I realize not everyone is fed up with the vampire/werewolf craze in YA lit, but if you are, this is a refreshing supernatural read.
Almost from the time she learns to speak, Mellie Turpin knows that the Parvi Pennati absolutely hate being called fairies. After all, she has a “small person with wings” as a best friend. What she doesn’t know is that most kids don’t. And when she tells her kindergarten class about her winged friend, she finds herself alienated, not only from them, but also from her Parva Pennati.
Now a cynical, jaded 13-yr-old, Mellie has put up with years of carrying the label “Fairy Fat” and has completely sworn off anything that is not scientific fact. When her family inherits her ornery grandfather’s ramshackle inn, Mellie is in for a shock. Not only do the Parvi Pennati soon overrun her new home, but she discovers that her family are their ancestral guardians.
This was an enjoyable romp. Truly. Mellie is funny in a snide sort of way, and very believable as a strong girl who has been at the receiving end of bullying. The whole SPWW world (sorry, but “small persons with wings” is just too long) was very unique. There is more depth to this book than I expected, mostly dealing with bullying and family relationships.
In spite of their dippiness, I loved Mellie’s parents, more even than I liked her. It is such a treat to have a loving set of parents in a teen protagonist’s life. Of course, they are incapacitated for a significant part of the plot, or how else would Mellie remain the main character?
But the development of the SPWW history and magic (the 3 different kinds of magic, the circulus, the moonstone ring) were a bit overdone and tedious. There was too much, explained too poorly for it to really “work.” Also, the “mystery” of the antagonist’s identity seemed rather obvious. The plot in general felt more elementary than young adult, yet with a teen protagonist this book seems a bit unsure of the age group it is meant for.
Newbery Contender? No, though a fun read.
