Wish Upon a Sleepover

by Suzanne Selfors

Bestselling author Suzanne Selfors brings heart and humor to Wish Upon a Sleepover , a middle-grade novel about a group of misfits who find true friendship where they least expect it.

Five misfits. One magical wish.

Leilani dreams of being friends with the most popular girls in her class―the Haileys―who are always throwing awesome themed sleepovers. She devises a master throw her own sleepover of the century and invite them!

When Tutu, her grandmother, accidentally mails Leilani’s invitations to the DO NOT INVITE list, the best sleepover in the history of the world becomes the worst . Instead of the Haileys, the only guests are the three kids Leilani definitely did not want to show the neighbor who never speaks, the girl who draws mean pictures of her, and her farting older cousin. At least her best friend August will be there.

Leilani and her guests decide to make Tutu’s recipe for Sleepover Soup, which requires each of them to collect one ingredient that has significant meaning in their lives. They embark on a scavenger hunt that reveals unexpected surprises. What Leilani finds is not what she wanted, but it might just be even better.

An Imprint Book

"Big-hearted, fast-paced, and funny." ―Kim Baker, author of Pickle

"Equal parts heartbreaking, hopeful and hilarious. It’s impossible not to cheer for these unlikely heroes" ―Sara Nickerson, author of The Secrets of Blueberries, Brothers, Moose & Me

"Anyone who’s ever felt different from the crowd will relish this story of kids who find the magic of being their own unique selves―together." ―Sundee T. Frazier, author of the Coretta Scott King Award-winner Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything In It and the Cleo Edison Oliver series

"Huzzah for Suzanne Selfors! By turns humorous and poignant, this terrific book was impossible to put down." ―Suzanne Williams, coauthor of the Goddess

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Friendship, Childrens, Family, Humor, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

Published January 15, 2019

About the author

Suzanne Selfors lives on an island near Seattle where it rains all the time, which is why she tends to write about cloudy, moss-covered, green places.
She's married, has two kids, and writes full time.
Her favorite writers are Kurt Vonnegut, Charles Dickens, and most especially, Roald Dahl.

Please visit her at www.suzanneselfors.com to learn more about her books.

Reviews

[Tess (Book_Voyage) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the first books in a long time that I have started and finished in the same day. It was that good! This book all starts with a Hawaiian girl named Leilani. She wants to have a sleepover and invite the Haileys, who are on her "Do Invite List." Leilani desperately wants to be a part of their popular group. However, Tutu (her great-grandmother) ends up mailing Leilani's invitations to the outcasts on her "Do Not Invite List." I appreciated the diverse, eccentric cast of characters that this book had. I can especially related to 'Manga Girl' because she's kind of like how I was in Middle school. Everyone had a different struggle to over come. Together, they all overcame their fears. Friendship is truly a powerful thing. It allows you to become something greater than you could be on your own. This book also shows that there are more to people than meet the eye. So don't judge anyone before really getting to know them. You have no idea what they are going through. Overall, I loved this story and it was a super inspiring read. I feel that no matter if you're an adult or child, everyone of all ages should read this book.

[Anne HP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Roaring Book Press for the ARC.
I have the advance reader's edition of Wish upon a Sleepover. I finished it last night. It was a really powerful story. It was a great read, but it was sad Leilani and William's dads died. The Hailey (/Hayley/Haighley/Heighleigh/Heeley/Haylee) thing was funny. My friend Hailey L. thought it was too. It was a wonderful story about true friendship, and I hope more people enjoy it when it comes out.

[Suzanne Dix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leilani is obsessed with The Haileys, six popular girls at her school all named some variation of Hailey. She is convinced that by inviting them to a sleepover she will instantly be “in.” Her best friend Amber is decidedly not a fan of this plan but stays quiet as is her way. While creating her invitation list, Leilani also adds a column “to NOT invite” after of day of difficult encounters with her cousin, a girl she thinks is bullying her and a new neighbor who refuses to speak to her. Asking her Hawaiian grandmother, Tutu, to help her mail out her invitations, Leilani’s carefully (and desperately) crafted plans quickly unravel. Thus begins the comical adventures of one crazy night, a group of not-to-be invited guests and a conniving grandmother all turning Leilani’s luau sleepover into a bust. Tutu makes a batch of Sleepover Soup and leaves instructions that each person needs to add a special ingredient for a wish to come true. Leilani’s not-Hailey party head out on a scavenger hunt for items to add to the soup and find that despite not being friends before the sleepover that they are growing to appreciate one another. A very honest look at how difficult it is to be a good friend and how many layers deep it may take to get to really understand one another. An excellent middle school story free of any cringeworthy cattiness.

