Alyssa the Star-Spotter Fairy Read online

  It’s about time for the world to see

  The legend I was born to be.

  The prince of pop, a dazzling star,

  My fans will flock from near and far.

  But superstar fame is hard to get

  Unless I help myself, I bet.

  I need a plan, a cunning trick

  To make my stage act super-slick.

  Seven magic clefs I’ll steal —

  They’ll give me true superstar appeal.

  I’ll sing and dance, I’ll dazzle and shine,

  And superstar glory will be mine!

  Cover

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Map

  Poem

  Showers and Sparkles!

  Voice of an Angel

  The Green Guy Trio

  Tricks and Treats

  Pesky Fairies!

  Jack Frost Goes Goblin Hunting

  Teaser

  Also Available

  Copyright

  “Another gorgeous morning at the Rainspell Island Music Festival!” said Kirsty Tate happily. “Do you think I should wear this daisy headband today, Rachel?”

  Her best friend, Rachel Walker, looked at their reflections in the big bathroom mirror.

  “Definitely!” she said with a smile. “The white petals look so pretty against your dark hair.”

  The girls had just finished showering and getting dressed. They were camping at the festival with Rachel’s parents, and they were all special guests of The Angels music group.

  “I think you should wear my rose headband,” Kirsty said, handing it to Rachel. “It will look great on you.”

  “I feel so lucky to be here,” said Rachel as she arranged the headband in her hair. “I’ve lost count of all the amazing things we’ve done — and the fabulous concerts we’ve been to!”

  “Plus the fun we’ve had helping the fairies,” said Kirsty with a twinkle in her eye.

  No one knew that the girls were friends with the fairies of Fairyland. They had often helped the fairies outwit grumpy Jack Frost and his mischievous goblins. Soon after they had arrived on Rainspell Island, they met the Superstar Fairies, who used their magic clef necklaces to keep pop music sounding great. Jack Frost and his goblins had stolen the clefs and brought them to the festival to help Jack Frost become a superstar. So far, Kirsty and Rachel had helped five of the Superstar Fairies find their magic clefs.

  “I just hope that we can find the final two missing necklaces before the end of the festival,” said Rachel.

  “Me, too,” said Kirsty. “It would be terrible if Jack Frost ruined it for everyone. There are still lots of fantastic concerts to look forward to.”

  “Yes, I can’t wait to see Jacob Bright at the Talent of Tomorrow show later,” said Rachel. “He’s one of the biggest up-and-coming stars here.”

  “And we still haven’t seen Jax Tempo perform,” said Kirsty. “I wonder when he’ll be onstage. He must be very good to become so famous so quickly — I hadn’t even heard of him until the festival started.”

  “Well, I’m ready,” said Rachel. “Let’s get our things and go back to the tent.”

  Kirsty put her hairbrush and spare headbands back into her bathroom caddy while Rachel went into the shower stall to get her shampoo.

  But as she leaned over the shower drain, she noticed that the remaining bubbles were sparkling with rainbow colors.

  Rachel felt a tingle of excitement running up and down her spine.

  “Kirsty!” she called. “Come over here. I think something magical is about to happen!”

  Kirsty hurried eagerly into the stall, carrying her bathroom caddy and towel. The girls watched as the glistening foam grew fluffier and more colorful. Then there was a burst of suds, and a tiny fairy fluttered out of them.

  “It’s Alyssa the Star-spotter Fairy!” said Rachel with a big smile. “It’s great to see you!”

  “Hello, Rachel! Hello, Kirsty!” said Alyssa. “I’m so relieved that I found you! I’ve been searching everywhere for my magic clef necklace. Will you help me get it back from Jack Frost and his goblins?”

  Alyssa gazed at them through her stylish glasses. Her eyes were full of hope, and her silver-gray dress shimmered in the lights of the shower stall.

  “We’d love to,” said Kirsty.

  “Of course!” added Rachel.

