Starlight and the Elf Stone
by Paul Wayne White
Versaria Publishing


"As graceful as dolphins swimming, the two fairies dove down swiftly through the tree."

White's daughter declared that his made-up stories were better than her books. So, he put them to print in this fabulous young reader chapter book. The author creates somewhat of a short Peter Pan story in that adventures never end when the children go to sleep, and the plot of good conquers bad is satisfying and comforting for kids. The story is simple enough not to be confusing, but the intrigue and descriptions make the book a page-turner.

Tali and her fairy, Starlight, keep the story moving along with their adventures and struggles to save the fairy queen. With help from Tali's loyal and protective big brother and the elves, they fight to defeat the evil Veleen. Some readers like a lot of description, almost poetry in novel form, but most children just want enough description to set the scene. White is superb at creating mental images with no extra flowery writing: "One of the guard fairies sped by the group, came upright in the air, and put his hands out for them to stop. He raised a finger to his lips to quiet them and motioned toward the branches of a tree. Each fairy lit on a high branch."

A strong female character is always a positive in a kid's book, too. Tali, the protagonist, is both vulnerable and strong. Repeatedly, the author paints her as a can-do character: "In spite of her fear, she stood up and continued on." Tali is kind, brave, loyal, and caring. She is both a little girl and a fairy. Half Tinker Bell, half Wendy, she is a perfectly adorable and perfectly crafted character. Fans can only hope that there be a sequel with more adventures starring the fiery Tali.

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