What do you think?
Rate this book
Secondhand Wishes
Lexi has to keep the universe in balance. If she does enough good things, like being on time, then the bad things, like her little brother needing more surgery, won't happen. It doesn't always work, but she has to keep trying. Just in case. On an extra bad day, Lexi finds a bag of four wishing stones in the antique shop in town, and wishes that her BFF Cassa and the new girl would stop talking to each other. That night, Cassa calls Lexi, crying over the end of her friendship with Marina. The wishes work!Sort of. When she wishes on the Success stone for the courage to try out for dance club, Lexi wows the entire auditorium with. . .singing? And when she wishes on the Health stone, her little brother starts squeaking like a hamster. This isn't the first time those wishing stones have been wished on--and secondhand wishes come with unexpected consequences!This sweet and funny story from Anna Staniszewski is perfect for anyone who's wished for a dash of magic in their day!
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2019
8 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Anna Staniszewski
35 books322 followersAnna Staniszewski lives in the Boston area and teaches in the MFA Writing for Children Program at Simmons University. She's the author of over twenty books for young readers, including the The Dirt Diary series and Clique Here series, the picture books DOGOSAURUS REX and BEAST IN SHOW, and the Once Upon a Fairy Tale chapter book series. You can visit Anna at www.annastan.com or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/annastanisz.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 26, 2019
I really enjoyed this! The story was heartwarming, and thoughtful. My one complaint is that I felt the ending could of been a couple pages longer. Everything ended a little too neatly and a little too quickly.
March 27, 2019
Thanks to Kidlit Exchange and Scholastic for the Advance Review Copy of SECONDHAND WISHES by Anna Staniszewski, released January 29, 2019 from Scholastic.
As long as she does everything perfectly, stays organized, and never messes up, loveable perfectionist Lexi Block can keep the universe in balance and her chronically ill little brother Austin from needing more surgeries.
When she finds a probably incomplete bag of four (everybody knows real magic involves an uneven number) wishing stones at a family friend’s antique shop, all Lexi’s problems are solved. Right?
Except secondhand wishing mean a small twist on the magic: Lexi’s belting out tunes from one of the few decent 90s grunge rock bands during a dance audition; a newly Austin seems to believe he’s a hamster; and unwelcome BFF usurper Marina becomes literally invisible to the rest of Lexi’s friend group.
Lexi needs to track down the original owner and find a way to fix the magic – fast – before her life spirals further downward. But first she may have to accept that it’s OK not to be perfect, and that life can be good when it’s unpredictable.
While SECONDHAND WISHES wraps up maybe a bit too neatly, it’s a feel-good story with a ton of brilliantly-executed twists, turns, and little clues that keep the pages turning.
While the main character and her family are presumably white, the demographics of Lexi’s interracial semi-crush and his LGBTQ 🏳️🌈 moms were presented as a passing mention. I want to move to Lexi’s town.
Give to: Kids who need to understand they don’t have to be perfect (note that Lexi isn’t diagnosed with OCD, but likely has some issues with anxiety); siblings of chronically ill children; adult fans of Kidlit who like life hack cleaning tips embedded in a feel-good Middle Grade fantasy story.
For fans of: Sarah Mlynowski’s Upside-Down Magic series and possibly Gaby Triana’s CAKESPELL.
As long as she does everything perfectly, stays organized, and never messes up, loveable perfectionist Lexi Block can keep the universe in balance and her chronically ill little brother Austin from needing more surgeries.
When she finds a probably incomplete bag of four (everybody knows real magic involves an uneven number) wishing stones at a family friend’s antique shop, all Lexi’s problems are solved. Right?
Except secondhand wishing mean a small twist on the magic: Lexi’s belting out tunes from one of the few decent 90s grunge rock bands during a dance audition; a newly Austin seems to believe he’s a hamster; and unwelcome BFF usurper Marina becomes literally invisible to the rest of Lexi’s friend group.
Lexi needs to track down the original owner and find a way to fix the magic – fast – before her life spirals further downward. But first she may have to accept that it’s OK not to be perfect, and that life can be good when it’s unpredictable.
While SECONDHAND WISHES wraps up maybe a bit too neatly, it’s a feel-good story with a ton of brilliantly-executed twists, turns, and little clues that keep the pages turning.
While the main character and her family are presumably white, the demographics of Lexi’s interracial semi-crush and his LGBTQ 🏳️🌈 moms were presented as a passing mention. I want to move to Lexi’s town.
Give to: Kids who need to understand they don’t have to be perfect (note that Lexi isn’t diagnosed with OCD, but likely has some issues with anxiety); siblings of chronically ill children; adult fans of Kidlit who like life hack cleaning tips embedded in a feel-good Middle Grade fantasy story.
For fans of: Sarah Mlynowski’s Upside-Down Magic series and possibly Gaby Triana’s CAKESPELL.
