THE WISH SWITCH

After Emma convinces her skeptical besties to cast wishes with her at a magical spot in the woods, she’s dismayed to see changes in her friends, while her own wishes seem to have been gifted to someone else entirely.

Ever since Nana Marie told Em about the lore of four, Em has been obsessed with finding the magic portal where wishes, if delivered with the proper chants and ceremony, including a wish package, might be granted. Sneaking away from a class field trip, Em, Allie, and Kennedy find the portal, a seemingly bottomless hole in the ground. When it’s Emma’s turn to wish, someone throws a rock that hits her package, but it seems like a minor glitch. When seventh grade starts a few months later, however, Allie suddenly looks “stunningly beautiful,” while Kennedy’s braces are coming off early and she’s a popular online gamer. Em, however, is as short, flat-chested, awkward, and not-blond as ever. When annoying, dark-haired Jackson shows up taller, more muscular, blond, and with a charming personality, Em suspects a mistake—or outright theft of her wishes. Em and Jackson team up to set things right before the final wish wreaks havoc on their families. Painter uses italics, bold text, and all caps to appropriately convey the middle school drama, along with occasional light snark and honest musings on friendship and the importance of being seen. Main characters are cued white.

A light fantasy that offers worthy lessons in friendship.