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theseventhl's review against another edition
3.0
This was surprisingly deep and dark, and a incredibly interesting take on magic, wishes, and inheritance of powers. Morwenna wrestles with some serious moral issues, and I thought the way Avi wrote her metaphysical interactions with her new magic was filled with great, almost terrifying imagery.
Unfortunately, Swen was an insufferable character, and like many other reviewers, I wondered why Morwenna even bothered with him. I understand what Avi was going for - propping up Swen as the figurehead for a movement, with Morwenna the power behind him, burdened by her own silence - but yikes, what a boring cad.
Also, how did? I was left unconvinced by that particular plot point.
Honestly, it was a really good book. More of a 3.5, rating wise. It definitely kept me riveted from start to finish.
Unfortunately, Swen was an insufferable character, and like many other reviewers, I wondered why Morwenna even bothered with him. I understand what Avi was going for - propping up Swen as the figurehead for a movement, with Morwenna the power behind him, burdened by her own silence - but yikes, what a boring cad.
Also, how did
Spoiler
no one except for Morwenna realize the beggar was actually the king in disguise - do people not know the face of the tyrant they are trying to overthrowHonestly, it was a really good book. More of a 3.5, rating wise. It definitely kept me riveted from start to finish.
swissmunicipal's review against another edition
3.0
This is an interesting story. I don't love it, but I think it raises some interesting questions.
maelavender's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
poppycasgabs's review against another edition
3.0
A young girl gets wishes from an old man. When all the wishes are gone, she will die. I honestly couldnt give it 4 stars because of how sad it was. The ending is amazing though. Wow. If I could, I would give it 3.5 stars.
thetomatowriter's review against another edition
3.0
An old favorite and definitely formative in my reading and writing preferences, but upon reread I was frustrated at how little Morwenna got to do in...her own book.
jobinsonlis's review against another edition
2.0
Good: Avi tries to tackles some philosophical questions, which I didn't expect from the summary and found unique. Morwena has to grapple with concepts like sacrifice (personal and otherwise) and the isolation that can come from growing up, especially when it happens because of a traumatic event. And the end genuinely took me by surprise, which I always enjoy.
Bad: There's just not that much here. Big concepts are touched on so briefly that they didn't hit and the characters were paper-thin. Morwena was the most developed and I still never got a sense of who she was as a person before she got all those wishes, which meant it was hard to tell how she had changed with them (despite her friend Swen telling her every other line that she'd changed).
Overall: The book is short and I liked the concept but I honestly can't recommend it. There are way better children's fantasy books out there that deal with similar issues in greater depth and with more engaging protagonists.
Bad: There's just not that much here. Big concepts are touched on so briefly that they didn't hit and the characters were paper-thin. Morwena was the most developed and I still never got a sense of who she was as a person before she got all those wishes, which meant it was hard to tell how she had changed with them (despite her friend Swen telling her every other line that she'd changed).
Overall: The book is short and I liked the concept but I honestly can't recommend it. There are way better children's fantasy books out there that deal with similar issues in greater depth and with more engaging protagonists.
berls's review against another edition
Childhood read that I remember loving. So excited to have finally rediscovered it and probably will need to reread it sometime soon.
blacksheepdigitalva's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book in 5th grade and I thought it was amazing. I remember the story but no t enough to really go into detail. I remember that the main girl has the power to grant 5 wishes. The 1st she uses to free her best friend. That leads everyone to think that he has powers. The girl....Morwenna has to grant the wishes that the people of the kingdom wish. When her friend dies at the end she can't give up her last wish just to save him. She lives the rest of her life carrying around that one wish.
heyshay07's review against another edition
1.0
I finished it so that's why it doesn't get a zero star review, but this was the most simple book with the worst characters- unless there is some hidden meaning I'm just not getting. Readers now days expect brave, complex characters. It doesn't hold up to characters like Katniss and Harry Potter. Maybe this would be an OK book for 3-5 graders. It's not exciting enough. All Morwenna does was hem and hah and Swen is a complete idiot. There could have been some bigger message about not needing wishes and saving yourself, but it doesn't even go there. Ugh! Nothing very redeeming about this book.