Fairy-in-Waiting

Ella Brook is a normal young girl, other than the fact that she has a family secret nobody knows about: her mother is a fairy! All her mother needs to do is stamp her feet three times, clap her hands, wiggle her behind and say, “Marshmallow,” …and POOF! she magically turns into Fairy Mom! Ella admires her beautiful Fairy Mom and wishes that she could have her own magic powers and shimmering wings, things which her mother assures her will happen when she grows older.

Fairy in Waiting is the sequel to Fairy Mom and Me by bestselling author Sophie Kinsella. Ella, the main character in Fairy in Waiting, introduces herself and explains the backstory prior to the first magic spell chapter unfolding. Popular items in our everyday world, such as YouTube and cell phones, are included in this story with a magical fairy twist. For example, YouTube becomes “Fairy Tube”, and cell phones become “Computawands” (the modern-day version of magic fairy wands)—complete with Fairy Apps, Fairy Mail, and Fairy Games. Young, imaginative readers will be dreaming of what other items in their lives could possibly transform into magical fairy accessories.

This tween-audience intended book features four short chapters, each with a separate story of a unique spell cast by Ella’s Fairy Mom in various settings. Within each chapter, Kinsella creates suspenseful moments and adds elements of humour when Fairy Mom’s magic does not go as planned. Ella, the Fairy in Waiting, must save the day by using the fairy knowledge she has gained by closely studying her Fairy Mom and Fairy Tube videos.

Black-and-white illustrations by Marta Kissi successfully bring the characters and magical scenes to life. She does an exceptional job on the drawings which, combined with the well-written text, makes readers feel as though they are in the moment when these extraordinary events take place.

Fairy in Waiting whisks young dreamers to an enchanted world where anything is possible. The main character is relatable to the intended audience of imaginative tween girls, making it feel all the more exciting and real for readers to join Ella in her action-packed life. At the end of the book are a variety of fun and creative activities for readers to enjoy: Unscrambleridoo!, Finderidoo!, an ice cream recipe, and space to design your very own fairy crown.