The Fairies of Turtle Creek
Written by Jill K. Sayre
Fairies were a quintessential part of my childhood. To make a day less dull and boring, I would play with the most important toy a child has at their disposal, imagination. I would imagine fairies all around me, everywhere I went. There would be a bright blue fairy sitting on my desk while I did my homework, one wearing a petal dress flittering around me while I waited in line and one alighting on the shoulder of every grown-up I was made to listen to, I was never bored to say the least. However, imagination was only the half of it. I truly believed fairies were tucked away under leaves in gardens, just as children have faith that Santa Claus leaves their presents tucked under the boughs of the fir tree in their living room every year. Believing in these small wonders made the world a magical and wonderful place. It is the open eyes of a child that learn to spot them.
Claire Collins, a special case, has instead learned to believe only what she can see in front of her. She is a logical person and appears to be more mature than other children her age. When it comes to anything emotional she is surprisingly immature and is skilled at putting up walls. This is only enhanced when her older brother goes off to war, putting strain and worry on the entire family. Enter Grandma Faye.
After many years of Claire's Grandmother's absence, her Grandmother is coming to live with them and Claire is dreading it. Grandma Faye's fascinating tales of family history seem to be factual, but her occasional whimsical tales of fairies has Claire rolling her eyes. Begrudgingly, she is forced to spend time with her kooky Grandma listening to her jibber-jabber and claims of having only a few months left to live. It will surely be a long summer.
However, the more time Claire spends with her Grandmother the more she begins to believe the seemingly incredible stories from her childhood. She tells tales of her best friend (or kindred spirit) Anna and their quest to see a fairy and their unwavering trust that fairies do in fact exist. It is clear to Clair, and the reader, that Grandma Faye believes she is telling the truth, but it will take a while for Claire to stop trying to disprove her Grandmother with science and logic and fully believe herself. In the meantime, we can enjoy the extremely entertaining stories of both fairies and childhood in the 1920's.
As the story progresses, Claire finds it hard to deny her growing fondness for Grandma Faye. Harder still to deny the strange, almost magical occurrences in her own life that parallel Grandma Faye's stories. Claire begins to see the world in a different way, learning the importance of love and emotion in life (plus the fairies, don’t forget the fairies). The character growth Clair undergoes is inspiring. It reminds the reader that emotions and faith are what makes life worth living and that miracles happen every day. This book reminded me of the wonderful childhood memories of my past while educating me about how I should spend my future.
It was a joy to read such a special book, a book that has the ability to spark so many memories that it becomes personal to the one reading it. For me this effect was amplified by the simple fact that The Fairies of Turtle Creek is set in my hometown. This is a characteristic that in no way subtracts from the book, but adds a special quality to those who are familiar with Turtle Creek and the surrounding communities. As I read this book I could picture what the neighborhoods looked like, which grocery store Claire was visiting and the library she used to research fairies. These are all places I’ve been, which proved to be a wonderful treat.
Even though the element of fairies may label The Fairies of Turtle Creek as a children's novel, I am recommending this book to people of all ages. Though some of us may not be children anymore, this book has a theme that we can all relate to, it is a triumphant reminder of a magical time of life that doesn't ever have to end.
