Kidnapped! What would you do? Carry that idea into the kidnappers being ogres and trolls, and you’ve got an interesting problem that is the center of the second Crystal Palace book, Rebellion in Fairyland. Michelle Hauser brings modern conflicts and thinking to the medieval world of Fairyland. It’s a new take on what Fairy is all about.

An invitation arrives for the girls Karina, Katie and Nicole to return to Fairyland for the Prince’s third birthday party. But all goes terribly wrong when they find themselves at the center of a new controversy, a conflict between fairies and their servants the ogres and trolls.

Fairyland had seemed quite enchanting, until the realization that the ogres and trolls do all of the work and service for the fairies of the land. Karina, Katie and Nicole are kidnapped with the Fairy Princess Gianna, and drawn into the conflict. In order to be free, they must help solve the problem.

The ogres and trolls just want the same opportunities as the fairies. The kidnapping is a form of protest for the ogres. The girls have to try to remember their history and civics lessons to teach the medieval-thinking fairies a modern spin on how a society includes all people.

I found it interesting the way Hauser weaves modern problems into the Fairyland medieval setting. The girls become the heroes bringing enlightenment to this backwards society. Not only do they rely on themselves, but other friendly people they get to know, such as the ogres. Hauser has the King listen thoughtfully to their ideas. And of course, the new way of thinking and including the ogres and trolls as equals is the solution to the social problem. It is a great twist for a second book, reflecting our own society and world within the World of Fairy. It is good fantasy that helps teach a lesson. Great for any fifth graders studying the US constitution and the Civil War.

**** Four Star Rating. Available at Amazon.com.