Friday, March 29, 2013

Becky's View: The Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar


The Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar
♦publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
♦release date: March 21st, 2013
♦hardcover, 314 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦series: The Art of Wishing, book 1
♦source: from publisher for honest review
He can grant her wishes, but only she can save his life.

Margo McKenna has a plan for just about everything, from landing the lead in her high school play to getting into a good college. So when she finds herself in possession of a genie's ring and the chance to make three wishes, she doesn't know what to do. Why should she put her life into someone else's hands?

But Oliver is more than just a genie -- he's also a sophomore at Margo's high school, and he's on the run from a murderer. As he and Margo grow closer, she discovers that it will take more than three wishes to save him.

A whole lot more.

Review:
The Art of Wishing initially drew me in with an absolutely adorable cover and a story about a paranormal being that we hardly ever see in YA fiction: genies!  And yes, we're talking about the 'rub my lamp and get three wishes' sort of genies.  Only this time, Genies have come a long way and been given a fun modern twist.  This story reads almost like a contemporary story: a high school senior, Margo, who is big into theatre and singing gets passed over for her dream part in the high school play for a mousy, untalented sophomore, only everyone else seems to think she is incredible and Margo just can't figure out what could be going on.  She comes to find out the part-stealer has had a little help in the way of a mysterious new boy who is suddenly always around.  

Margo was a little tough to take a first.  Its clear that she is talented and experienced in singing and theatre, but she knows it and the cocky way she reacted to not getting the part made her hard to root for.  Slowly she shows her strengths and grows on you as you get to know her character and some of the things going on in her life (including a very unique dilemma with her and her parents), as she throws herself into the part she did get and becomes closer to Oliver, her new friend who also happens to be a genie.  She has discovered the ring that is his "lamp", so to speak, and now she has three wishes coming.  He tells her they will be his last wishes to ever grant and he sort of chose her because he thought she would be smart and make good wishes, but I was never really sure why he though so highly of her right off the bat.  She does actually play it smart and her character grows as she attempts to make wishes that will not disappoint Oliver's confidence in her.  The stakes are upped when she finds out exactly why these will be his last wishes and the story takes a dark and dangerous turn.

The ending was full of suspense and what happens actually took me quite by surprise!  The Art of Wishing was a fun quick read, light and humorous at times, with a little darkness slipped in; an interesting take on genie legend, and a sweet love story. 
Find Lindsay Ribar online: Website  •  Twitter

Purchase The Art of Wishing:  Amazon  •  Book Depository  •  Indiebound

3 comments :

  1. I rea this a few weeks ago and thought it was really cute and sweet. I'm goad there will be more books b/c that ending jet left me hanging. Great review!

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    1. I didn't realize it was going to be a series until the very end! Glad of it, too, though! Thanks, Andrea!

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  2. This sounds like a fun book! I like the fact that it's about genies - I never really read about them in YA. It's definitely in its favor that it sounds both original and cute!

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