The heroine of Jess the Goth Fairy is different. She was born with different sized wings as well as having problems with her memory. But she is determined to lead a normal life in spite of the fact that other creatures are sometimes cruel and unkind to her and her best friend Helen, a long-tailed tit without a tail.
One day Jess is flying off to school when she is drawn to a commotion on the ground and discovers Helen being tormented by a group of birds including a black and white one she doesn't know. Jess' awkward landing sends the tormentors off but as the two friends set off for school they see the black and white bird in difficulty in a field below.
What follows is a fairly obvious debate between the friends about helping the distressed bird and Jess goes off to find her stag beetle friend to help free Anita, as they learn, from some wire. This is a fairy story with a happy ending as Jess says: "We have changed someone's attitude to disability today."
Emily Daly's illustrations are enchanting.
The message of Jess the Goth Fairy is obvious and delivered in a rather heavy-handed way. What is far more impressive is the fact that the co-author Jess Hiles although having learning and physical disabilities, lives independently in Worcestershire with support. She has achieved so much – she is a National Special Olympic gold and silver medallist, has become a member of the People's Parliament of Worcestershire for the disabled, helps teach sign language at a day centre and also works in a garden nursery. Jess wants nothing more than to help others, especially those less able than herself. She hopes by sharing her feelings in this book it will help everyone to know what it is like to be disabled.
A donation from sales of this book will be made to MacIntyre.
PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Jess the Goth Fairy