Topaz and the Green Fairies is an award-winning new classic for middle-grade kids who love fantasy and magic. This humorous and heroic tale about the adventures of a young Green Fairy's lone journey upriver in a gourd boat will thrill parents and children alike. Chosen to find help to save his folk from certain disaster, Bozel struggles with self-doubt and a future filled with danger and uncertainty as he faces one unnerving challenge after another. He is advised to sail south and find the Land of Knownotten. At the same time, there is trouble for Topaz and the other inhabitants of Knownotten Kingdom. The great owl, Otis is injured and trapped in a desolate land where he finds himself held in the thrall of a sinister creature. When Bozel finally crosses paths with Topaz and his friends, the race is on to hatch a daring plan to save the Green Fairies. And Topaz will face the ultimate test of his strength, courage, and commitment to others.
Quarter Finalist
Assessment:
Plot: The plot meanders at the start and takes a while to find it's groove. At times, plot threads get taken up and then either dropped or resolved with little difficulty. Once the plot settles into the rescue mission, however, things develop nicely and conclude satisfactorily.
Prose: Overall, this novel is well-written. It uses appropriate language for the age range and flows well. While the descriptions are generally well done, there are some moments of overwriting that break the flow and take readers out of the narrative.
Originality: This novel develops an interesting world, creating creatures and beings that are either totally new or fresh takes on established ideas. And the plot tends to stay away from many of the norms of fantasy, giving this book a different feel from others in the genre.
Character Development: On the one hand, we get to know the major players well enough to fully appreciate their struggles. However, there are also quite a few instances in which characters seem to either act out of character or change opinions with little persuasion. These moments could have been developed further.
Date Submitted: August 05, 2017
Mar 15, 2016 Diane rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Topaz & The Green Fairies with my young niece. She has a cat and insisted on renaming him Topaz! From an adult perspective, the story is written in lovely prose which reminds me of the books I read when I was younger. There's a certain quality to the authors writing which is often missing these days along with a depth of imagination which is altogether quite wonderful. An absolutely charming book.
Children's Literary Classics Seal of Approval For Topaz and the Green Fairies
Bozel, a genuinely likable young fairy, sets out on his own in an attempt save his family and their community. Torrential rains are causing his village to slide into the river and their homes and land are being destroyed by mud slides. Young Bozel has been selected by the green fairies to find a safe-haven before they all perish.
Can such a young boy save his people? Does he have what it takes to overcome the obstacles and trials he must face? Youngsters will thrill at the adventure and excitement of this delightful fantasy for children. Along the way Bozel makes new friends who will help him on his journey. In their travels they meet Topaz, a magical cat with mystical powers. Together with his new friends they devise a plan to rescue Bozel’s community.
Author, Pat Frayne, introduces young readers to an eclectic group of animals, including the ever-so-unusual buckwetcher, and the enchanting ghostbird. With just enough suspense to keep children on the edge of their seats, this marvelous children’s book will enthrall young audiences.
Literary Classics Book Awards
It was amazing:
“Topaz and The Green Fairies” by Pat Frayne takes place in a magical world of green fairies, lovable animals, and a strong King Conjure Cat ruling over the desired land Knownotten. Bozel, a young green fairy must save his entire species from a treacherous storm that is threatening to destroy their island and its inhabitants. He embarks on a rocky journey, braving the desolate Barren Island, home to the black fisher bats. He makes friends and finds new species on his journey to find a new home for his people. Will King Topaz, Bozel, and the rest of the gang be able to rescue the green fairies before the island is swallowed by the great Slewnecky River?
While reading this novel I had the recurring feeling of warmth and intrigue, a perfect combination for a bedtime story. The book reminded of me of a big book of classic children stories I used to have and the magical animals that lived in those pages. Though I thought that the story was stretched to a slower pace in some chapters, this book would be excellent for fantasy loving children around the ages of seven to twelve. Bozel is easy to relate to and I think anyone could see a part of themselves in at least one of the diverse characters. The written thoughts of the characters helped me empathize with the characters, as I believe many children will. I would advise readers to go in without any presumptions–I went into the book with the image of talking animals who acted like people. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the author added realistic animal behaviors to the characters making them feel more real.
Mrs. Frayne effortlessly switched through different points of views, each character nicely developed, however I was left wondering about the mysterious spirit on Barren Island and King Topaz. I especially loved the beautiful imagery and the map included in the book. The morals I found in the book included friendship, family, and above all–not to judge a book by its cover. For those looking for an exciting story for their children, or frankly anyone who loves a fresh classical adventure, I recommend “Topaz and The Green Fairies” by Pat Frayne.
Reviewed by Faryal Jabbar (age 15) for Reader Views (2/17)
