My review of ‘Harper the Confidence Fairy’

by Maya, aged 16½

I loved this book. It is amazing and Harper helps people build their confidence with the magical objects – the poise purse, the badge of belief and the cool coronet (a flower crown). The fairy in this book – Harper – has Down’s syndrome and I think it is really cool because she makes people believe in themselves. She is kind and helpful. She is also generous. It feels awesome to see a fairy with Down’s syndrome, just like me.

It is important to explain to other people all about Down’s syndrome, so they understand.

I also really love how her glasses are blue, the same colour as mine.

My favourite part of the book is when they start the quest to find Harper’s magical objects. Also how Jack Frost and the goblins always lose because they are mean and selfish. They should be more kind to the people and fairies in Human Land and Fairy Land.

I really like the part where Harper dances to get back the cool coronet. I love that me and Harper both love dancing. I really like how Rachel and Kirsty helped Harper find the poise purse and they helped her get up the mountain.

I loved the fire breathing dragon who knew Makaton. I know Makaton too.

I like the way Harper was trying to help Jack Frost find his inner confidence and understand him.

I think that we should have more fairies with disabilities like dyslexia, learning difficulties and cerebral palsy. There should also be a boy fairy.

There should be characters with Down’s syndrome and other disabilities in lots of other books so people will respect us and who we are.

The End

And a few words from Mum – Ruth Patil

This book is a very welcome addition to the Rainbow Magic series, and to children’s fiction books in general. We would have loved to have read this when Maya and her sister were younger, but it is still lovely to read it now and enjoy its inclusivity.

The explanation of Down’s syndrome near the beginning is simple and understandable but what I especially enjoyed was the way Down’s syndrome is portrayed throughout the book with subtle references to needing some time out, benefiting from routines and feeling tired (having to hitch a ride on Arnold the badger’s back).

The part where Harper communicates with the dragon using Makaton is brilliant and shows how easy it is to find solutions if we just think outside the box, make adjustments and be more accepting.

The message of accepting differences and respecting each other runs as a strong theme throughout the book, even extending as far as understanding the reasons for Jack Frost being so mean.

Harper is a beautiful character and I am sure her depiction and the book’s theme of trust and confidence will make a lasting impression on young readers and their adults.

For a Mum who has a daughter with Down’s syndrome, the fact that this message is conveyed by a fairy with Down’s syndrome is just perfect.

Win a copy of Harper the Confidence Fairy – UPDATED

Huge thanks to the the team of Orchard Books, the publisher of Harper the Confidence Fairy for providing five copies to give away.

The free copies have now all been claimed (14 September 2022) but thank you to everyone who emailed us.

If there are any other books that you would be interested in reading (or even writing/filming) reviews of, do please let us know.