[Carin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leilani wants to have more friends. She has a best friend, Autumn, but she's out of town visiting her father every other weekend, leaving Leilani to only be able to hang out with her grandmother. There's a group of 6 girls named Hailey (some variation of spelling) in their class who are popular and seem like they're always having fun. One Hailey lives in the building next door to Leilani's in Seattle. Leilani comes up with a great idea: she'll plan a sleepover for the Haileys and Autumn, and it will be awesome and afterwards they'll all be friends. While planning her sleepover (theme: luau!), a few kids annoy her and she makes not only an Invite list but also a Do Not Invite list (admittedly, a not nice thing to do, but she never meant for this to be seen by anyone other than her.) Her grandmother then "accidentally" send her invites to the Do Not Invite list, argh! So she has three kids she doesn't especially like (and Autumn) come over. While she can see the Haileys at their own sleepover in the next building.

Her grandmother then tells Leilani about a Hawaiian tradition of Sleepover Soup which she starts. Each person must contribute an ingredient that means something to them and is from somewhere important. Then they all drink the soup together under the moon, and good things will happen. If you caught on that this is a variant of the "stone soup" story, congratulations, you are correct!

Naturally, by the end of the evening, the scavenger hunt for ingredients brings the kids together, they reveal personal things about themselves and end up liking each other and forging bonds. (They also have a run-in with the Haileys and the main one is quite bitchy, although another Hailey would like to be invited to their party next time, showing they're not all obnoxious.) And in the end, did her grandmother do much much more than she claimed, for Leilani to gain some new, better friends? A sweet story without being cloying, fun without being frenetic, and with lessons learned but not heavy-handed, this was a thoroughly enjoyable book.

[Billie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It actually made me tear up a couple of times, which middle grade rarely does. This was sweet, but not overly so and the characters all had unique quirks, but also very normal shortcomings. (I love the fact that Selfors allowed Leilani to be kind of mean in the way only an insecure eleven-year-old can be.) The book managed to be message-y without being preachy and sweet without being treacly and I appreciated it very much for both of those reasons.

And thank you for not killing the cat.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timely story that everyone needs to read.

[Joelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this clever and heart-felt story. It was a great nighttime read aloud.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read with my granddaughter! Sweet wish and some unique characters. A good message and kids finding a safe place. “”… do you believe in magic?” “…well, not exactly. I mean, there are things that happen that we can’t explain, but I’m not sure that’s magic. But there are other things that can make your life ‘magical.’ Like love. When you love someone, your life changes in all sorts of ways, and that can feel like magic.”

"One true friend is better than a bunch of false friends."

[Marathon County Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leliani has only one friend, Autumn, and the popular group of Haileys at school look like they would be fun friends, so she decides to plan a sleepover and invite them. However, with her confused grandmother helping with the party, the kids on the “Do Not Invite” list get invited instead of kids on the “Do Invite” list. So now she’s stuck with the worst sleepover guests ever: Todd, her older cousin, who farts obnoxiously all the time, William, a boy in her apartment building who doesn’t even talk (selective mutism), and “Manga Girl,” who always wears hoodies /hats with horns/cat ears and draws obsessively, most likely, Leliani thinks, mean pictures of her, and of course her old friend Autumn.

As if things are not bad enough already, Leliani's mother is too busy to shop and her grandmother prepares some kind of ancient magical Sleepover Soup broth for the party which her grandmother says is a Hawaiian tradition. With no real food or activities on the day of the sleepover, the guests and Leliani decide to follow the instructions on her grandmother’s recipe card and go on a scavenger hunt to find and add each of their own special, meaningful ingredient to the sleepover soup. Then, according to the instructions, they take the soup pot outside and make a wish under the moonlight to the ancient Hawaiian god, Hina-i-ka-malama, with of course surprising results.

I loved this magical, charming tween book for its simplicity and honesty, and yes I was rooting for all of these characters. This is a quick, wise, wonderful read. It just might change your life, at least a little. Ah, there's the magic!

Sharyn H. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I just want you to know, Leilani, that by being nice, you can change someone’s life.”

It starts with an act of “meanness.” Leilani wants to have a sleepover and invite the popular girl clique known as The Haileys (6 girls, all named Haylee, but all with different spellings.) So she makes two lists: DO invite to my sleepover and DO NOT invite to my sleepover. Of course on the invite list is all the Haileys and Leilani’s best friend, Autumn. On the DO NOT invite list: Todd, Leilani’s 2nd cousin who won’t stop embarrassing her with his gaseous problems; Manga Girl, a girl in Leilani’s class that wears cat ears and draws comics (one of Leilani going to Reading Lab); and William, the new boy that just moved into her building and refuses to speak or look at Leilani when they meet in the elevator.