  “Thank you!” said Alyssa, clapping her hands together. “You see, my clef necklace helps people be confident in front of an audience. If I don’t find it soon, all the stars at the festival will be too shy to perform.”

  “Oh, no!” said Kirsty. “If the stars can’t perform, there won’t be any more concerts. The festival will be ruined.”

  “Not only that,” said Alyssa in a worried voice. “Without my clef, new superstar talent across the human world will never be discovered.”

  Before the girls could reply, they heard the door to the campground bathroom opening. Someone was coming in!

  Quickly, Alyssa darted into Kirsty’s shower caddy. Just in time! A girl with dark, curly hair walked past the open door of the stall where the girls were standing. She was carrying a blue bag that read HOLLY on the side in white embroidered letters. She gave the girls a shy smile and went into a shower stall.

  “Let’s go,” Rachel whispered. “We need to find somewhere private where we can talk to Alyssa.”

  Rachel picked up her shower caddy and towel, and she and Kirsty headed for the door. But just as they were about to leave, Kirsty heard something. “Wait,” she said. “Listen!”

  From the shower stall that Holly had walked into, there came a faint but beautiful sound. At first, the girls could hardly make out the words over the sound of the shower. But gradually the singing grew louder.

  “That’s an Angels song — ‘Key to My Heart’!” Rachel exclaimed. “Do you remember the first time we heard it, Kirsty?”

  “Of course I do,” said Kirsty, smiling at her best friend. “It was at The Angels’ charity concert, when we were helping Destiny the Rock Star Fairy.”

  Holly’s voice grew even louder and more confident.

  “Wow!” said Rachel. “Holly’s voice is amazing! She sounds like a real superstar.”

  They listened, entranced, until the song ended and the shower was turned off. Kirsty and Rachel burst into applause.

  “You have an incredible voice!” said Kirsty, calling over the shower door. “I’ve never heard anyone sing like that before. You’re wonderful!”

  “Oh, thanks,” said Holly, suddenly sounding very shy.

  The girls heard her getting dressed. Then she came out, drying her long dark hair with a towel.

  “Are you going to sing in the Talent of Tomorrow show later?” Rachel asked.

  “I hope so — I can’t wait to hear you sing again!”

  A delicate blush rose in Holly’s cheeks.

  “I don’t think so,” she said. “I love singing, but not for an audience. It’s too embarrassing.”

  “But you sang just now while we were listening,” Kirsty said.

  “I thought you’d left,” Holly said. “I couldn’t possibly perform on a stage in front of hundreds of people. I’d be too scared!”

  Before the girls could try to persuade her any further, Holly hurried past them and left the showers. The girls stared at each other in surprise.

  “I wish she realized how good she really is,” said Rachel.

  “Me, too,” Kirsty replied. “But right now we have to help Alyssa. Come on!”

  They raced back to their tent and dropped off their shower supplies. Mr. and Mrs. Walker were making a pot of coffee on their little camping stove.

  “Having a good time, girls?
” asked Mr. Walker, smiling at them.

  “Yes. Thanks, Dad,” said Rachel, edging in front of her best friend.

  Quickly, Kirsty opened her shower caddy. Alyssa zoomed up and hid under her hair.

  “OK,” Kirsty whispered to Rachel.

  “See you later,” called Rachel, waving at her parents.

  “Are you leaving so soon?” said Mrs. Walker with a laugh. “Have fun!”

  The best friends walked away from the tents and across the grass toward the outdoor concert stage.

  “It’ll be quiet there,” said Kirsty. “We can talk in private and make a plan to find Alyssa’s missing clef.”

  But when they arrived at the stage, they found that it was already very busy. The Angels were there to prepare for the Talent of Tomorrow concert, and there were festival workers and technicians running around busily.

  “We should tell The Angels about Holly,” said Rachel. “Maybe they can persuade her to sing later.”

