Genuine Sweet

Gr 4–6—Genuine Sweet is a fourth generation wish fetcher. Using starlight that she whistles down from the night sky, she bakes magical biscuits that allow her to grant wishes. The magic has rules however—it can only be used for other people and only for good-hearted wishes. Genuine's life is not easy, her father is unemployed due to drinking on the job, and the whole family subsists on Gram's meager social security benefits. Despite her own needs, Genuine throws herself into helping others. But it's not long before the news is out, and suddenly the wish requests escalate beyond her ability to keep up, even with two loyal friends helping. Then, while Genuine is out helping others, her beloved grandma dies. This is nearly the undoing of the girl and her rant at the stars afterward is moving. The story builds predictably, but the characters and events are well written and intriguing. Genuine's frustration over the dilemma of being able to help everyone but her own family is well crafted. Her voice, though perhaps a bit too perceptive for a 12 year old, is otherwise authentic and unique, creating a character that readers will identify with and care about. Hand this to fans of Natalie Lloyd's A Snicker of Magic (Scholastic, 2014).—Gretchen Crowley, Alexandria City Public Libraries, VA