The Altered History of Willow Sparks

Gr 8 Up—Although Willow "Willy" Sparks enjoys her part-time job at the local library and her close friendship with her classmate Georgia, she can't overcome being bullied. After Willy's tormentors harass her at work, she stumbles upon a library book that contains every detail of her life. Discovering that she can literally write her life story into this volume, she revises the text so that she fits in at school. However, Willy is unprepared to let go of her old life, and using the book has mysterious, perhaps dire consequences. While the idea of being careful what you wish for is well worn, O'Connor's take on the topic is original and engaging. She uses lush, fluid linework and angular character designs reminiscent of Faith Erin Hicks's art. Even seemingly tangential characters have defined roles and personalities, allowing readers to see how Willy's actions affect others. The tale is violent at times; the handful of scenes in which Willy is physically attacked by her bullies make this title more appropriate for older teens.