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Witch Wish
Val Williams believes she will never be as pretty or popular as her older sister Ailene. When Ailene dumps her on an unfamiliar road after an argument, Val decides to ask directions of the only person she sees—an old woman engaged in a garage sale. Val purchases a music box that the old woman claims has magical qualities and will grant Val one wish. In a fit of pique, Val wishes that that her sister would stop being so perfect. When Ailene starts acting oddly, breaks up with her boyfriend, stops talking to her friends, starts dating a “bad” boy, and cuts classes, Val is troubled. She begins to fear she caused all this to happen by making her wish and suffers a guilty conscience. How she goes about setting matters right makes for some unusual complications and surprises.
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Published July 7, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 3, 2018
I am totally bewitched by, Witch Wish. As an adult, I have enjoyed the light cozy read of a YA novel from time to time. Jacqueline Seewald has checked all the boxes for a warm read about two teen sisters with a good dose of sibling rivalry. What I found different about this story was the author’s ability to let the characters in this book take on a slight edge. The seemingly perfect family is not so storybook perfect. I hope that Young adults will find that they are not alone in their trivial day to day problems or their more intense issues. I especially liked the realistic ending and the message conveyed about family relationships. Without spoiling it for others, I will just say that it is well worth reading. I liken this story to popular teen books, such as Freaky Friday. The author covers all teen high school social status’...the jock, cheerleader, Geek, and less fortunate (invisible) groups. I really enjoyed Val’s spicy temper and her growth throughout the story. The 80’s setting made it easy to focus on the behaviors of teens and made me wonder how the author would write the same story today. One thing still rings true. Be careful what you wish for!
November 30, 2018
This book is a quick and entertaining read and very much illustrates that “things are not always as they seem.” The perfect family isn’t so perfect and each grapple with both personal problems and difficulties within their familial relationships.
The protagonist, Val Williams, envies her sister, Ailene and feels out of place in her home, like a cuckoo in another bird’s nest. An old woman gives her a music box that will grant Val one wish. Inadvertently, she wishes her sister isn’t so perfect. To her surprise, Ailene skips classes, breaks up with her equally perfect boyfriend, and avoids her friends. Val worries that the box may have indeed been magical and despite their differences, Val cares about her sister’s well-being.
As Val strives to right the wrongs, she discovers much about her family and herself. The relationship between the two sisters rang true. (I’m the oldest of two daughters, but very imperfect and hopefully, not quite as annoying a big sis as Ailene.) I was unaware that this book is the third of a trilogy. Thankfully, Witch Wish is a stand-alone book, so I had no problems. I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
The protagonist, Val Williams, envies her sister, Ailene and feels out of place in her home, like a cuckoo in another bird’s nest. An old woman gives her a music box that will grant Val one wish. Inadvertently, she wishes her sister isn’t so perfect. To her surprise, Ailene skips classes, breaks up with her equally perfect boyfriend, and avoids her friends. Val worries that the box may have indeed been magical and despite their differences, Val cares about her sister’s well-being.
As Val strives to right the wrongs, she discovers much about her family and herself. The relationship between the two sisters rang true. (I’m the oldest of two daughters, but very imperfect and hopefully, not quite as annoying a big sis as Ailene.) I was unaware that this book is the third of a trilogy. Thankfully, Witch Wish is a stand-alone book, so I had no problems. I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
November 12, 2018
If we weren't a younger sister, we all knew someone who was. We knew their struggles, their hopes and dreams, as well as the conflicts that come along with having a "perfect" older sister.
If we didn't come from a dysfunctional family, we all know someone who did. We remember the daily rejections, shame, guilt and blaming tactics which are common among toxic systems.
Witch Wish is a blend of hopes and dreams, struggles and triumphs. While we watch Val carve a place in this world, we see her work through the normal stressors associated with adoloscence. It is a joy; it is a heart breaker.
If you know a young person in a similar situation, do yourself an them a favor by giving them a copy of Witch Wish. You'll be better for it as we were for having read this delightful story.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
If we didn't come from a dysfunctional family, we all know someone who did. We remember the daily rejections, shame, guilt and blaming tactics which are common among toxic systems.
Witch Wish is a blend of hopes and dreams, struggles and triumphs. While we watch Val carve a place in this world, we see her work through the normal stressors associated with adoloscence. It is a joy; it is a heart breaker.
If you know a young person in a similar situation, do yourself an them a favor by giving them a copy of Witch Wish. You'll be better for it as we were for having read this delightful story.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
December 13, 2018
Jacqueline Seewald's Witch Wish is an excellent book. I couldn't put it down. She really gets teenage angst. Val's story --- envy of her pretty, popular older sister, criticized or ignored by her mother, and lacking in self-esteem (no wonder!) ---is one that many teens (and adults) could probably relate to. Happily, Val grows and changes, learning that helping others makes her feel good, which, in turn, helps her self-esteem. She finally realizes that though nothing will probably make her mother feel differently toward her, she and her sister realize they can care about each other. And she learns to make her own way. Really great story!
Sandra Gardner
Sandra Gardner
July 28, 2018
I don't normally read YA novels but, because I've read several books by Jacqueline Seewald - and thoroughly enjoyed them, I decided to give her new release, "Witch Wish," a try. I'm so glad I did! The story was compelling but my favorite thing about the book was the insight the author provided into the family dynamics and the minds/motivations of the characters. An excellent and well worth it read!
