WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR

A reimagined version of the animated 1940 classic Pinocchio.

In this richly drawn retelling, the story centers on sisters Chiara and Ilaria Belmagio, living in the quiet town of Pariva in the land of Esperia. Eighteen and 16, respectively, they’re on the cusp of adulthood. Chiara receives an invitation to apprentice with the fairies, while Ilaria follows her dreams of succeeding as an opera singer. Their diverging paths set into motion an eventual struggle between the Heartless fairies, who derive power from hatred and jealousy, and those of the Wishing Star, who are devoted to the true of heart. When their friend Geppetto wishes that Pinocchio were a real boy, a wager pits the two sisters against each other and calls into question the polarity of good and evil. Readers acquainted with Disney’s original version of Pinocchio will appreciate the inclusion of iconic elements like the whale, the Blue Fairy, and Jiminy Cricket. Pariva is alive and atmospheric, and the world of the fairies is seamlessly integrated. The relationship between Chiara and Ilaria is believably close yet fraught, making the scenes between the two some of the most compelling in the book. Some of the lengthier segments could have benefited from tightening; others, like the dramatic climax, needed expanding. All principal characters are cued White.

A fresh perspective that reads like a treasured favorite.