March 30, 2019
Lexi has to stick to a schedule and do everything exactly right and in exactly the right order. If she does so, everything will work out. Her brother will stay healthy, her BFF will remain her BFF... But if she messes up, everything will fall apart and it will be her fault. Unfortunately, Lex wasn't able to stick to her schedule and, coincidentally, life threw her a few curve balls. This is when she finds a set of Wishing Stones at a local consignment shop. She uses them to try and set her world right, but since the stones were used, they still carry the wishes from the previous owner. And those old wishes shade the results of her recent ones. Can Lexi find the original Wisher and set her world right again?
Cute, fun story, although it touches lightly on some more serious issues: tweenage main character battling OCD & anxiety, family & friend drama, living with a younger sibling who is seriously ill... Unfortunately, I guessed pretty early on (like, before the 50 page mark) that . Also, the resolution of () seemed rushed and waaaaaay too easy. Because, you know, life is always that easy and everything always resolves itself by the time the credits roll. I would have liked to see Lexi resolve her problems without wishes and come to the realization that she doesn't need magic for things to be OK. I mean: Oh no...I effed up! Better wish it all away rather than take the responsibility and try to resolve the hard things myself. Great lesson, right? Not hardly. I was hoping to like this one better because the idea sounded cute, but I just can't overlook these things. The whole thing kind of fell flat for me.
The book, and the main character, reminded me a lot of Under Shifting Glass. But Under Shifting Glass was better.
Cute, fun story, although it touches lightly on some more serious issues: tweenage main character battling OCD & anxiety, family & friend drama, living with a younger sibling who is seriously ill... Unfortunately, I guessed pretty early on (like, before the 50 page mark) that . Also, the resolution of () seemed rushed and waaaaaay too easy. Because, you know, life is always that easy and everything always resolves itself by the time the credits roll. I would have liked to see Lexi resolve her problems without wishes and come to the realization that she doesn't need magic for things to be OK. I mean: Oh no...I effed up! Better wish it all away rather than take the responsibility and try to resolve the hard things myself. Great lesson, right? Not hardly. I was hoping to like this one better because the idea sounded cute, but I just can't overlook these things. The whole thing kind of fell flat for me.
The book, and the main character, reminded me a lot of Under Shifting Glass. But Under Shifting Glass was better.
December 6, 2019
So I thought this book was really just okay. It wasn’t the best thing I have ever read though. I guess that’s why the book fair I got my copy at priced it only $2. There just wasn’t much to it in my opinion. It was a nice idea but it could be better.
February 24, 2023
It was a quick read. It took me only one day to read this book.
January 12, 2019
Lexi believes that if she keeps the universe in balance, if she follows her routine, if she is good enough, she can keep her little brother well. The only problem is she is finding it difficult to keep things from changing in middle school. Her best friend won't stop talking about another girl, her math teacher has changed how they learn math, and her little brother is back in the hospital. So when Lexi finds some magic wishing stones at the antique store she helps at after school, she can't help but use the wishes to try to control what seems to be spinning out of control.
While wishes-going-wrong is not a new story line, I found the complications Lexi's wishes bring to be laugh-out-loud worthy. You can't help but chuckle at some of the predicaments she finds herself in. I smiled every time she managed to get herself sent to detention, again. Another unique touch was Lexi's love of "life hacks". I would love for her to come organize my house! Wrapped up in a fun story are some deeper lessons about family, perfectionism, growth mindset, and friendship.
This magic realism story is sure to appeal to middle grade and middle school students. It has just a touch of magic and a helping of humor mixed with the realistic fiction of middle school and family struggles that students are sure to connect with. I will be adding in to my classroom library. Thanks for the opportunity to preview it. #LitReviewCrew
While wishes-going-wrong is not a new story line, I found the complications Lexi's wishes bring to be laugh-out-loud worthy. You can't help but chuckle at some of the predicaments she finds herself in. I smiled every time she managed to get herself sent to detention, again. Another unique touch was Lexi's love of "life hacks". I would love for her to come organize my house! Wrapped up in a fun story are some deeper lessons about family, perfectionism, growth mindset, and friendship.
This magic realism story is sure to appeal to middle grade and middle school students. It has just a touch of magic and a helping of humor mixed with the realistic fiction of middle school and family struggles that students are sure to connect with. I will be adding in to my classroom library. Thanks for the opportunity to preview it. #LitReviewCrew
April 24, 2019
The author's main character, Lexi, works hard to keep the universe in balance by being perfect and good. Staniszewski captures the thinking and emotions of a child trying to understand complex family issues. Lexi's young brother has a rare disease. This is stressful enough but the financial drains are also taking a toll on family life. She's also coping with friend changes as any young adolescent does at this age.
