a mysterious town called Plunkit, where Zelly's grandmother lived before she died. At the beginning of the book, Zelly is at her Grammy's funeral. Zelly and two other children see a mysterious object floating in the air above them, but Zelly can see it the clearest. The three children team up to figure out the mystery. They discover fairies riding in the flying object. Zelly and her friends must help the fairies save the fairies' home--Nutfolk Wood. While on this mission, the three children come across a strange man who turns out to be Zelly's father, Vin. Is Vin the loser that Zelly's mom remembers, or is he a changed man with a new goal in life?
Were the characters believable?I think that most of the characters are believable. Many children with divorced parents will relate to Zelly. Zelly's two friends, Frederick and Lupine, are kids who can be found in real life. Frederick is intelligent, sloppy and "pleasantly plump." Lupine loves nature and believes in mythical creatures. The fairies, though fictional, seem quite realistic. They are like regular, everyday characters who are facing life's troubles.
On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being best), how would you rate this book?I would rate this book a 9 because it is a heart warming story that jumps from an adventure to a love story at the end. Zelly is spunky and fun, and all kids can relate to her. Though a fantasy book, these children face real-life problems. From the first paragraph to the last, this book kept me on my toes and biting my fingernails. Author Barb Bentler Ullman did a great job describing the fairies of Nutfolk Wood and the mischievous fairy Whistle who helps Zelly through her journey.
