Marigold Star by Elise Primavera (Children's, 7 years +, 10/10E)

 June 2019, HarperCollins, 240 pages, Hardback, Review copy

Summary from HarperCollins

Marigold Star is destined for greatness. Everyone in Bramblycrumbly thinks so, her parents and pet dragon included. There’s just one problem. Marigold can’t do magic!

Then one day she tries a new spell written in a very old book. It’s called the Invis-O-Friend Spell, and it makes Marigold invisible to all but the friend who needs her most. To Marigold’s surprise, the spell works! 

But now there’s another problem. The spell sent Marigold to the human world. And to return home, she’ll have to befriend a host of human children who are struggling to make friends. Marigold will have to hurry, or the line between her magical world and the human one might crumble until she has no home left to go back to.

Nayu's thoughts

Pet dragon!!! I would love to leave my review at those words which are said with a lot of mental squealing, but that's not really a review on the story. I mean how cool would it be to have a pet dragon? SO COOL!!!!

Although Marigold does take advantage of it's good nature, which a well-meaning character points out. I actually liked when Marigold sort of got told off about something she does on a daily basis. The character in question has a fair point, yet part of me felt sorry for Marigold, the adult in me was like 'yeah, tell it like it is!'

Tough love is ever so important. As is making friends! Although I think most will agree that you usually make friends with people you like, not with children who rub people up the wrong way and have serious personal issues they need to work out before becoming a friendly human being. Yet Marigold does it. It sure seems impossible at the start, and in truth at the middle to, with the end being a pleasant surprise proving how much she has matured in herself and magically. Marigold lacked faith in her abilities, which so many had high expectations because of the star that was literally above her head 24/7. It's light blinked a lot, which had me contemplating how much confidence Marigold needs to have in her own abilities, which is something we all have to learn eventually, some more than others.

There is a sense of danger in Marigold needing to complete her tasks in time to be able to return home, but given the age group of this book and the style of writing I knew she would make it just in the nick of time, somehow. Correctly predicting that didn't prevent me from fully enjoying the book. I didn't want it to end because I loved her pet dragon so much whose name I can't remember. It's a Pet Dragon!!!!!! (Heehee, go me for starting and ending the review with the same words). Definitely one for the reread shelf.

Find out more on Elise's website and follow her on Twitter.

Suggested read  

For more fun and adventure check out Bird Girl by Maudie Smith (Children's, 9 years +, 9/10E)