I hope you enjoyed my review of Cramm This Book: So You Know WTF Is Going On In the World Today , but now, it’s back to middle grade fiction.

Granted by John David Anderson, published by Walden Pond Press (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers) in 2018 is a middle-grade fairy story about wishes.

The premise is, “What happens to all the wishes made upon a star or a penny thrown in a fountain or on birthday candles and dandelion fluff?”

The answer, of course, is fairies, the granters of all those hopes and dreams.

But there’s not much magic left in the fairy kingdom to grant everyone’s wish.

So, the fairies only grant the randomly falling wishes that are written on the leaves of the Great Tree.

The fairies have no say as to what constitutes a good wish or a bad wish, a wish that’s deserved or a wish that’s not, or even one that might not be worthwhile.

The fairies must grant the wishes they’re assigned.

But one child’s wish for a purple bicycle is proving difficult to grant by fairy Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets.

It’s her first assignment and she’s determined to grant it with no mistakes.

The author’s world-building is fantastic in this fun story with a nice sprinkling of magic.

I’ll never look at birds, critters, or insects the same way after reading this book.

I think Granted might make anyone think twice before sending an arbitrary wish into the world.

It did me.

The Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-El, published by Atheneum Books in 2019 is a book that was recommended to me by the librarian that I chatted with at Rio Del Mar Elementary.

I asked her if there were any books that were just sweet and friendly, like A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh.

She beelined for this book.

The Very, Very Far North is about a polar bear named Duane and the friends he makes in the very, very far north (of course).

There’s a wise owl named CC, a conceited musk ox named Handsome, Major Puff the puffin, an artic fox named Magic who was most certainly not a snowbank, and a few others.

Duane is a kind bear who loves his simple life and finds the positive in all the situations no matter the outcome.

He shares his positivity with his friends, who aren’t as open-minded.

Duane is philosophical and innocently wise, much like Pooh Bear.

I’d say this is a book for younger middle-grade readers about 8-10 years old.

It would be fun for parents to read aloud to younger kids.

There is some elevated vocabulary.

Also, there’s a sequel, Just Beyond the Very, Very Far North.

Up in the Air by Ann Marie Meyers, published by Jolly Fish Press, 2013, is about 10-year-old Melody who has always wanted to fly.

After years of practicing, she leaps off the swing in the park and lands in the fantasy world of Chimeroan, where she has the chance to finally make her dream come true.

Only those who really believe in their dreams are allowed into Chimeroan.

But first, Melody must navigate the new world with an (inexperienced) guide.

She learns that dreams do come true, for a price.

This book is another example of great world-building.

There are witches and leprechauns, dragons, fairies, elves, and unicorns.

At the end, Melody has to decide if flying is really so important after all.

Some kids decide their dream just isn’t worth the work it takes to make it come true.

Up in the Air is also a book about anger and guilt and perseverance.

It’s got a lot of humor and a lot of heart.

A bit more of a fantasy than Granted, it is still very accessible to readers who may not be much into fantasy.

I loved Up in the Air.

Fingers crossed that there may be a sequel.

I’ll let you know!

Thanks for reading.

Make yourself a great week!

See you next time.

~gail

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