July 16, 2018
WITCH WISH by Jacqueline Seewald – Reviewed by Susan Coryell
Prolific and wide-ranging author Jacqueline Seewald scores another fine novel with her new YA release Witch Wish.
Fifteen-year-old Val Williams makes an impulsive wish on a “magic” music box she purchased at a yard sale after being tossed out of the car by her sister in a fit of pique. Val wishes her sister, Ailene, would stop being so perfect—with her top grades, gorgeous appearance, many friends and popularity as a senior in high school.
Both of the girls’ parents and some of their friends register surprise when that is precisely what happens; Ailene begins slacking at school, dumps her football captain beau and takes up with a rough-appearing mechanic.
As Val regrets her wish and evaluates the situation, she grows to understand herself. She realizes that she has spent her life acting up in order to receive negative attention from her mother who obviously favors Ailene. Val also discovers that Ailene, too, is vulnerable, particularly fearing that her beauty has made her shallow and materialistic like their mother.
With help from her friend Toni, who is an abused child, Dave, her student math tutor, and the outlet of distance running, Val not only finds self-esteem but also helps Ailene out of her emotional slump.
One of author Seewald’s strengths is her emphasis on themes which teens coming of age can relate to and learn from without preaching. Her characters are fully fleshed out and the everyday situations and traumas they find themselves in are relatable in multiple ways.
Highly recommended, not only for young readers, but also for teachers, coaches, counselors and parents dealing with teens and tweens.
Prolific and wide-ranging author Jacqueline Seewald scores another fine novel with her new YA release Witch Wish.
Fifteen-year-old Val Williams makes an impulsive wish on a “magic” music box she purchased at a yard sale after being tossed out of the car by her sister in a fit of pique. Val wishes her sister, Ailene, would stop being so perfect—with her top grades, gorgeous appearance, many friends and popularity as a senior in high school.
Both of the girls’ parents and some of their friends register surprise when that is precisely what happens; Ailene begins slacking at school, dumps her football captain beau and takes up with a rough-appearing mechanic.
As Val regrets her wish and evaluates the situation, she grows to understand herself. She realizes that she has spent her life acting up in order to receive negative attention from her mother who obviously favors Ailene. Val also discovers that Ailene, too, is vulnerable, particularly fearing that her beauty has made her shallow and materialistic like their mother.
With help from her friend Toni, who is an abused child, Dave, her student math tutor, and the outlet of distance running, Val not only finds self-esteem but also helps Ailene out of her emotional slump.
One of author Seewald’s strengths is her emphasis on themes which teens coming of age can relate to and learn from without preaching. Her characters are fully fleshed out and the everyday situations and traumas they find themselves in are relatable in multiple ways.
Highly recommended, not only for young readers, but also for teachers, coaches, counselors and parents dealing with teens and tweens.
September 23, 2018
3.5 stars
“Be careful what you wish for” should have been Val’s mantra but, of course, she didn’t really mean for anything to go wrong for Ailene when she picks up that old woman’s music box and inadvertently wishes Ailene wasn’t so perfect. On the other hand, it’s not easy to live with a sister who is truly the golden child and is obnoxious on top of everything else. Could this music box really be magical?
At its core, though, this is a story about a family in a world of hurt and each member of the family contributes to that condition, the inability to get along with each other or be the kind of peaceful, loving family we all want. On the surface, Ailene is the one who is most disruptive and certainly she is incredibly self-absorbed and can be downright cruel to her younger sister but, in reality, she’s not the real issue.
As Ailene seems to be falling apart, Val takes the first wobbly steps towards seeing her own self-worth and her sister’s true vulnerability, the cracks in her facade. Tangentially, Val’s friend has her own family dysfunction to deal with that eventually involves everyone in the Williams family as they work to protect Toni and her sister, Kathy.
While Val finds her inner strength, the rest of her family each have their own “awakening” and, as a reader, I took comfort in going along with them on their journey. Val, in particular, became a young woman I’d like to spend more time with.
“Be careful what you wish for” should have been Val’s mantra but, of course, she didn’t really mean for anything to go wrong for Ailene when she picks up that old woman’s music box and inadvertently wishes Ailene wasn’t so perfect. On the other hand, it’s not easy to live with a sister who is truly the golden child and is obnoxious on top of everything else. Could this music box really be magical?
At its core, though, this is a story about a family in a world of hurt and each member of the family contributes to that condition, the inability to get along with each other or be the kind of peaceful, loving family we all want. On the surface, Ailene is the one who is most disruptive and certainly she is incredibly self-absorbed and can be downright cruel to her younger sister but, in reality, she’s not the real issue.
As Ailene seems to be falling apart, Val takes the first wobbly steps towards seeing her own self-worth and her sister’s true vulnerability, the cracks in her facade. Tangentially, Val’s friend has her own family dysfunction to deal with that eventually involves everyone in the Williams family as they work to protect Toni and her sister, Kathy.
While Val finds her inner strength, the rest of her family each have their own “awakening” and, as a reader, I took comfort in going along with them on their journey. Val, in particular, became a young woman I’d like to spend more time with.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews