relixx's review
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
swissmunicipal's review
4.0
I read this at some point a long time ago and didn't like it. Having now listened to it again, I'm not sure that I even really read it the first time. I was on the edge between three and four stars, but four really seems reasonable. It's short and fairly simple, but surprisingly wonderful and genuine. Somewhere between middle grade and YA, it highlights some of the insecurities of that age as well as some of the good lessons to be learned in how to treat friends.
maelavender's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mallorykjorgensen's review against another edition
4.0
Who doesn't want to be the most popular person in their school? When Wilma receives one wish from an odd old lady on the subway she asks to be the most popular person at her middle school. Unfortunately, Wilma doesn't think about the fact that she only has a few weeks left as an eighth grader at her middle school. When she suddenly becomes popular, Wilma becomes even more confused. Why does everyone suddenly like her when nothing has changed? She is still the same person as always, yet everyone seems to see her in a different light. That is, everyone except the one person who always liked her. As Wilma races against the clock before her wish runs out she searches for the answer to staying popular. Instead, she learns about self--awareness, true friendship, honesty, and selflessness. This book is ideal for middle schoolers, and is a great resource to use when talking about respecting the feelings of others.
staarcharmed's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mary_r_m's review against another edition
3.0
It was fun to read, but I don't feel like the MC was changed very much by her experience.
impreader's review
2.0
This was a reasonably engaging coming of age tale, with the pitfalls of false selves and popularity set up against the backdrop of a wish that makes the most spurned kid in junior high the most popular. Levine does best with this age group, and has the voices and tone down pat. Its only negative is, perhaps, that patness: it nearly too involved in this world, so that by the end, the growth still seems defined by the rules of junior high, and a culture that ties self-fulfillment with friends, boyfriends, and first kisses.
m_kayk's review against another edition
3.0
For a children's book, this is well done. The idea of granting a wish and seeing that wish all the way through to the end is a good idea for young people.