You wish

Nothing ever exciting happens to Avery: she's just a lonely girl living with her father in a dead-end town. But when she discovers that her mother is not only alive but also a genie trapped in another world, she uses her recently granted wishes and her magical friend Gribblet to rescue her mom and reunite her family. Bold colorization, vivid backgrounds, and expressive character design make this graphic novel feel like a full-on Disney movie. Even the large paneling often feels like a movie-theater screen, giving the whole book a cinematic feel, especially during the action scenes. While the plot could be predictable to some kids already familiar with wish-granting story lines, the combination of a traditional "three-wish" plot mixed with a magical rescue certainly adds some freshness to the narrative. With a planned sequel, this lays out the groundwork for a promising series for middle-graders who like plot-driven fantasy stories.

Gr 4--6--Ten-year-old Avery lives with her dad in a small trailer next to the gas station he works at in the middle of the desert. In the opening panels, Avery is wearing a magician's costume and working on magic tricks to bring some charm to a not-so-charming place. Her life becomes a lot more enchanting when she finds a genie lamp hiding in the shed. To her surprise, a small, red, catlike creature named Gribblet appears, announcing himself as a genie's herald. Rather than getting three wishes, Gribblet shares that Avery's mother, who passed when she was born, was actually a genie. Her mother fell in love with a human, and after Avery was born, was banished for breaking the rules. Avery sets off on a quest with Gribblet to the genie realm--where she's not very welcome--to search for her mother. The genie world is dark and fiery, filled with caverns, mountains, a giant acidic lake, and genies who don't like humans. This first installment of a planned series has a unique story line with a relatable protagonist looking for both adventure and family. VERDICT A fast-paced graphic novel recommended for larger middle grade collections.--Marissa Lieberman