Wish by Alexandra Bullen

Genre: young adult, fantasy
FTC Disclosure: Nookbook from Barnes and Noble
Published: 2010
Pages: 256
Content: Nothing offensive.
 
I really liked this one. It was different and that is definitely good in the inundated market that is YA fiction.

Olivia has just moved to San Francisco with her parents after the death of her twin sister Violet. She's devastated and is trying to find a way to fit in at her new school and deal with her sister being gone. The author takes us back a bit so we get to know Violet...as the exact opposite of Olivia. Violet was outgoing and fun, she had all the friends and the great fashion sense.

Olivia eventually finds Violet's last dress she bought and decides to wear that for her mom's party, only it has a rip and needs to be mended. This takes her to Posey's shop. She's the modern-day fairy godmother! Olivia gets three dresses to make three wishes with.

Mayhem ensues when she wishes her sister back...as a ghost along with the other two wishes.

I enjoyed the sisters' interaction, how Violet tried to help Olivia get friends and the new boyfriend. It was a cute story about moving on and learning to live.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Other Covers:

German version

Polish version

Paperback English version

So which one do you like best? I like the overall design of the Polish cover but the model looks like she has a baby bump starting and she looks really annoyed with those rolling eyes! The German version is simple and pretty. I also like the paperback version with a closeup and the disappearing sparkles for her dress.

My pick would be the German cover! But all are pretty in their own way.

Garden Spells by Sarah Allen Addison

Genre: magical-realism, Southern fiction, romance
FTC Disclosure: bought from Barnes and Noble
Published: 2007
Pages: Nookbook (176)
Content: PG-13 for swearing and love-making!

This was a great way to start the new year of book reading. I really enjoyed this magical story of two sisters with uncanny powers. I loved Allen's wit and charm and how she developed the relationship between the two sisters. It's a short story but it packs a lot of "magic" in that time.

This is a story of Claire and Sydney, exact opposites. They are both able to learn from one another and learn how to live life to its fullest. Of course, there are some snags along the way...but I really enjoy magical-realism. It's just normal for the two sisters to have some "power." Claire can whip up anything from her magic garden to influence others...their emotions, thoughts, etc. Sydney has a way with hair and her daughter has an uncanny way of knowing where things belong and they have a tree that throws apples, moves chairs, and can tell people their most powerful life event...it's a great story, full of love and magic and mystery.

Rating: 5/5