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Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Granted by John David Anderson

John David Anderson became a favorite author of mine after I read Ms. Bixby's Last Day. It was inspiring, but heart-wrenching. I knew it would be a sad story, but I was surprised by the humor. I loved his book Posted, too. The message of the book is an important one. It's also relevant in today's world and to the lives of middle graders. Being a fantasy, Granted is a very different book from Anderson's previous two. I am amazed with authors who are able to write so well across genres and topics.

In Granted, Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets is a fairy, but also a Granter. As a Granter, she must travel beyond the Haven to the human world, and grant whatever wish she has been assigned. She has finally been given a mission to grant her first wish. She must find the coin the wish was made on and then her magic will work to grant a girl a purple bike. Ophelia is sure that she will be able to grant this wish easily, but then she gets to the human world and finding the coin is harder than she thought it would be. It's also a lot more dangerous than she thought, but Ophelia is determined to grant a wish even if it means risking being seen by humans and breaking a wing.

Ophelia is a spunky and courageous character. She not only shows determination, but also a caring, warm heart. There is lots of humor in the book as well. Many places made me smile, especially the parts with the dog, Sam. He's friendly, well-meaning, and a loyal friend. John David Anderson's writing is beautiful, pulling the reader into the magical world of the fairies. This is an absolutely enchanting book. After reading it, you may find yourself grabbing a coin, tossing it into a fountain, and making a wish.

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