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Independent Review of Books
Reviewed by Lisa Parker Hayreh, PhD
Independent Review of Books
Reviewed by Lisa Parker Hayreh, PhD
A breathtaking early middle grade fantasy in the world of fairies and elves.
Tali has a fairy named Starlight but has never actually seen her. Charles, Tali’s older brother, explains that he met his fairy at the same age and promises her she will meet her soon. Starlight, meanwhile, has been way too busy protecting Tali to meet her just yet. An evil elf keeps trying to hurt Tali and steal her necklace. But why? The beautiful jewel is actually the legendary Elf Stone. To ensure Tali’s safety, Starlight must introduce her to the fairy world.
The wicked fairy queen and her evil elves want to steal the Elf Stone’s magic, but Starlight vows that the good fairies will keep Tali and Charles safe in the forest. The children will have to flee to the fairy village to escape the servants of the evil fairy queen.
Through it all, Tali wonders why this is happening to her. Why does she have the Elf Stone? What could it mean about her and Charles?
Tali is an unlikely heroine who wants to go far away from frightening battles and evil fairy queens. She must face these threats and solve several dilemmas to move forward. Tali rises to meet her challenges with incredible bravery, intellect, and courage. Starlight serves as a compassionate, wise guardian for her, and Charles is a wonderful, protective older brother. Good and evil are scattered throughout the elf and fairy villages, making it difficult to know just who to trust in this fantasy landscape. The mysteries of the Elf Stone are revealed in a fierce battle among the fairy and elven lands.
This early middle grade adventure will take you on quite an incredible journey. Paul Wayne White brings this tale to life with vibrant descriptions and well-developed characters. You will soar above the trees, hide in the tunnels, and battle among the fairies and elves right there with Tali and Charles. Illustrations from Zuzana Randakova flesh out this fantasy in gorgeous color. Less advanced readers may benefit from reading this book with a more advanced reader, as the vocabulary is a bit advanced for middle grade at times. Of note, some battle descriptions involve death and may be upsetting to younger readers. Prepare to be transported to a delightful fantasy world. You will relish the adventure and marvel at the magic in the wonderfully imaginative story.
A breathtaking early middle grade fantasy in the world of fairies and elves.
Tali has a fairy named Starlight but has never actually seen her. Charles, Tali’s older brother, explains that he met his fairy at the same age and promises her she will meet her soon. Starlight, meanwhile, has been way too busy protecting Tali to meet her just yet. An evil elf keeps trying to hurt Tali and steal her necklace. But why? The beautiful jewel is actually the legendary Elf Stone. To ensure Tali’s safety, Starlight must introduce her to the fairy world.
The wicked fairy queen and her evil elves want to steal the Elf Stone’s magic, but Starlight vows that the good fairies will keep Tali and Charles safe in the forest. The children will have to flee to the fairy village to escape the servants of the evil fairy queen.
Through it all, Tali wonders why this is happening to her. Why does she have the Elf Stone? What could it mean about her and Charles?
Tali is an unlikely heroine who wants to go far away from frightening battles and evil fairy queens. She must face these threats and solve several dilemmas to move forward. Tali rises to meet her challenges with incredible bravery, intellect, and courage. Starlight serves as a compassionate, wise guardian for her, and Charles is a wonderful, protective older brother. Good and evil are scattered throughout the elf and fairy villages, making it difficult to know just who to trust in this fantasy landscape. The mysteries of the Elf Stone are revealed in a fierce battle among the fairy and elven lands.
This early middle grade adventure will take you on quite an incredible journey. Paul Wayne White brings this tale to life with vibrant descriptions and well-developed characters. You will soar above the trees, hide in the tunnels, and battle among the fairies and elves right there with Tali and Charles. Illustrations from Zuzana Randakova flesh out this fantasy in gorgeous color. Less advanced readers may benefit from reading this book with a more advanced reader, as the vocabulary is a bit advanced for middle grade at times. Of note, some battle descriptions involve death and may be upsetting to younger readers. Prepare to be transported to a delightful fantasy world. You will relish the adventure and marvel at the magic in the wonderfully imaginative story.
A breathtaking early middle grade fantasy in the world of fairies and elves.
Tali has a fairy named Starlight but has never actually seen her. Charles, Tali’s older brother, explains that he met his fairy at the same age and promises her she will meet her soon. Starlight, meanwhile, has been way too busy protecting Tali to meet her just yet. An evil elf keeps trying to hurt Tali and steal her necklace. But why? The beautiful jewel is actually the legendary Elf Stone. To ensure Tali’s safety, Starlight must introduce her to the fairy world.
The wicked fairy queen and her evil elves want to steal the Elf Stone’s magic, but Starlight vows that the good fairies will keep Tali and Charles safe in the forest. The children will have to flee to the fairy village to escape the servants of the evil fairy queen.
Through it all, Tali wonders why this is happening to her. Why does she have the Elf Stone? What could it mean about her and Charles?
