Ten year old Becca is looking forward to her birthday sleepover with best friend Harper. They have been friends since kindergarten and this is the first year they have been separated into different classrooms. She is saddened when she learns Harper will not be able to come over because of a chess tournament the next morning. She also seems to be friends with Georgette from her class more and more lately making Becca feel left out. She lets Harper know that she is not happy about things but then it turns when Harper tells Becca that she feels they have grown apart and thinks they could be regular friends instead of best friends. Becca does not like that idea so the two split up their friendship entirely. Feeling sad and upset about her horrible day, Becca goes home to find a package addressed to her. Inside the anonymous box contains a mysterious note and a bracelet. The bracelet will grant one wish to its wearer. Feeling alone without Harper, Becca makes a wish for friends. Not just one friend but a lot of friends. Possibly a wish that may come with many regrets.
This is a cute and fast-paced story for the middle grade reader. Growing up and growing apart from friends is something tweens face daily. Things get out of hand quickly after Becca wishes for lots and lots of friends. At first it was fun for her to be liked by everyone. But each day gets harder, trying to keep up with so many people wanting to be her friend. She realizes that this is not reality and if she removed the bracelet everything would go back to being the way it was. Thinking that the bracelet may be a curse instead, Becca quickly regrets her wish. The story has good character development when she learns a lesson that it doesn't matter how many friends she has, what is a true friend and how important it is to be a good friend herself. She helps one classmate named Shep share his talents and another named Willow who she finds has a lot in common with. There is more magic and mystery when an unknown and very persistent woman wants to purchase her bracelet. After all the whirlwind this story offers around the wish, Becca sends off the bracelet to a girl named Addie with a special letter about the magic of the bracelet and offering friendship and best wishes to her. I am looking forward to reading the second book The Sister Switch to see why Addie is next to receive the bracelet and how her story unfolds. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 8-10. ~
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