MMGM: One Wish

by Michelle Harrison  
(May 6th 2014 (UK), Simon & Schuster Childrens Books)

Book Description: Tanya Fairchild has been able to see fairies as long as she can remember. But these fairies are nothing like the ones in storybooks; they're vicious and always punish Tanya when they think she's stepped out of line. When her mother takes her on holiday in the small beach town of Spinney Wicket, Tanya may finally get some respite from both her fairy tormentors and the concern of her parents' divorce.

But soon she discovers a magical wishing tree and meets Ratty who, like her, can see fairies. Little does Tanya know, she and Ratty are in for a dangerous, magical adventure, and that there are evil forces out there, bent on capturing them.

Pros:

Michelle Harrison's constructed a well-realized magical world where second-sight, the ability to see fey creatures, is a rare and often problematic gift. It's so refreshing to see a story break the mold of mischievous (but really harmless) fairies a la Tinker Bell. Despite their size, the fey here are genuinely frightening, able, if they so wish, to do one fatal harm.

While characterization as a whole is somewhat uneven, our protagonists are three-dimensional and compelling. Tanya is brave and deeply moral, a girl who, despite the difficulty of her situation, never hesitates to do the right thing. Ratty is lonely but self-respecting and tough. Turpin, Ratty's fairy guardian, is the best character here. Her rough-around-the-edges personality is appealing and her cleverness is absolutely indispensable.

The writing is easily one of the book's biggest strengths. It's beautiful in simplicity, suffused with magic and highly readable. The plot is fun and absorbing, with alternately entertaining and creepy episodes, but its smaller scale compares unfavorably to the other books in the series.

Cons:

Though teased in the very beginning, the book's main conflict and antagonist are too long in coming. There's also a major lapse in logic which, if addressed, actually solves the book's main conflict, making the entire adventure pointless! (SPOILERS: Why didn't Don just wish for Ratty to be protected from magical harm? Also, why didn't he just smash the hourglass that held the memory in first place?)

To me, the ending is contrived and doesn't completely make sense, but I'm willing to bite if it means more books in the series.

Verdict: A real treat for established fans, but newcomers to the series should start with the even-better Thirteen Treasures.

Rating: (7/10)

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