The Fourth Wish
The Story Behind This Book
I have always been intrigued by magic. And since writing this, I have learned there really is a mysterious old woman who wanders around the neighborhood described in this book. Life imitating art? Hmmm.
Praise and Reviews
From "Jess" (Amazon Review)
And then, there is Mrs. Seraphina. A veritable Mary Poppins, Mrs. Seraphina is unique, mysterious, and, of course, quite magical. Varadan's story will leave you peeking around store corners and wishing that a Mrs. Seraphina of your very own would appear, even in the face of mischief that invariably follows her.
This was a delightful read reminiscent of Edward Eager's Half-Magic :)
But when their wish comes true with disastrous consequences for Mondo the Magician, they seek out Mrs. Seraphina and make another wish to fix it. As each new wish brings them more and more unexpected problems, they face their fourth and final fix-it-wish, along the way learning a number of important lessons.
This is a story of dreams and responsibilities, cool versus kind, divorce, loss of a parent, remarriage and the true meaning of family. The four children in this story are likeable and believable, especially with regards to sibling rivalries and even their birth order. Both Melanie and Arthur, in particular, rang true for me. The author did a wonderful job there, especially with a bus ride conversation between the two that revealed a side of Arthur that Melanie had never before considered, enabling both characters a level of growth.
This is a book for budging magicians, children who love magic or who dream of being granted three wishes. This is also a book for Sacramento, CA children as it describes many locations familiar to those from the area.
This is quite a romp through modern-day Sacramento. The setting is dead on and the children have normal lives with normal problems, yet there is plenty of funny stuff going on and enough of a mystery to keep the pages turning and turning. Kids from nine to ninety, will enjoy this fun summer read.
Eleven-year-old Melanie McCormick thinks her school vacation will be, at best, boring, although she suspects it will be something much worse. Her parents have recently divorced, her mother is working longer hours and Melanie has to help out more around the house. If that weren't enough, her younger brother and sister and her brother's best friend are tagging along everywhere she goes. How will she ever manage to catch the eye of the school's newest heartthrob or talk privately on the phone with her best friend, Jenny?
While on their way to see a magic show, Melanie, Cory, Erin and Arthur help a stranger pick up the spilled contents of a shopping bag. What the four don't realize is the stranger, who introduces herself as Mrs. Seraphina, is the one who really is magic. When she grants a wish to Melanie's brother, the first to volunteer to help Mrs. Seraphina, a domino effect of complications ensues, sending ripples into the lives of not only the four children but the magician, The Great Mondo, a struggling performer who adds his own unique, and unintended, magic to the plot.
Filled with mystery and enchantment, this fast-paced and gripping story will make you wonder what would you ask for if granted one wish. Would it be a wise choice without any unexpected consequences? What about the person who is the recipient of your wish--how will it change his or her life? And what if one day you were the recipient of someone else's wish, for remember Mrs. Seraphina can grant four of them, and Melanie, Erin and Arthur still have theirs to make ...
This is a book whose characters, dialogue and setting are all on target, and the mystery is both magical and satisfying. You'll wish you didn't have to reach the end. And you'll find yourself wishing for a sequel. It's a great read for youth and the young at heart.
Diane Gross-Hagerty
Sacramento Books ExaminerThis last question is what sets this story apart from other fantasies gauged to this age group. Varadan's characters feel "real." They are dealing with divorce, death of a parent, annoying siblings and their friends. Loads of research has been done to get at the basic fact that kids need to see themselves and their life situations represented in the books that they are reading. This helps kids to realize that they are "normal" - they are okay. This also helps to build connections with the characters being portrayed. When this is mixed into a magical whimsical world the outcome is quite satisfying. This would also be an interesting novel for teachers to use as a read-a-loud purely for the inferential questions that could be posed.
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