I was looking through some older reader copies the other day and came across Lily’s Water Woes by Brandi Dougherty. Unknown to me, it was volume 2 in the Wild Fairies series. I thought it was odd a few pages in when a few things were mentioned (about a festival, decorating a tree) and thought, “Maybe this is a second book.” And when I started to investigate, I did notice the big number two on the cover (oops!)
However, even though it is part of a series, it is also a standalone title. Yet, I am assuming that reading book one will help fill in a few spots at the beginning of this one (see the festival and decorating the tree) that just felt a bit awkward. Even though there was that initial bump, I had no problem following this sweet story of friendship and being different.
Lily is a wild fairy and a mermaid. Therefore, she cannot be away from her pond too long as she needs to be in the water. Even though she would love to stay up late and play games with her friends. Even though she would like to go to the meadow with them. Watch sunsets with them. Go to areas of their village that she has never seen. Her friends love her, but because she is “different” she cannot do some things the same way as her the other fairies. And when they learn that this is the issue that is making Lilly sad, they want to find a way to help her. No spoiler for the adult reader, that Lilly’s friends come through and find a way to help her be included. There are misunderstandings, some hurt feelings, but it all works out marvelously in the end.
The artwork seemed (as this was an unfinished reader copy there were only hints at the final colors and images) like it will be cute, colorful, and full of the right number of details. Renee Kurilla’s illustrations are simple, but not overly simplistic. However, they do tend to run towards more stereotypical “girl looking” imagery. But there is a character that is male (who does not play a huge role in this book but might in the first or if there are others in the series). The fairies are diverse and not just their rainbow colors of their outfits, but in their looks, styles, personality, and interests.
The afterwards (having researched the books on the Evil Empire for the final images and the “to come” parts in my reader copy) show that there are pages on the animals, the plant life, and important parts of that story. Not to mention activities and even quizzes on the type of fairy you are and a Meet the Fairy (and their animal friend) section
