Be a Genie is Six Easy Steps

by Linda Chapman and Steve Cole

Cool concept, but definitely not for grown-ups.

There are some kids' books that can be read by adults and enjoyed. Harry Potter, Fablehaven, and 100 Cupboards are some notable ones. Some however, are clearly written just for kids and adults will just be bored by them. This is one of those.

This book is the story of 4 new step-siblings who are forced to move from their beloved London to a small town when their parents marry and open a book shop. So when they find a book that claims it will teach them to be genies, they immediately conclude that if they become genies they can wish their way back to London!

(*Some spoilers*) The front flap of this book promises a sinister presence that follows the children on their path to become genies. This promise is sorely realized by some mildly creepy people who turn out to not be creepy at all (it's all just a big misunderstanding! Let's all be friends! Which, in my opinion, is kinda lame. A book without a satisfying villain is no fun at all.) Also, the bookworm that acted as the book's spokesperson annoyed me. I really never understood why the kids loved him so much!

Maybe if I was a kid I would have liked this book. As an adult, it's just too childish.

As You Wish

by Jackson Pearce

Viola feels like she doesn't belong. Ever since her boyfriend broke up with her she's felt different, broken, and like she was missing something. One day at school Viola is feeling so sorry for herself, and wishing so fiercely to feel like she belongs, that she inadvertently summons a genie. The genie, who Viola calls Jinn in required to do as she commands and grant her three wishes. Once her wishes are granted he can return to his country - a place he's desperate to return to. However, Viola isn't quite ready to make her wishes. She wants to make sure she makes the right wish and not waste any. And so, reluctantly, Jinn is forced to wait. Unexpectedly for both, Viola and Jinn start to develop a friendship which may be beginning to turn into something more. The problem? Once she makes her three wishes Jinn will be gone forever and Viola won't even remember he existed.

This book falls into the very common "average teen girl falls for supernatural guy" category of young adult literature. However, it's a clever concept that's mostly entertaining. The end was wrapped up a little too quickly for my taste - I think the book could have benefited from an additional 5 chapters. But it's a pretty good effort for a first novel! I look forward to see what else will be coming from Ms. Pearce in the future.

My Fair Godmother

by Janette Rallison

Fun little book - I hesitate to use the word "romp" because it is used far too often.

Just when Savannah thinks her life couldn't get any worse (her boyfriend dumps her to go out with her sister, she already spent $350 on a prom dress and now has no one to go with her, and a kind-of dorky guy embarrasses her by announcing to nearly the entire school that her swimsuit top came undone when she jumped off the diving board) she gets a fairy - actually just a "fair" - godmother. Chrysanthemum Everstar isn't actually a fairy godmother yet because she hasn't passed all her tests...and she hasn't done that well in godmother school. She's simply done "fair". So when Chrissy comes to grant poor Savannah three wishes she doesn't really take the time to get things right. Savannah doesn't think her wishes through before saying them out loud and before she knows it, she's stuck in the middle ages! It will take all of her brains and willpower to escape the mess she's thrown herself and her friends into, but maybe, just maybe, she might learn something about herself, and what she really wishes for along the way.

This book is a quick read, with believable and likable characters, and witty banter all around. It was just the right mix of fairy-tale romance, adventure, problem-solving, and humor to be added to my ever-growing list of favorites.