She stumbles on some wishing stones and decides to make a wish. It works but also has more consequences than expected. Three more wishes follow and each works differently than planned. Together with a new friend, they figure out that the stones were used before and the wishes are connected to the original ones. In an expected coincidence, the first "wisher" turns out to be her reclusive aunt.
Lexi learns of a fifth stone and finds it as she helps her aunt clear out her deceased grandmother's bedroom. She uses the stone to unwish the other four wishes.
The book reads swiftly and draws the reader in. Characters are relatable and situations are realistic within the premise.
Lessons about finding balance and letting go of control.
Listening to friends and being brave enough to find new friends.
You don't always have to keep emotions in check. It's healthier to release them.
Sometimes life is hard and it won't change if you're perfect.
She stumbles on some wishing stones and decides to make a wish. It works but also has more consequences than expected. Three more wishes follow and each works differently than planned. Together with a new friend, they figure out that the stones were used before and the wishes are connected to the original ones. In an expected coincidence, the first "wisher" turns out to be her reclusive aunt.
Lexi learns of a fifth stone and finds it as she helps her aunt clear out her deceased grandmother's bedroom. She uses the stone to unwish the other four wishes.
The book reads swiftly and draws the reader in. Characters are relatable and situations are realistic within the premise.
Lessons about finding balance and letting go of control.
Listening to friends and being brave enough to find new friends.
You don't always have to keep emotions in check. It's healthier to release them.
Sometimes life is hard and it won't change if you're perfect.
June 15, 2019
Lexi Block has figured everything out. In order to keep her little brother, Austin, safe, and the universe in order, she just has to follow certain routines and follow the rules. If she does, she's sure that her little brother won't suffer from the digestive issues that keep him having to go back to the doctor and hospital. But perfectionism can be a hard thing to achieve or maintain, and when Lexi starts noticing signs that her best friend, Cassa, is slipping away from her and branching out in new directions, she panics. Change, after all, is not something she embraces. When she happens upon a bag with four wishing stones, she puts them to good use--or what seems to be good use at first. No longer does she have to worry about Cassa's budding friendship with Marina or Austin's health. Still, something isn't quite right about those wishes. Ideal for fifth, sixth or even seventh graders, this book covers experiences familiar to just about everyone. After all, no matter how hard we try or even wish, bad stuff can happen, and friends can change. There are some neat coincidences in this book and an interesting examination of one girl's desperate attempts to fix the world around her. While most of us might wish that we could have our wishes granted, there's no guarantee that they would turn out the way we hoped they would.
December 4, 2018
I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this book and then share it with my #BookRelays reading group. This is a fun book that kind of reminds me of The 11:11 Wish by Kim Tomsic. Both books have a main character that is having a difficult time navigating all of the stress of being a middle schooler these days. In this book, Lexi has to deal with her younger brother's chronic digestive disorder that has him in the hospital frequently, her parents' financial difficulties as they struggle to make ends meet with each hospitalization, and the shifting sands of the middle school social scene. Lexi believes that if she does everything she can to have good luck and to be perfect, all of these problems can be managed. So when she comes across a bag of wishing stones at an antique store, she doesn't need to think twice about using them. But while the wishes definitely seem to be coming true, there's something off about the results. Like the other book, this book has a good message about not worrying about things that can't be controlled and that one doesn't need magic in order to live one's best life. There's also some good lessons learned about not being so rigid, but trying new things without making excuses. This will definitely be popular with kids in grades 5 - 8.
March 28, 2020
Lexi needs everything to stay the same and be just perfect. She is worried about her little brother's health, her parents' finances, and her friendship with Cassa. It's so hard for her to keep everything exactly right. She worries that every little thing out of place means that something bad will happen. When she find the box of wishing stones, Lexi hopes it means that her luck has changed. It certainly seems like it has when her first wish comes true. And the second wish, too. As time passes, though, something seems to be a little off. Can she fix it before everything falls apart? Recommended for grades 4 & up.
February 1, 2019
Thank you to the Kid Lit Exchange for a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Lexi has burdened herself with the belief that she can control things that are obviously way beyond her capabilities by being good. This is irritating to her friends (and occasionally the reader), but it is believable because kids do it all the time. The friend drama is also authentic. The old and new wishes tie together in interesting ways and make for a good ending.
………………….
Fans of Lizzy and the Good Luck Girl and What Goes Up may enjoy this one.
Lexi has burdened herself with the belief that she can control things that are obviously way beyond her capabilities by being good. This is irritating to her friends (and occasionally the reader), but it is believable because kids do it all the time. The friend drama is also authentic. The old and new wishes tie together in interesting ways and make for a good ending.
………………….
Fans of Lizzy and the Good Luck Girl and What Goes Up may enjoy this one.