And wouldn’t you know it? Leilani’s great-grandmother, Tutu, mails the sleepover invitations to the wrong list of people. How can Leilani possibly endure a sleepover with all these annoying people? But no matter what she says or tries, Leilani’s mother won’t let her cancel the sleepover. “Mom said it’s all about attitude. Do we look at the sugarcane and see a brown stick? Or do we give it a chance and discover that it’s actually sweet?”

Leilani doesn’t even plan any activities. She simply wants to “get it over with.” But Tutu leaves a pot of chicken broth on the stove with the instructions for Sleepover Soup. (Step 1). Step 2: “Each guest must gather a special ingredient for the broth. The special ingredient should come from a special place.” If all the instructions are followed to the letter, wishes will come true. And so begins their Sleepover Scavenger Hunt, in which they find so much more than they ever anticipated that they would.

This story is a poignant illustration of the quote: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” It’s a beautiful journey from beings strangers to being friends, with plenty of humor along the way. A definite addition to my school library.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ten-year-old Leilani enjoys spending time with her best friend Autumn, but she really wants to join the popular group at school, led by Hailey Chun. She dreams of cracking their inner circle, and decides that a sleepover might be her way to do so. But her plans go awry when her great-grandmother, Tutu, sends out the invitations to the wrong people, those on her "Do Not Invite" list. Leilani agrees to go through with the sleepover at her mother's insistence, but she puts no effort into making plans. When Tutu provides the starting of a soup broth into which all of her guests must contribute something, the youngsters venture forth into the city in search of ingredients. Along the way, they each reveal secrets about themselves, and realize some unexpected truths. While the soup isn't very appetizing, they realize that they have something in common. I liked how Leilani is so unaware of how she's been treating her best friend since she's so caught up in impressing girls who will probably never give her the time of day, and how this modern version of the classic Stone Soup story unfolds. As each youngster makes a wish at the end of the story, something Tutu had insisted was part of the ritual, they no longer are so self-absorbed and are able to unite in their individual wishes for one of their own, William, and his beloved cat, Belle. These characters are all interesting and unique, and Leilani will be much better off with them in her corner that the group she sought to impress. This is a great book to share with fourth or fifth graders or to have them read independently. Having it set in Seattle allows readers to gain a glimpse of the city.

[Jeanell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Partner ✨BookReview✨Thank you @KidLitExchange for a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Leilani has one goal – to be a part of the ever popular group of Hayley‘s. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with them? The six Hayley’s (all spelled differently) have weekly sleepovers, eat from matching eco-friendly lunchboxes, and wear the same purple Converse sneakers. Determined to impress the Hayleys and finally become their friend, Leilani decides to host her own sleepover. Things take a turn for the worst when the invitations get mailed to the names on her Do Not Invite list instead of the intended recipients. In this amazing middle grade novel, Suzanne Selfors combines Hawaiian mythology and elements of the classic tale of Stone Soup to tell a story of a group of misfits who learn the power of friendship. With a descriptive, transporting Seattle setting and powerful themes, readers will follow a group of well-written, diverse characters on a small adventure and be inspired to find the sometimes hidden magic in others.

[Meghann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This juvenile fiction takes the traditional Stone Soup story and adapts it for a modern audience.

Leilani, a girl of Hawaiian heritage, decides that she wants to be a popular kid and the only way to do that is to throw the coolest, most amazing sleepover for the “Hailey’s”. Each of the popular girls in her school all have a variation of the name Hailey and Leilani wants to be just like them. Unfortunately, her plans go astray when the invitations get sent to the exact people she DIDN’T want to invite.

This is a warm-hearted, humorous story about a girl learning to look beyond popularity and find friends in the unlikeliest of places. Each girl contributes a unique ingredient to the Sleepover Soup, and in the process uncovers something personal about themselves.

I would recommend this book to young middle grade readers who are looking for something that portrays real friendships and real people – not the usually stock characters.

