Author: E.D. Baker
Illustrator (cover): Krista Huot
© Date: 2008 originally, this version was 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 307
Chapters: Yes
Illustrations: No
Publisher Recommended Age: 10-14 years
Bonus Activities at End of Book: No
Summary from Book: What if fairy wings suddenly sprouted from your back?
Tamisin has always been a little unusual. Her freckles look more like sparkles, and the full moon makes her want to dance. But nothing could have prepared her for the day when she grows real working fairy wings.
As she tests them out, Tamisin learns that wings can be really fun: she can fly! But hiding them while she’s at school is tricky. And then there’s the new guy, Jak, who seems to know something she doesn’t. When some scary guests show up at Jak’s Halloween party, Tamisin is pretty sure they aren’t wearing costumes…and they might be dangerous. As her world grows stranger and more magical by the minute, Tamisin finds herself on an adventure that will teach her more about her wings—and the fairy world—than she ever imagined.
Note: This review is done from memory. I originally read this awhile ago.
Page Pig Thoughts: I was excited to read this book because it seemed to have the potential to be a Rainbow Magic Fairies style book for older readers. It had fairies, goblins, and Queen Titania; but did not have a silly, lighthearted nature. Ultimately, after reading it, I realized that maybe I am not really sure what would make a Rainbow Magic Fairies book for older readers, but this one seems more appropriate for an older, mature reader.
This one was an enjoyable read, but I am a bit fuzzy on the details at this point. Tamisin and Jak definitely have a fast moving adventure that keeps the pages turning as you wonder what will happen next. The romance between Tamisin and Jak is sweet and age appropriate. I appreciated the story format that had part one told from Tamisin’s perspective, then part two was from Jak’s perspective which eventually overlaps the events that Tamisin told. I found this story good, but have not been compelled to read the next one.
Use caution with younger or sensitive readers. Parts of the story are scary, prejudice against half bloods is an issue, and there is fighting and a battle scene (not graphic, but there is one).
Family Unit: Tamisin (high school age) lives with her older brother, younger brother, mother, and father
Items of Interest:
- Tamisin’s wings emerging is dramatic: she gets a super itchy and red back. At swim class, the mean girl is horrified by Tamisin’s back and points her out to the teacher. Tamisin winds up going to the nurse’s office and going home. Two angry red lines start forming down her back. Tamisin winds up itching or digging into her back (can’t quite remember). She pulls out a wet, blueish blob from each of the lines on her back. The blobs dry and form into wings.
- Tamisin wakes her parents up and shows them her wings. Her parents cannot explain the wings. Tamisin’s parents then tell her that she is adopted, but they don’t know who her bloodline parents are. Tamisin tries to hide her wings under her clothes at school.
- Jak is sent to the human world to find Tamisin and bring her back to the goblins. When Jak meets Tamisin, he feels the urge to protect her, even if it means going against his family’s wishes for what to do with her.
- Half bloods are not looked kindly upon in the world of the fey. Tamisin is half human and half fairy. Jak is half goblin and half human. Half bloods cannot do all of the things that full bloods can do. Jak and Tamisin discover that they can do different things than the full blooded creatures though.
- Tamisin’s mother is Queen Titania, ruler of the fairies and all fey. Queen Titania thought that she had fallen in love with a goblin, but it was a trick. Queen Titania had Tamisin sent away and hidden in the human world, she hoped never to see Tamisin and isn’t happy to see her in the fairy realm now.
- Jak’s cousin always fights with him and tries to kill him. Some of Jak’s relatives also treat him poorly because he is a half blood.
- Goblins have a human-like appearance that is mixed with an animal. What type of animal depends on their clan. Jak is part cat. Some of the goblins’ abilities are based on the type of animal that they are associated with.
- The goblins are not happy with how Queen Titania is running/ruling over all of the fairer folk. Some of the goblins are trying to use Tamisin as a pawn to beat Queen Titania in battle.
- When Tamisin was younger, she had sparkly freckles appear on her face after a family camping trip. Her teacher saw them and tried to scrub them off her face.
- Tamisin has pointed ears that she hides under her hair. To show how weird Tamisin is, the mean girl moves Tamisin’s hair to show the pointy ears to the new boy, Jak.
- Tamisin has an overwhelming urge to dance under the light of a full moon. She can’t stop herself from dancing. Tamisin’s parents sequester her into the basement so Tamisin won’t be outside dancing.
- Tamisin’s emotions impact the weather. She unknowingly creates storms and lightning.
- Goblins enter the human world through portals that are not always open (was it only Halloween that they open? I don’t remember). But when goblins can be in the human world, they enjoy doing mean things to humans.
- A scary lamia lives in the Sograssy Sea, which is grass that looks like a sea. Turns out the lamia is lonely and wants someone to talk with. A unicorn turns out to be the lamia’s amazing companion. It was witty and amusing.
- Tamisin and Jak have warm feelings with each other throughout the story. Not much happens other than them enjoying the presence of the other. But after all of the trials and adventures, the story ends when Jak kisses Tamisin.
Other Books in Series (At Time of Posting):
- Book 2 – Fairy Lies