A review by jessalynn_librarian
Better to Wish by Ann M. Martin

3.0

I would have enjoyed this as a historical fiction loving kid. The story follows Abby as she grows up, dealing with changes both good and bad. Because of the episodic nature of the story, each new time period often starts with an info dump - a character saying something in a slightly unnatural way to give the reader a clue as to how much time has passed and which major events have happened in the gap. This saves time, but certainly isn't the most polished way to establish time passing. I also had a bit of an eye roll when

Spoiler

Abby's friend drowned - especially with Rose shouting, "no, don't go out on the ice" (or whatever she said). It didn't quite feel earned.

Anyway, I'd recommend this to young historical fiction fans who are interested in seeing a character grow to adulthood. The romance is minimal and very proper - the family drama and tragedies are the real emotional intensity here, and might make the story difficult for more sensitive kids.