Felicity Brown
HarperFestival (2008)
ISBN 9780061673313
Reviewed by Madeline McElroy (age 8) for Reader Views (6/09)
This is a story about a girl named Jillian. She used to live with her parents when she was a baby, but an evil, wicked queen named Ivenna stole her. Now Jillian is a servant for Ivenna in her castle.
Jillian has a special journal she keeps hidden in her room. Many years later she realizes that the animals she draws in her journal lead the animals to the castle. They in turn become Ivenna’s slaves as well. She makes the animals make her meals, draw her baths and sometimes she even locks them up. Jillian feels really sad when she discovers that she made all these poor animals come to the castle and live as slaves.
Her plan is to summon “Bella” to help free her and the animals. She goes back to her room to get her journal to draw Bella, but when she reaches for the book, it is gone!
I really enjoyed reading this exciting story about this young girl and her animal friends. There is a lot of action between the characters and the animals. A thrilling moment was when one of the horses was protecting Jillian and he kicked up his hooves and shot lightening bolts at Ivenna’s protecting wolves. My favorite part of the story was when the rose dragons were cutting herbs and vegetables. The ending of “Bella Sara: Bella’s Gift” by Felicity Brown was spectacular!
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