The story is told through the eyes of an unruly, feisty, self-centered
pixie who’s been sent to the world of humans to atone for her dangerous antics.
Pix will be exiled from the faery world if she messes up this chance for
redemption. However, the threat doesn’t stop her from making sassy comments to
her guardian or being mischievous at every opportunity. Pix’s prickly
personality makes her an unusual protagonist. However, readers will become fond
of Pix as she gradually changes her attitude and learns to see how her actions
affect others.
The plot includes several secrets that add intrigue and
mystery to the main storyline. The queen appoints an angel as Pix’s guardian but
his patience and understanding are constantly tested by Pix’s sharp tongue and
impulsiveness. Gabe won’t share any thoughts with her and she’s getting tired
of the strictness of his rules and procedures. Pix suspects something’s going
on with him and she wonders if it has anything to do with her missing father. She’s
also confused that he’s not more concerned about the imps they find. Why is an
imp hiding in a human’s bookbag and why have hundreds of imps congregated
inside a human school? Gabe may not be worried but Pix is determined to find
out what’s going on.
Pix insists magic doesn’t exist despite the charms and
potions that are concocted; she says it’s only science. Gabe can cloak a
van from being seen by humans and he masks his physical appearance from them in
a similar way. Pix “scientifically” grows in size when entering the van and
immediately shrinks to pixie size upon leaving. These constant transformations
are annoying for her character and result in mild, fairy swearing. “Dancing
dung beetles” and “badger’s buttocks” are examples of her colorful tongue. Pix’s
special talent is creating charms and she uses it to cause more mischief and later
resolve sticky problems. Pix idolizes her father and watching him create
special, powerful charms helps her better understand the growing threat to the
fairy, human, and imp worlds.
What didn’t work as well:
The story moves around quite a bit so readers may sometimes have
trouble feeling immersed in the different settings. The focus is on the
characters and action, as it should be, but the settings may feel generic. This
isn’t a large problem or concern as the other story elements are done so well.
The final verdict:
The author creates engaging, amusing characters and relationships in
an emotional, fun-filled adventure. Pix’s flamboyant, energetic personality carries
the story, and her dynamic character will appeal to most middle-grade readers. Overall,
this is a non-stop thrill ride with an unpredictable pixie and I recommend you
give it a shot.
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