13 Gifts: A Wish Novel - by Wendy Mass (Paperback)

About the Book

After Tara steals the school mascot in order to make friends with the popular crowd and is caught, she finds herself in a heap of trouble. Her parents decide she must go stay with her aunt, uncle, and bratty cousin in Willow Falls. What Tara doesn't know is that this charmed town has something big in store for her on her 13th birthday.

Book Synopsis

Welcome back to Willow Falls, where anything is possible and nothing is as it seems!

It doesn't take long for Tara Brennan to realize that breaking into school to steal a goat is not a good idea. As punishment for her crimes, Tara's parents send her to the sleepy town of Willow Falls to stay with relatives she hardly knows, including her strange younger cousin Emily. Tara quickly learns that Emily isn't even remotely the strangest person in town. There's a boy who sings at the bottom of an empty pool, two best friends who use blackboards to communicate, and a girl who may or may not be dating the world's hottest teen movie star.Due to another lapse in judgment, Tara finds herself beholden to perhaps the strangest person of all: Angelina D'Angelo. If Tara can't collect thirteen mysterious objects for the old woman in time for her thirteenth birthday, the consequences will be REALLY BAD. With a big dose of birthday magic, Tara's adventures take her and her new friends to places they never thought they'd find, some in the real world, and a lot deep inside themselves.

Review Quotes

Praise for 13 Gifts

*"Mass keeps the plot jumping like a fireworks display; there's one surprise spark after another, all coming together at the end for a breathtaking finale." -School Library Journal, starred review

"In equal parts philosophical and wryly humorous, this magical tale will satisfy both fans and new readers alike." -Kirkus

Praise for Finally

"Rory's chatty, friendly voice and relentless optimism in the face of her many mishaps are heartwarming." -Publishers Weekly

"Growing up doesn't have to happen all at once, and it isn't always all it's cracked up to be . . . Mass provides a pretty entertaining and solidly worthwhile read." -Kirkus

Praise for 11 Birthdays

*"From the double-entendre title to the solid character portrayals to the clarity and wit of the writing, this novel offers a fresh twist on the familiar themes of middle-grade family and school dynamics." -Booklist, starred review

*"Mass's expertise with pacing keeps the story moving at a lively clip, and her understanding of this age group is as finely honed as ever." -Publishers Weekly, starred review

About the Author

Wendy Mass is the author of award-winning books for young readers, including 11 Birthdays, Finally, 13 Gifts, The Last Present, and the Twice Upon a Time series; as well as A Mango-Shaped Space, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall, Leap Day, Every Soul a Star, Space Taxi, and The Candymakers. She lives with her family in New Jersey.