WISH

Author (last name first):
Bullen, Alexandra

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Point/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

6th and Up

Classification: 
Fiction  



For sixteen year old Olivia Larsen nothing can bring back her twin sister Violet who passed away during the summer. Living in a house where her parents are grieving for their lost child and trying to deal with the only child they have left proves to be heartbreaking. Olivia moves to a new school and a new town, but finds that it's even lonelier than her parents made it out to be.  When her mom's office partners throw a party  to welcome her family, Olivia is note too thrilled to go. She is not the social butterfly like her late sister and knows that she will only feel out of place. When a dress arrives for her to wear to the party Olivia decides to wear it and is gorgeous. She gets invited to go to hear a local band play by two children of her mom's office buddy's. She suddenly fills over dressed and out of place in the rock and roll scene. But when she see's Soren for the first time her heart skips a beat and she knows she is in love. The only problem is he's taken by the prettiest girl in school. She tries to talk to him but ends up making a fool out of herself, and runs from the building hailing a cab to take her home. She is lost without her sister and wishes she could see her as well as talk to her one more time. 
Suddenly a glowing butterfly flies out her window, and she is left wondering if she is seeing things or is she drunk. She makes it home and suddenly can hear, see and touch her sister again.Violet has finally come home, but there is only one glitch. No one can see or hear Violet but Olivia. Violet teaches Olivia how to dress and how to make friends all the while missing her family. Olivia finds out that the dress is a magical dress and that she can wish two more wishes.Will she make  the right ones? Only the reader will know. 

This book is sad but uplifting. It shows how a family deals with the tragedy of losing a daughter and a sister. How they overcome  the pain of their loss and how Olivia finally gets through to her parents making them deal with their grief as well as her own. This would make a wonderful book to read.


Reviewer: Lila Davis