SMALL PERSONS WITH WINGS(THEY HATE TO BE CALLED FAIRIES) Ellen Booraem

Middle Grade

Mellie longs to escape from her fairy-tainted past and consequent bullying, but fairies and fears follow her to a new town. As she navigates small persons with wings, family curses, magic, new friendships and elixirs, she learns to see past illusions and recognize truth.

This book effectively addresses the notion “all that glitters is not gold.” Every character is challenged in some way with the deceit of outward appearance, and the unreasonable importance we place on it. Even in the language, Booraem plays brilliantly with deception, flattering language and the use of “softer” versions of inappropriate words to make them appear “less bad.” 

Amid the humor, fascinating art history facts, fantastical elements, fun, foofing and frolicking fai…small persons with wings, Booraem deals with heavy contemporary issues such as bullying, alcoholism, and suicide. The book is in no way too heavy, though, but rings true to a young teen girl’s perspective.

An unputdownable, laugh-out-loud, wait I have to read that part again, highly enjoyable read!

On Writing:
Mellie’s honest voice captured me! By the second page I was both humbled and in awe. Ellen Booraem uses words in an enchanting way, sometimes understating masterfully, and other times describing with rich and vivid imagery that lingers in one's imagination.

~ Amanda