FAIRIES AND THE QUEST FOR NEVER LAND

Levine reprises her earlier Never Land adventures, Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg (2005) and Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand (2007), in this latest installment and with her newest character, nine-year-old Gwendolyn, a direct descendant of Wendy of Peter Pan fame. Wearing the “kiss” necklace Peter gave Wendy, Gwendolyn’s very anxious for him to show up, sprinkle her with fairy dust and whisk her off to Never Land. But when Peter finally does materialize, she has no time for him and the Lost Boys. Indeed, she’s far more enchanted with Fairy Haven, Mother Dove and the Never Land fairies, especially Tinker Bell. Initially the fairies distrust Gwendolyn as a clumsy human, but when Fairy Haven is threatened by Kyto, an escaped dragon bent on flame-throwing, she plays a pivotal part. Fans of the Never Land stories will savor Gwendolyn, a thoroughly modern Wendy with a penchant for fairies, as well as Levine’s host of fully developed fairy characters as they engage in yet another harrowing quest. Christiana’s pastel watercolors feature fairy close-ups. (Fantasy. 6-10)