Official Review: Andi Makes a Wish! by Meg Kimball
Posted: 11 Jun 2015, 18:02
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Andi Makes a Wish!" by Meg Kimball.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Andi Makes a Wish! by Meg Kimball is the 5th installment in the Advice Avengers series. The first four installments were published together as the book Forever Twelve; they are also available as stand-alone volumes. Since I loved Forever Twelve, the latest entry in this Young Adult series caught my eye.
Thirteen-year-old Andi lives with her father and chain-smoking Aunt Berry. Her mother Hilary lives in a halfway house, as a recovering alcoholic. When Hilary informs her that she is going away for a while, Andi is full of resentment. She wishes her mother could be more like her best friend Corey’s mom, who is the coolest mom ever. When a church assistant invites Andi to a meditation group he belongs to, she decides to try a session in the hopes of dealing with her anger issues. This leads to some interesting, almost magical situations.
There is much to like in this story. Serious issues are explored, yet there is a dose of whimsy often sprinkled in to lighten the mood. The author realistically portrays Andi as being upset about not having the stereotypical perfect mother. Teenage girls tend to be sensitive and feel things deeply. It was interesting how Andi always referred to her mother as Hilary. This was an effective way of showing that Hilary didn’t live up to Andi’s expectations of what a mother should be like.
The author has a natural, flowing writing style that is easy to understand. That isn’t to say the writing is simplistic; in fact, there are enough interesting words and creative phrases in this book to satisfy serious, as well as light, readers. Andi’s thoughts and reactions are exactly how a teenage girl would act. During a guided visualization, Andi’s first thought is, “It’s as if the sofa is eating me whole and I’m perfectly willing to be eaten alive by the furniture." The descriptions in this book are particularly vivid. A flashback of an event from Andi’s childhood is realistically written and heartbreaking. The long scar on her finger is a subtle way of informing the reader of the gravity of Andi's childhood experiences.
There are also many light-hearted moments throughout this book. Andi’s friends Tyler and Bruce pull a Turbulent Turkey prank that is hilarious. When Andi’s phone rang in church after the initial prank, I laughed out loud. Andi’s funny, surreal visit with the guidance counselor is also a standout.
My criticisms are few and didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the story. There is a detailed passage about a Judge Judy episode that felt like it was three pages too long. Other than that, the story moves along at a good pace. Also, I would have liked it if Andi’s father was more prominently featured, particularly since Andi was so upset about her mother.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Andi is a multi-dimensional character and I became completely absorbed in her story. I would recommend this book to tweens and teenagers who like reading books about girls navigating the waters of “teendom”. Adults would also enjoy this likeable crew. I mean, how can you not like a book with a main character who wears rainbow toe socks and unicorn shirts?
******
Andi Makes a Wish!
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Barnes and Noble
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Andi Makes a Wish! by Meg Kimball is the 5th installment in the Advice Avengers series. The first four installments were published together as the book Forever Twelve; they are also available as stand-alone volumes. Since I loved Forever Twelve, the latest entry in this Young Adult series caught my eye.
Thirteen-year-old Andi lives with her father and chain-smoking Aunt Berry. Her mother Hilary lives in a halfway house, as a recovering alcoholic. When Hilary informs her that she is going away for a while, Andi is full of resentment. She wishes her mother could be more like her best friend Corey’s mom, who is the coolest mom ever. When a church assistant invites Andi to a meditation group he belongs to, she decides to try a session in the hopes of dealing with her anger issues. This leads to some interesting, almost magical situations.
There is much to like in this story. Serious issues are explored, yet there is a dose of whimsy often sprinkled in to lighten the mood. The author realistically portrays Andi as being upset about not having the stereotypical perfect mother. Teenage girls tend to be sensitive and feel things deeply. It was interesting how Andi always referred to her mother as Hilary. This was an effective way of showing that Hilary didn’t live up to Andi’s expectations of what a mother should be like.
The author has a natural, flowing writing style that is easy to understand. That isn’t to say the writing is simplistic; in fact, there are enough interesting words and creative phrases in this book to satisfy serious, as well as light, readers. Andi’s thoughts and reactions are exactly how a teenage girl would act. During a guided visualization, Andi’s first thought is, “It’s as if the sofa is eating me whole and I’m perfectly willing to be eaten alive by the furniture." The descriptions in this book are particularly vivid. A flashback of an event from Andi’s childhood is realistically written and heartbreaking. The long scar on her finger is a subtle way of informing the reader of the gravity of Andi's childhood experiences.
There are also many light-hearted moments throughout this book. Andi’s friends Tyler and Bruce pull a Turbulent Turkey prank that is hilarious. When Andi’s phone rang in church after the initial prank, I laughed out loud. Andi’s funny, surreal visit with the guidance counselor is also a standout.
My criticisms are few and didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the story. There is a detailed passage about a Judge Judy episode that felt like it was three pages too long. Other than that, the story moves along at a good pace. Also, I would have liked it if Andi’s father was more prominently featured, particularly since Andi was so upset about her mother.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Andi is a multi-dimensional character and I became completely absorbed in her story. I would recommend this book to tweens and teenagers who like reading books about girls navigating the waters of “teendom”. Adults would also enjoy this likeable crew. I mean, how can you not like a book with a main character who wears rainbow toe socks and unicorn shirts?
******
Andi Makes a Wish!
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Barnes and Noble
Like bookowlie's review? Post a comment saying so!
