At First...

I REALLY didn't want to read The Seventh Wish.  It was going to be hard, anyway, because it isn't available in audio form, but I got it on my kindle app and so that made it easier.  Still, it took me a long time until I realized that what had worried me about it, wasn't true.  I thought for sure it was going to be like one of the Natalie Lloyd ones that I barely could make it through.  Or this horrible series that I couldn't finish.  But no, this book was completely different.  Yes, it is magical realism.  But it is done really well.  And it really, really, really deals with some serious stuff here, not just Charlie's older sister's drug addiction, but Charlie's middle school life as well, and just how hard it is to be a middle schooler.  Heck, just how hard it is to be human.  You can even sense how hard it is to be a mom and dad from this book.  Messner has done just such a great job with the characters.  I must read more by her for sure.  Excellent, excellent book.  I read it is part of the little group on goodreads about Newbery picks and the thing is, there have been SO many good books this year!  Towers Falling is still my #1 and Wild Robot is #2 but I this one is right there at #3.  Excellent.  Excellent.  Excellent.