[Laura Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to @imprintreads for the free book to share with @kidlitexchange !!
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this charming middle grade friendship story perfect for grades 3+.
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Swipe for the back.
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Quick, cute read about overcoming your fears and taking a chance on befriending someone new. Deeper than I expected and includes a satisfying Stone Soup-style scavenger hunt. Highly recommended for all elementary and middle school libraries.
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[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learning to see people for who they are - fears and all.
A sleepover with the "wrong" guests turns into a night of connecting.
Leilani - Has one terrific friend but she gets lonely when Autumn spends the weekend with her dad. She yearns to be part of the popular group - the Haileys.
Autumn - Quiet and studious. She finds her voice and speaks up for herself.
Todd - Leilani's cousin. He suffers from severe anxiety when playing during actual basketball games.
Tanisha - Manga Girl. She finds the bravery to share how ordinary she is without her hats. She finds friends that support her as she is.
William - selective mute. He finds the bravery to speak and share his deepest anxiety - his cat is being treated for cancer.
The book ends on a positive note for all of them.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book after having it recommended by another book that I read. Yes, it's a juvenile book, but the message is sweet and very positive for those kids who just don't "fit" into the cool kids group. Leilani lives with her Hawaiian grandmom and mother. Leilani wants to have a sleepover, so creates a list of kids who should come and another list of the kids who should NOT COME. Of course, grandma delivers the invites to the wrong group and all the "misfits" show up for the sleepover. Very fun read, especially for a grandchild or child who is looking for her/his place in the big world of middle school.

[Janet Lynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Sunshine State book for grades 3-5. Read it with my grandson so we could discuss the story as he read. A group of loners are mistakenly invited to a sleepover. William, the boy who doesn’t talk. Autumn, always in Leilani’s shadow. Todd, the farting boy. Manga girl, always drawing in a corner. And the hostess, Leilani, who desperately wants to be friends with “The Hailey’s”. When her great grandmother sends invites to the Do Not Invite list in error (or was it?), Leilani is forced to entertain kids she doesn’t like. When they embark on a scavenger hunt to gather ingredients for a magic soup they learn more about each other and more about what it means to be friends.

[Greg S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this at a thrift store for $0.99 and what a great find!

I admit that at first I was drawn by the font (of all things…), then I was drawn by the cover, then the black blurb, and then finally the chapter names.

What a wild ride to the actual reading…
But soon as I did I liked it.

Author says it’s their Stone Soup story, and that’s a great folktale.
At first, I was disappointed by the plot structure, but last two chapters made it all worth it.

Just a lovely arc and a well-done ending.
It’s so short that I may read it again tonight!

[Ella Hoang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really sweet and shows that you shouldn't judge people from first glance! The book goes into depth on friendship and how you may become friends with people you don't really think you'd be friends with. Leilani starts off sort of pessimistic and isn't excited for the sleepover, but everything changes and she explores each person and their vulnerabilities. A very sweet book that I would recommend for a good read!

[Jaymie · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from a social media contest. All opinions are my own.]

4.5 stars. Delightful! I enjoyed this friendship story that incorporates the legend of Stone Soup with a Hawaiian twist. Great characters, brief discussions of different sorts of anxiety (including stage fright and selective mutism), and a strong friendship story. Highly recommend!

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I thought the cover art was cute, not thinking much of it. To my surprise, the book turned out to be legitimately good. There were even some moments involving a cat where I got a little teary, given my own recent experiences. The main character is kinda bratty, so it's nice to see her journey to becoming more kind.

[Valerie McEnroe]

Kids are notoriously impatient when it comes to books. If it doesn't grab them right away they give up. This one needs a better intro. I recommend The Sleepover by Jen Malone.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter received this book in her BeTWEEN the Bookends subscription box and I was immediately drawn in by the cover that I asked to read it too. It's such a sweet story of friendship and reminds me of my own sleepover days. I'm really glad my daughter will get to read this uplifting story that celebrates diversity and Hawaiian culture through its characters, food, language, and traditions.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely story. It was easy to read, had a good pace, good plot. I really liked the characters and how they grew over the course of the book. I do with there had been a guide to pronouncing the Hawaiian phrases used in the book. I love the idea of sleepover soup, even if the end result for these kids was disgusting.
The book had a very satisfying end and it was a fun story to read.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, if a bit heavy handed. I love the take on the Stone Soup myth. Confused as to the intended audience -- characters are in junior high and riding around on the city bus unsupervised, but the reading level seems reeeeeeeeealy young.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for a book club with 3 of my grandchildren and we all loved it. Full of slightly flawed but lovable characters who learn some good lessons about acceptance and friendship. Highly recommended.

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I think "Critter League" as an actual true to life manga has some actual potential, if the author can find the right artist..and 2nd it was a good, short yet to point + to heart read about the wonders of a good sleepover with friends.

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this retelling of the Hawaiian version of “Stone Soup.” Young readers will, hopefully, take a few important lessons away when they’re done reading it. Read more on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....

[Barbara Mittelstadt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book speaks about the stress of trying to fit in with the “popular “ kids, but losing yourself at the same time. I loved how the “not invited “ become more important as the story moves forward.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars for the target age group. This book was mentioned in another book I was reading so I checked it out. It is a juvenile fiction book with an excellent message for all ages about judgement, kindness and friendship.