The Seventh Wish - by Kate Messner (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

With the same warmth and fun that readers loved in All the Answers, award-winning author Kate Messner weaves fantasy into the ordinary, giving every reader the opportunity to experience a little magic.

Be careful what you wish for . . .

When Charlie Brennan goes ice fishing on her town's frozen lake, she hopes the fish she reels in will help pay for a fancy Irish dancing dress for her upcoming competition. Instead, she catches a talking fish that offers to grant her wishes in exchange for its freedom, and Charlie's world turns upside down, as her wishes go terribly--and hilariously--wrong.

Just as Charlie is finally getting the hang of communicating with a magical fish, a family crisis brings reality into sharp focus. Charlie quickly learns that the real world doesn't always keep fairy-tale promises and life's toughest challenges can't be fixed by a simple wish . . .

Review Quotes

"An empathetic, beautiful, magical, fiercely necessary book that stares unflinchingly at the very real challenges contemporary kids face and gently assures them they are not alone. Kate Messner gives her readers a story to cherish." --Anne Ursu, author of BREADCRUMBS and THE REAL BOY

"Hopeful, empathetic, and unusually enlightening." --starred review, Kirkus Reviews

"Rich and daring . . . As she did in All the Answers, Messner lightens a heavy theme with a bit of magic." --Publishers Weekly

"A charming fantasy story with threads of several deep themes that could serve as the basis for thoughtful discussion." --School Library Journal

"Messner uses her particular brand of magical realism to face some tough but necessary stuff. . . . An enjoyable and informative story." --BCCB

"Messner melds realism with a bit of magic for a charming middle grade story. . . . Charlie's determination and spunk will appeal to readers." --School Library Connection

"Messner writes insightfully of Charlie's experiences." --Booklist

"It's no surprise that Kate Messner's magic pen could write a charming, moving, funny, and ultimately very surprising story about a magic pencil!" --Wendy Mass, New York Times best selling author of 11 BIRTHDAYS, on ALL THE ANSWERS

"Messner (Manhunt) has created a relatable, sympathetic character in anxious Ava, and her story is at its best when Ava's life remains centered around the norms of her school, friends, and multigenerational family." --Publishers Weekly on ALL THE ANSWERS

"Ava learns lessons about coping and bravery that should resonate with middle grade readers struggling with their own anxieties . . . An emotionally resonant portrait of a sweet girl whose struggles are firmly rooted in reality." --Booklist on ALL THE ANSWERS

"Will appeal to Wendy Mass fans as well as those who love Messner's previous novels." --School Library Journal on ALL THE ANSWERS

About the Author

Kate Messner is passionately curious and writes books that encourage kids to wonder, too. Her titles include award-winning picture books like Over and Under the Snow, Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, and How to Read a Story; novels like Capture the Flag, All the Answers, and Breakout; the Fergus and Zeke easy reader series, and the Ranger in Time historical chapter book series. Kate lives on Lake Champlain with her family and is trying to summit all forty-six Adirondack High Peaks in between book deadlines.
www.katemessner.com
@KateMessner