Maya Fairy

By Stanislava Buevich

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy (November 2022)

Pages: 280

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Not everything you’ve heard about fairies is true. So when a young girl finds out the truth about her own house fairy, keep an eye out for fairy dust in this delightful magical mystery by Stanislava Buevich.

“Has your child been acting strangely? Tired? Rundown? Listless?” There’s a reason for that. But it’s not what you think as revealed in this charming and winsome fantasy for middle grade readers.

Do You Believe?

Neither Mum nor Maya believe in fairies. But then Maya is sent to her room for a time out. She discovers her very own house fairy, Maya Fairy.

Maya Fairy is small, pink, and winged. She lives in Maya the girl’s doll house in Notting Hill. (Think Julia Roberts in that scene with Robin Williams in Hook.)

Maya Fairy also loves to read. (Incidentally, if you find some books missing from your shelves, “you now know who took them” – even though book snitching is forbidden by the High Fairy Commission. Ditto missing socks, in case you’re wondering.)

Hi, Tinkerbell

When Maya tries to explain what she’s seen to her incredulous parents, they remain skeptical. Also, fairies aren’t supposed to leave their humans. At least, not until the human turns thirteen. The fairy is then picked up by the High Fairy Commission to start a new job, at a new home, with a new baby (Hi, Tinkerbell).

Disappearances

All is well until fairies start disappearing all over Notting Hill. The disappearances coincidence with several recent burglaries – but only in homes where children are present. Maya soon notices that there’s something seriously wrong with one of her closest friends, Ariya. An investigation ensues. Fairies and select humans must join hands and work together to solve a magical mystery as both fairy and human worlds are threatened with catastrophe.

Meanwhile, who’s “Peter J. Smith” of The Enterprise? Is he connected with the fairies in black cloaks and the men in black overalls? How? What does a close look at the “i” in “Enterprise” reveal? Are fairies being kidnapped? Why? And what’s up with “the orphanage”? Also, Dustbirds (Hello, Hedwig) and scene stealer Rufus the Maltese.

Tucked into the narrative is the bittersweet feeling a mother gets when her young child is no longer young and begins to leave childhood behind. Additionally, alert readers will hear the gentle whisper that real magic doesn’t come from faeries.

Different

Maya Fairy is a different kind of middle grade book. It’s exceptionally well-written, with pitch-perfect pacing and a plot that keeps you turning pages until the very end. It’s also unique in its narrative voice. Unlike most children’s books, Maya Fairy is narrated by the mother, not the child. The author explains in the Introduction that she wrote Maya Fairy for her daughter during the lockdown. The author aimed to write a magical mystery for families to enjoy together. Buevich scores a bull’s eye with Maya Fairy.

Warm and Witty

The writing style is warm, witty, and winsome. It’s like chatting with a dear friend or a family member over a hot cuppa, next to a crackling fireplace. It will appeal to its target audience of middle graders. But Maya Fairy can also be read as a family. And perhaps that’s the best magic of all.

Magic!

Indeed, there’s so much magic and creativity packed into roughly 280 pages. Every chapter glows with imagination and wry wit. By the way, you probably won’t think about sneezing quite the same way after reading Maya Fairy.

Splendid

In short, this is a splendid read! I sat down with it thinking I’d nibble a few chapters before lunch. Next thing I knew, I was finished! I was so engrossed in this warm and radiant read, lunch came and went unnoticed.

So if you’re feeling a bit tired, rundown, or listless, grab a copy of Maya Fairy. It’ll leave you with a sigh, a smile, and maybe a little bit of fairy dust.

Our Rating: 4.0