  “If Holly’s going to have the confidence to sing for the audience, we need to get my magic clef back,” Alyssa said from her hiding place. “Otherwise no one will be able to get her to her sing — not even The Angels.”

  As the girls neared the stage, they heard a soft voice singing in the wings.

  “Sing it loud, sing it proud,

  Sing for everyone to hear . . .”

  “I know that voice!” Kirsty gasped. “It’s Jacob Bright!”

  The girls peeked into the wings. The handsome young singer was standing alone, practicing his new hit, “Sing It.” But his voice was so soft that the girls could hardly hear him.

  Just then, he noticed Rachel and Kirsty, and stopped singing at once.

  “Hello,” said Rachel excitedly. “You’re one of our favorite superstars! We love your music!”

  Jacob Bright blushed in embarrassment and turned away, mumbling something.

  “That’s weird,” said Kirsty under her breath. “I’m surprised that such a big star is so shy.”

  Just then, they heard someone calling their names. They turned around to see The Angels waving at them.

  “Hello!” said Emilia, coming over and giving them a big hug. “How nice to see you here!”

  “Are you getting ready for the Talent of Tomorrow concert?” Rachel asked. “We’re really looking forward to it!”

  The Angels looked at one another.

  “I’m afraid we don’t know if there’s even going to be a concert,” said Serena, her forehead creased with worry.

  “What do you mean?” asked Kirsty. “Is it too hard to decide which singers to include?”

  “Oh, I wish we had that problem,” said Lexy. “This is far worse. Not one single person has signed up!”

  “But there must be lots of people at the festival who want to be superstars,” said Rachel in astonishment.

  “That’s what we thought,” Serena said with a sigh. “Maybe we were wrong.”

  “No, you weren’t wrong!” Kirsty exclaimed. “We met a girl today with a really beautiful voice . . . she was just too shy to sing in the concert.”

  “Listen, I bet you two are great at spotting talent,” said Emilia. “Would you look around the festival for us and try to find some budding superstars?”

  “We’d love to!” said Rachel.

  “Thanks, girls,” said Serena. “Come and find us later, and tell us who you’ve discovered!”

  Rachel and Kirsty headed toward Star Village, the festival’s cluster of activity tents.

  “I’m so excited about talent-spotting for The Angels!” said Kirsty. “Alyssa, we’re lucky to have you here — you’ll be able to help us look for stars, and we can search for your magic clef at the same time!”

  “I’d love to,” said Alyssa. “Star-spotting is my favorite thing!”

  As soon as the girls walked into Star Village, they saw a boy street dancing next to the makeup tent. He was singing a cool hip-hop tune and practicing impressive shoulder pops and head spins. A few people had noticed him and were starting to gather around.

  “He’s got potential,” whispered Alyssa.

  But just then, the boy noticed the little crowd around him. He stopped and stared down at the ground, shuffling his feet.

  “Don’t stop!” called out a girl in the crowd. “That was too cool!”

  “Yes, we really liked it,” said Rachel. “Please keep going — we’re looking for people to perform at the Talent of Tomorrow concert, and you’d be great!”

  “No way!” said the boy, looking scared. “I couldn’t do that.” He walked away, and the three friends sighed.

  Everywhere they looked, they found the same problem. Near the Food Fest area, a girl was strumming her guitar beautifully. But as soon as they got closer, she put it down. People were singing, dancing, and playing instruments all over Star Village, but none of them wanted to perform in the talent concert.

  “This is terrible,” said Kirsty. “No one wants to perform at the concert — and there’s no sign of Alyssa’s magical clef, either.”

  “We’ll have to go and tell The Angels,” said Rachel. “I hate to disappoint them.”

  They walked slowly back to the stage. The Angels were still there, but this time they looked much happier. Jacob Bright was there, too, smiling broadly.

  “Girls, we found an act for the talent show!” called Serena when she saw them. “They’re absolutely fantastic — The Green Guy Trio!”