December 30, 2018
I gave this book four stars. I was immediately drawn into Lexi’s personality and how focused she was on “balancing” the universe. I can really relate to her worries and beliefs on luck. There were moments where it felt really serious and I had all the emotions for Lexi, then the next page I would be giggling at some of her mishaps. This is a wonderful book that would be great for readers who might struggle with fantasy books full of magical worlds and beasts. It is fantasy, but only slightly so. I look forward to adding this book to my classroom library.
January 16, 2019
This book was good. I think it was a great look at how one girl, Lexi, coped with her brother's illness. I think we can all relate to change being scary and sticking to a normal routine. As Lexi makes her wishes and we see the results it's a reminder of how the grass isn't always greener. Seeing Lexi able to grow to accept change and be more flexible really drives the story. Good things can come when we accept change so that we can grow. Definitely a quick good read.
December 5, 2018
I read an ARC that was shared with #bookhike. Adorable story about a girl named Lexi who is constantly trying to make the universe happy so that her brother won’t get sick again. She finds a bag of wishing stones. What would you wish for if you had the chance? Lexi thinks she is making good wishes, but what will happen when they don’t turn out exactly like she wanted?
March 20, 2019
Very cute. Well-written. Very relate-able character, especially for tween girls who tend to worry a lot about things, and are resistant to change. I love the concept of finding wishing stones secondhand, and how the wishes get mashed up -- very cute!
July 5, 2019
I think this story was amazing, this story is about friendship and it describes Lexi's feelings and her every day life . I would recommend this to anyone who likes books about Friendship.
January 30, 2020
I read this so I can have more to recommend to my students. Cute for what it was and what age it's aimed for.
January 24, 2021
Very sweet story about a girl and a chance to make four wishes. Wishing can be very tricky.
January 25, 2024
was a tad bit too predictable for me, and is it just me or was lexi downright annoying at times? 😭
August 6, 2019
Lexi is a bit scared of change. When her best friend Cassa starts to want to have another girl join their group, Lexi feels like she is losing her best friend. After school they help at Cassa’s parents’ work which is an antique shop. One day Lexi finds wishing stones and she wishes that Marina and Cassa would stop hanging out and it works! Only not in the way she expected.. the girls literally cannot see each other, even when they are standing next to each other. Something is off about the wishing stones, but she keeps using them anyways. Her little brother becomes less sick but he starts acting like a pet gerbil instead, digressing and not even talking any more.
Lexi starts to become friends with a boy near her aunt’s house and she admits what has been going on. Together they try to find out who donated the wishing stones and what is going wrong with her wishes. I also love that her new friend has two moms, adding a twist of diversity to the story while making it feel like it’s just a part of every day life.
I like the way that this tackles a bit of mental health issues that come with having a chronically ill sibling – always trying to even out her luck, Lexi makes a deal with the universe, trying to do as much good so that in return maybe her brother will get better. I like that she starts to change as the book goes on, realizing that change is not always scary and it can be good to make new friends and try new things. I loved all the quirks of the characters and the story and the sprinkling of magic.
Verdict:
A great middle grade book that really emphasizes “be careful what you wish for”.
Lexi starts to become friends with a boy near her aunt’s house and she admits what has been going on. Together they try to find out who donated the wishing stones and what is going wrong with her wishes. I also love that her new friend has two moms, adding a twist of diversity to the story while making it feel like it’s just a part of every day life.
I like the way that this tackles a bit of mental health issues that come with having a chronically ill sibling – always trying to even out her luck, Lexi makes a deal with the universe, trying to do as much good so that in return maybe her brother will get better. I like that she starts to change as the book goes on, realizing that change is not always scary and it can be good to make new friends and try new things. I loved all the quirks of the characters and the story and the sprinkling of magic.
Verdict:
A great middle grade book that really emphasizes “be careful what you wish for”.
February 10, 2020
I liked this book because she had all these challenges going on in her life so you could see how it would be in her perspective. And you can see how stressed out she is about everything.
May 18, 2020
This book is about lexi the main character finding wishing stones and uses them to make wishes. Her best friend's name is Cassa, who has been friends with her since they were very young. Lexi has a brother who is very sick. Lexi works for her friends mom, who owns her own store. My favorite character was lexi because she has a weird but good personality. Yes the characters did feel real to you. The story mostly kept me guessing at some points I knew what was going to happen but at other points I didn't. My favorite part of the book was when her brother started acting like a hamster because it was one of the best parts in the book. He was on the ground, digging holes and squealing like a hamster. There was a sad scene when her brother went to the hospital and her mom was cleaning the house. Her mom lost her job because she was always dealing with lexi’s brother. The book made me laugh a couple times from what it said. I didn’t want to put the book down at some points so yes it did keep me wanting to read. I did not dislike anything about the book. The book was very good. I believe that the type of reader who would like this book would be younger readers. The younger reader would be able to read the text and understand everything that is going on in the book. I don’t think there is any books I would be able to compare to this one. I would recommend this book to people.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews