Tinker Bell: An Enchanters Tale (The Enchanters 2) by Jen Calonita

What worked:

Readers should know Never Land is much different from stories about Peter Pan and Captain Hook. The mystery surrounding Never Land’s diminishing magic becomes the main conflict. This book is an origin story for Peter Pan, since readers will notice references to familiar elements. A pirate ship is anchored off the Never Land coast with Smee being its first mate; Captain Hook is not in the story. Tinker Bell is the main character, which is different from the Peter Pan book and movie. Peter lives in an orphanage where he’s the leader of younger orphans whose families have died or abandoned them. They call themselves the Lost Orphan Boys.

The prologue introduces Tinker Bell, and readers learn she’s a feisty, strong-willed fairy. We slowly discover that Tink is feeling guilty for visiting the Mainland, since bad things begin happening when she returns from Never Land. She is a member of a small band of characters calling themselves the Wanderers, because they believe they can explore anywhere without restrictions, free to do what they want, when they want. Ash is another fairy who’d like to be more than Tink’s friend. Blair is a mermaid, and she often projects a superior air, though she complains that traveling by water around the island is much slower than cutting across on foot. Mimic is a shapeshifter who can transform into any shape he wants, and he usually appears as a human, teasing Blair whenever he can. The Wanderers are joined by Tiger Lily, an indigenous person, and Caiman, probably the most unpirate-like pirate there could be.

Trees are dying from the inside out, food is becoming scarce, the song of Prism Falls is out of key, and creatures are fleeing the Never Sea. Saving his mother’s plants is the most important thing to Caiman, but he says a flower found in a forbidden area may be the key to saving the island. However, something happens to him, and shadow creatures begin to appear. Tink fears he’s dying, so she makes a rash decision that may, or may not, make things better. She knows Mainlanders aren’t supposed to enter Never Lan, especially since the presence of the pirates has disrupted the peace. Lives are at stake, and she makes another risky choice that affects future events.

What didn’t work as well:

Readers know little about the Wanderers, even though the book opens by featuring them. They almost feel like strangers when Tink reunites with them later on. Also, the infatuation between Tink and James, an orderly at the orphanage, seems strange. This aspect of the book must be why Amazon suggests it’s for young adults, not middle grade. There’s a small amount of violence, which is not graphic.

The final verdict:

There’s no reason upper middle-graders can’t enjoy this book, despite Amazon indicating it’s for ages twelve and older. It’s an entertaining version of the Peter Pan story, with the focus being on Tinker Bell. I recommend you check this book out for yourself.