  Up on the stage, three singers were confidently performing a song. They were all dressed in bright green polo shirts, checked pants, and plaid caps made of wool with large bills that covered their faces. Each of them had a few moments in the spotlight, then gave a high five to the next member so that he could take his turn.

  “At least there’s one act for the Talent of Tomorrow concert,” said Alyssa.

  Rachel was staring at the band members’ huge green shoes.

  “How can they dance wearing those enormous shoes?” she wondered aloud.

  “That’s funny,” said Kirsty. “I think they’re passing something to one another when they do their high fives.”

  “Let me take a look,” said Alyssa.

  Keeping out of sight, she fluttered closer to the band. Then she came zooming back to the girls, her eyes wide.

  “Rachel! Kirsty!” she gasped. “They have my magic clef!”

  “Oh, my goodness!” said Rachel. “The Green Guy Trio is really three green goblins!”

  The goblins’ song ended and, suddenly, there was a commotion backstage. The girls could hear someone shouting.

  “I’ll make you sorry you ever set eyes on that clef!” the voice snarled.

  Then, the rising star Jax Tempo appeared onstage, his fists clenched in rage. He stomped toward the goblins, who scrambled off the stage as fast as they could. Jax Tempo’s ice-blue suit glittered in the sunshine.

  “Get back here, you bunch of brainless blockheads!” he roared. “I’m the one meant for superstardom, not you! Give me that clef necklace NOW!”

  He stormed after them, and the girls stared with open mouths. They would have recognized that spiky hair and bad temper anywhere. Jax Tempo was really Jack Frost in disguise!

  “We have to get the magic clef from the goblins before Jack Frost does,” said Alyssa in a panic. “Girls, it’ll be easier if you’re both fairies, too.”

  Rachel and Kirsty nodded and looked around. The Angels were deep in conversation with Jacob Bright, and the technicians were all busy checking the spotlights.

  “Let’s go behind the stage curtain,” said Kirsty. “No one will see us there.”

  The girls hurried onto the stage and ducked behind the blue curtain. Then Alyssa flew out from where she’d been hiding under the daisy on Kirsty’s headband, already waving her wand. Rainbow sparkles burst from her wand’s tip and surrounded the girls in a glittering cloud of color. Instantly, they shrank to fairy-size and flapped their glittery wings, twirling into the air in delight.

  “Follow me!”
called Alyssa.

  Together, the girls and Alyssa flew high above the festival. It was fun to look down on the tents and people below, all spread out like a living, moving map.

  “I hope no one looks up and sees us,” said Kirsty.

  “We’re so high that we’ll just look like tiny dots to them,” said Alyssa with a smile. “We’ll have to be careful when we fly down again, though.”

  “There’s Jack Frost!” exclaimed Alyssa.

  She pointed to the large crowd milling around Star Village. In the midst of all the people, they could see Jack Frost’s ice-blue suit glittering. He was still stomping around, looking for the goblins and the magic clef.

  “I’m glad he’s wearing that suit,” said Rachel. “It makes him very easy to spot. Plus, there are lots of people dressed up here, so no one thinks he looks weird.”

  “If only the goblins were that easy to follow,” said Kirsty. “How are we going to find them in this crowd? We don’t even know which one of them has the clef.”

  “Wait a minute!” said Rachel. “Listen — can you hear someone singing?”

  The three friends hovered in the air, listening. Above the cheerful buzz of the festival noise, they could hear a loud voice singing in perfect tune.

  “That’s Jacob Bright’s song, ‘Sing It’!” said Kirsty, remembering how they had heard him practicing in the stage wings.

  “The only person who would have the confidence to sing that loud at the moment is the person with my clef,” said Alyssa. “If we follow that sound, I’m sure it will lead us to the goblins!”

  They zigzagged through the air, letting the sound guide them. They ended up in the Food Fest picnic area, and then Rachel gave a shout.

  “There they are!” she said, pointing to three figures in green.