Tali is an unlikely heroine who wants to go far away from frightening battles and evil fairy queens. She must face these threats and solve several dilemmas to move forward. Tali rises to meet her challenges with incredible bravery, intellect, and courage. Starlight serves as a compassionate, wise guardian for her, and Charles is a wonderful, protective older brother. Good and evil are scattered throughout the elf and fairy villages, making it difficult to know just who to trust in this fantasy landscape. The mysteries of the Elf Stone are revealed in a fierce battle among the fairy and elven lands.
This early middle grade adventure will take you on quite an incredible journey. Paul Wayne White brings this tale to life with vibrant descriptions and well-developed characters. You will soar above the trees, hide in the tunnels, and battle among the fairies and elves right there with Tali and Charles. Illustrations from Zuzana Randakova flesh out this fantasy in gorgeous color. Less advanced readers may benefit from reading this book with a more advanced reader, as the vocabulary is a bit advanced for middle grade at times. Of note, some battle descriptions involve death and may be upsetting to younger readers. Prepare to be transported to a delightful fantasy world. You will relish the adventure and marvel at the magic in the wonderfully imaginative story.
Readers’ Favorite
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka
Readers’ Favorite
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka
Starlight and the Elf Stone is a children's fantasy book by Paul Wayne White. Young Tali has always wanted to meet the fairy who left her money in exchange for a tooth. After a troublesome elf named Dran tries to steal Tali's mysterious blue stone, the fairy Starlight reveals herself to Tali and takes her to the fairy village, where Tali learns that she is the granddaughter of the fairy queen Elena. Alongside her brother Charles, Tali realizes that their evil fairy aunt Veleen had sent hunter fairies to capture them in her quest for the fairy throne. Tali and her friends seek shelter in the elf tunnels, where they run into the elf king, the Old One. Now, Tali must train her abilities as she is the only one who can stop Veleen.
Starlight and the Elf Stone is a fantasy adventure for kids and young adults. Paul Wayne White's fascinating and fantastical ride is an absolute delight, providing you with a sense of wonder and awe as only fairy tales can. Featuring fairy princesses, mischievous elves, and a healthy dose of magic, the narrative keeps you engaged all the way through with a mix of humor, action, and drama that you can't get enough of. White's characters are colorful and vibrant, and readers aren't going to take much time getting attached to them. Tali is an adorable child with a big heart who is surprisingly brave for her age. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. And whether you're a parent or a child, if you like fantasy stories, you will love this one!
Starlight and the Elf Stone is a children's fantasy book by Paul Wayne White. Young Tali has always wanted to meet the fairy who left her money in exchange for a tooth. After a troublesome elf named Dran tries to steal Tali's mysterious blue stone, the fairy Starlight reveals herself to Tali and takes her to the fairy village, where Tali learns that she is the granddaughter of the fairy queen Elena. Alongside her brother Charles, Tali realizes that their evil fairy aunt Veleen had sent hunter fairies to capture them in her quest for the fairy throne. Tali and her friends seek shelter in the elf tunnels, where they run into the elf king, the Old One. Now, Tali must train her abilities as she is the only one who can stop Veleen.
Starlight and the Elf Stone is a fantasy adventure for kids and young adults. Paul Wayne White's fascinating and fantastical ride is an absolute delight, providing you with a sense of wonder and awe as only fairy tales can. Featuring fairy princesses, mischievous elves, and a healthy dose of magic, the narrative keeps you engaged all the way through with a mix of humor, action, and drama that you can't get enough of. White's characters are colorful and vibrant, and readers aren't going to take much time getting attached to them. Tali is an adorable child with a big heart who is surprisingly brave for her age. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. And whether you're a parent or a child, if you like fantasy stories, you will love this one!
Starlight and the Elf Stone is a children's fantasy book by Paul Wayne White. Young Tali has always wanted to meet the fairy who left her money in exchange for a tooth. After a troublesome elf named Dran tries to steal Tali's mysterious blue stone, the fairy Starlight reveals herself to Tali and takes her to the fairy village, where Tali learns that she is the granddaughter of the fairy queen Elena. Alongside her brother Charles, Tali realizes that their evil fairy aunt Veleen had sent hunter fairies to capture them in her quest for the fairy throne. Tali and her friends seek shelter in the elf tunnels, where they run into the elf king, the Old One. Now, Tali must train her abilities as she is the only one who can stop Veleen.
Starlight and the Elf Stone is a fantasy adventure for kids and young adults. Paul Wayne White's fascinating and fantastical ride is an absolute delight, providing you with a sense of wonder and awe as only fairy tales can. Featuring fairy princesses, mischievous elves, and a healthy dose of magic, the narrative keeps you engaged all the way through with a mix of humor, action, and drama that you can't get enough of. White's characters are colorful and vibrant, and readers aren't going to take much time getting attached to them. Tali is an adorable child with a big heart who is surprisingly brave for her age. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. And whether you're a parent or a child, if you like fantasy stories, you will love this one!
US Review of Books
Reviewed by Toby Berry
US Review of Books
Reviewed by Toby Berry
“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.
“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.