*** Professional Review of BOOK II ***


Mary Lynn Plaisance,
The Land of Sha Bebe, Book II: Cajun Fairies,

Plaisance originally meant for this book to be entitled Chaos, but when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and Mississippi in August 2005 that word became synonymous with the fabled City of Music, the Big Easy. The association was painful enough to Plaisance that she adjusted the title accordingly, so that we now have Cajun Fairies.

This second installment of the In the Land of Sha Bebe series allows us to actually enter the enchanted world of the dolls as if we were Sha Bebe dolls ourselves. Initially, we are given a first person view of that peaceful, happy world. Then things begin to go wrong as if a glitch in a TV screen. The land is threatened by the mean Cajun Fairy Robes Pierre who has a longstanding grudge against Queen Faustina. The trouble is that no one in the Land of Sha Bebe can remember Robes Pierre or the events that inspired his vendetta. We are then taken along for the ride as the resident dolls of Sha Bebe fight to save their land.

This book takes to extraordinary places, from the sugarcane fields that cradle the Land of Sha Bebe to the swamps beyond the bayou to the French Quarter of the city of New Orleans in all of its pre-Katrina glory. The writing is still obviously directed at children, but is more interesting over all. Some of the finer details are muddled and some things are overstated, perhaps even repetitive. However, the book moves quickly enough to keep you reading. One has the feeling that these books would make better animated movies than they do books. Who knows whether that just may come about?

The real charm of these books and their muslin doll characters is that rare and wonderful glimpse of the Louisiana Cajun culture. There should be more written and preserved about this colourful, unique little world.

Review by: Sabne Raznik
From Word Weavers ( )

Don't be fooled by the title of Mary Lynn Plaisance's newest book, Cajun Fairies In the Land of Sha Bebe. At first glance you might think of a wee children's fairy tale. This story is geared more toward pre-teens and older as far as I am concerned. It is a beautifully-told story than grownups will read with relish, I know that I did. When I first picked up Cajun Fairies In the Land of Sha Bebe, to read, I too, expected something different than what I found between its covers.

In the enchanted land of Sha Bebe there lives a community of dolls. These dolls are coached and prepared to enter into the world of humans to bring them happiness. This is their function in life. Reigning over Sha Bebe is Queen Faustina, along with Dupre, her faithful cat. Madame Plume has the honor of popping the dolls into life, and her friend, Madame Poulette is in charge of magic flying quilts. Miss Betty Lou is the only human who lives in Sha Bebe and she is there to teach the dolls manners and how to act toward the humans they will meet. And finally there is Marie La Vie, a swamp healer who has potions and spells galore.

The story's premise is about the evil Robes Pierre, a wicked Cajun Fairy who wants to destroy the happiness and wonderfulness of Sha Bebe and will stop at nothing to achieve it. Things begin look dim indeed as Robes Pierre is having his way, but he does not count on the resilience of Queen Faustina and her entourage. The good guys win in the end, but it is nip and tuck all the way. Mary Lynn Plaisance has the talent of keeping the reader glued to the story, even giving Madame Plume and Madame Paulette a little overnight excursion into New Orleans among the humans, including a saxophone player and other interesting characters.

In closing, I found Cajun Fairies In the Land of Sha Bebe to be such a wonderful and entertaining read, and one that I, as an adult, took great pleasure in reading. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone who loves a well-constructed story. Please, order your book now, this little gem is bound to become a Louisiana classic. ( )