FAIRY HAVEN AND THE QUEST FOR THE WAND
by Gail Carson Levine
Disney Editions/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN-10: 1423101006
ISBN-13: 9781423101000
Ages 6-10
191 pages

What happens when your dream comes true? If the wish is well thought and doesn’t hurt anyone in the granting, it should make things better. What if your dreams are born of jealously or a desire for something that isn’t meant to be? And what if you get your hands on a magic wand that fills you with “wand madness” so you couldn’t make a good wish if you had to? Author Gail Carson Levine explores the insanity of magic in FAIRY HAVEN AND THE QUEST FOR THE WAND, her second book in the whimsical series that tells of the exploits and problems of the Never fairies on the tiny island of Fairy Haven in Peter Pan’s Never Land.

The fairies of Fairy Haven don’t have wands, but that doesn’t stop water-talent fairy Rani from promising one to Soop of the mermaids in exchange for her whale comb. Rani takes the comb but fails to return in a timely fashion with a wand, which causes Soop to resent fairies. Soop holds fairies in such contempt that she has delivered a slow-rising flood to wipe out Fairy Haven unless Rani brings her a magic wand.

When Rani appeals to the all-knowing, all-caring Mother Dove for permission to secure a wand and save Fairy Haven from flooding, she is granted the right to travel with Tink and Ree to visit Tutupia and the Great Wanded fairies who keep a wide assortment of wands on hand. Just the mere thought of a wand and all its power to grant wishes sends shivers through Mother Dove. “Wishes, tantalizing wishes, made wands dangerous. A fairy might make the tiniest, most innocent wish, and it could cause a world of trouble.” To save Fairy Haven and her own magical egg, which keeps Never Land youthful and magical, Mother Dove consents to the three fairies making the dangerous, lengthy trip to appeal to the Great Wanded fairies for help.

Meanwhile, mermaid Soop is fuming mad and sends the water higher and higher up the shores of Fairy Haven.

Apparently, wands have a mind and heart of their own, and it’s tricky business determining just what kind of wand you have in your hand. Some wands are good-hearted, while others are stingy. Some can be reckless, while others can be wise. The fairies don’t have time to try out all the wands in the store house of the Great Wanded fairies because they fear the water is rising fast, and Fairy Haven is in immediate danger. Rani, Ree and Tink choose a small silver wand with a squiggle on it that reminds them of waves. They imagine it will be perfect for mermaids. Then they are told that the wand can and should be “put to sleep” so it will do exactly as it’s told. In a hurry, the fairies have their wand put to sleep by Tutupia and begin the long journey back.

Tutupia sends a warning: “Use caution with your wishes. Tell your mermaid to use caution, too. Wand madness can overcome you. The temptation to wave a wand and get the things you’ve always wanted, the things you couldn’t achieve any other way, is hard to withstand. It happens to us, too.”

A series of delicious dilemmas befalls the little fairies and then the mermaids as wand madness proves its strength over good judgment. Levine has mastered the art of pacing as she leads readers with ease through multiple scenes of the mainland, Never Land, Fairy Haven and under the sea, showing the catastrophic effects of waving the sleeping wand.

   --- Reviewed by Joy Held

Click here now to buy this book from Amazon.com.

Back to top.