"Bee's mouth fell open. She would have thought
the boy was making it up, only he didn't seem at
all interested in whether she believed him or not.
He picked up a stuffed beaver from the display
and made another mark on the clipboard.
"You've seen ghosts in Misty Cove?"
"Yeah. Never at this time of year. The ghosts
like the cold. They like storms and long nights.
Winter's when they're out wandering the Fairies.
Some of the stories are about your grandmother,
since she died there.""
The reason for visiting their grandfather's island home is a sad one. He is living alone and he is ill. He is showing early signs of dementia. Will their visit make things better for Granddaddy? No one is sure. Summer is the perfect time to be there: so, the family makes the trek to Misty Cove in hopes that their presence will make a difference for him. The family includes Mom and baby brother Theordore, and the three Snolly sisters, Hattie, Bee, and Plum.
Once there, the girls learn that their grandfather owns the Fairy Islands nearby. There are three of them: Fairy, Little Fairy, and Ghost. They are said to have magical qualities, a fact that science wonder Bee finds hard to fathom. As they interact with their grandfather while baking cookies and hearing his stories, they learn that his grandmother, Lucy Juniper, was quite the woman. People say she sailed the seas near the islands and used what she collected to help those in need. It is also assumed that she hid treasure on one of the Fairy Islands.
If that is not incentive enough for inquisitive and enterprising young girls, nothing is. The three decide to do their best to find the treasure and use it to help others, including their own grandfather. The development of three unique characters allows each to do what they do well to find their best way to help Granddaddy. The characters are so strong and admirable; those who choose to read this book cannot help but cheer for them. The setting is full of appeal and something quite magical. Readers are sure to see themselves in a book that includes bullying, divorced (but gracious) parents, worries about an aging grandparent.
This is a wonderful family read, and a story that will be very much appreciated by a wide range of readers.
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