Book Review: Wish

Wish (Faerieground #1)

By: Beth Bracken & Kay Fraser

Illustrated By: Odessa Sawyer

Published By: Capstone Young Readers

Publication Date: April 1, 2013

Page Count: 304

Buy it at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Source: ARC Kindly Provided by Publisher

Audience: Middle Grades - Fantasy, Fey

Wish is an imaginative journey that thrusts best friends, Soli and Lucy, into a magical world they never knew existed. The girls have been virtually inseparable their entire lives, but as they start to pay attention to things like popularity and boys, the girls begin to drift apart. Lucy is full of light and craves fun and freedom; Soli is represented by darkness and she often hides in her introverted world. The way each girl approaches the world is different, but together they balance one another out. Lucy brings Soli out of her shell while Soli forces Lucy to slow down and pay attention. I really enjoyed the friendship between these girls and felt it had an authentic feel to it. It's hard to grow up and grow apart from your childhood friends. While these two desperately cling to the past and try to preserve their friendship, it is easy to see that they are suffering from some growing pains.

An argument leads the girls to the forest where a faerie kingdom lurks unseen from human eyes. An accidental wish will throw the girls into the world of the fey and forever change their lives. They will find that they must find their true strength in order to vanquish a formidable foe.

I found this world to be interesting and descriptive. The authors also did a beautiful job of capturing the angst and frustration of the early teen years. Each character is trying to find out who she is and assert her personality. This is one of the most difficult and trying times of life. It's hard to feel uncomfortable in your own skin as you navigate the current of adolescence. I particularly loved that the main characters were so different - it allows for readers to be able to bond with one or the other. I found that I enjoyed both of them in spite of Lucy's betrayal.

The true strength of this novel lies in its format. The novel is written in a style that feels like a combination of verse and prose. It was slightly jarring at first, but once I settled into it, I found that it was a gorgeous and lyrical way to tell this story. It also adds a uniqueness to the novel. Furthermore, the illustrations alone make this worth your time. They are absolutely stunning. I found myself reading faster just to get to the next picture.

One Last Gripe: The writing was beautiful, but a bit sparse at times. 

My Favorite Thing About the Book: The illustrations

First Sentence: Long ago, a kingdom was founded in Willow Forest...

Favorite Character: Soli

Least Favorite Character: I didn't have one. The book went by too quickly to form an intense dislike of anyone.

Summary:

With one wish made in Willow Forest, Soli and Lucy are pulled into Faerieground – and into the middle of an ancient battle. In the faerie kingdom, an evil queen searches for her daughter while the palace crumbles. To save her best friend, Soli must find her hidden strength. Experience this beautiful story about friendship, growing up and the power of wishes.