I loved Ms. Levine’s beautiful cinderella retelling, Ella Echanted, so when I picked up The Fairy’s Mistake I decided to try it even though the cover looked a little…passive?

Or maybe awkward is the word.  But the story was nice and active–frankly quite better than the cover promised.  Of course, having said that, this is no Ella Enchanted.  It’s a very slim book, something you could fit in your purse or a pocket of your book bag and read in snatches and pieces over a day or so.  But, I really enjoyed the fairy’s dilemma as she watched her good deed unravel.  Haven’t we all tried to help–maybe erase the board after someone forgot to, only to have them mad that we messed with it–and wondered how to fix the muddle when our helping hand left someone in the mud?  So that’s a very universal theme, and the trio of main characters–the fairy and the twin sisters–are artfully sketched and easy to enjoy.  However, I’m almost afraid to ask what Apricot-Kitty thought of it.  She can be so scathing!

“I liked the girl who spoke spiders and snakes–she had a nice attitude toward life and lots of cat-savvy.  The other girl was more the kind of human I’d like to live with, though.  She was sweet and I’ll bet she’d buy me a new cushion whenever I wanted it.  Hint, hint.  Can’t you see this chair is getting a little small?  So cough me up a few gemstones, why don’t you?”

Perhaps I should read her the story of Puss ‘n Boots again.  I think she needs a reminder that cats can be helpful if they choose!  In the meantime, maybe I’d best go fluff up her chair. 😉

What would you buy or do if you suddenly had buckets of precious gems? Do you think it would be a good thing?

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