"An empathetic, beautiful, magical, fiercely necessary book that stares unflinchingly at the very real challenges contemporary kids face and gently assures them they are not alone. Kate Messner gives her readers a story to cherish." - Anne Ursu, author of BREADCRUMBS and THE REAL BOY
"Hopeful, empathetic, and unusually enlightening." - starred review, Kirkus Reviews
"Rich and daring . . . As she did in All the Answers, Messner lightens a heavy theme with a bit of magic." - Publishers Weekly
"A charming fantasy story with threads of several deep themes that could serve as the basis for thoughtful discussion." - School Library Journal
"Messner uses her particular brand of magical realism to face some tough but necessary stuff. . . . An enjoyable and informative story." - BCCB
"Messner melds realism with a bit of magic for a charming middle grade story. . . . Charlie’s determination and spunk will appeal to readers." - School Library Connection
"Messner writes insightfully of Charlie’s experiences." - Booklist
"It's no surprise that Kate Messner’s magic pen could write a charming, moving, funny, and ultimately very surprising story about a magic pencil!" - Wendy Mass, New York Times best selling author of 11 BIRTHDAYS, on ALL THE ANSWERS
"Messner (Manhunt) has created a relatable, sympathetic character in anxious Ava, and her story is at its best when Ava's life remains centered around the norms of her school, friends, and multigenerational family." - Publishers Weekly on ALL THE ANSWERS
"Ava learns lessons about coping and bravery that should resonate with middle grade readers struggling with their own anxieties . . . An emotionally resonant portrait of a sweet girl whose struggles are firmly rooted in reality." - Booklist on ALL THE ANSWERS
"Will appeal to Wendy Mass fans as well as those who love Messner’s previous novels." - School Library Journal on ALL THE ANSWERS
02/01/2016
Gr 4–6—In this realistic novel with a whimsical twist, 12-year-old Charlie catches a magical wishing fish and tries to use it to solve all her problems. Her wishes range from getting rid of her fear of the ice to getting her sister to come home from college for a visit. Not surprisingly, poor phrasing causes her wishes to go wrong, and she ends up making things worse instead of better. The plot covers a lot of ground, ranging from Charlie struggling to save enough money to buy a dress for her Irish dancing performance to helping one of her classmates learn English. The most serious subplot involves the discovery of her older sister's heroin addiction and her subsequent treatment. Charlie eventually decides she does not need to rely on making wishes to solve her problems. Though somewhat sanitized, the gentle portrayal of heroin addiction may serve as a good way to introduce this serious issue and engender discussion. VERDICT A charming fantasy story with threads of several deep themes that could serve as the basis for thoughtful discussion.—Eliza Langhans, Hatfield Public Library, MA
★ 2016-03-16
In this novel-length riff on "The Fisherman and His Wife," when Charlie goes ice fishing with pal Drew and his nana, she catches a fish who says it will grant her wishes in return for its release. Charlie would like some control over her life, so she keeps hooking the fish even as she learns, like her fairy-tale predecessors, that wording matters. After all, Charlie's hope that Roberto Sullivan notice her goes unfulfilled. Instead, a boy named Robert O'Sullivan shows up! Her generous intentions toward friends and family meet with varying success as well. Drew makes the basketball team, except he doesn't like sports; and good friend Dasha passes her ESL class only to find keeping up in regular classes difficult. Charlie narrates, making dry, honest observations that zing straight to the hearts of readers, especially as the story builds toward one of Charlie's most anxious pleas: that her beloved college-student sister be cured of her heroin addiction. But wishing doesn't make it so. Charlie's largely white upstate New York world is fully realized, typical in its everyday concerns and complicated by a frightening, news-making epidemic. As Charlie processes the changes in her life, her perspective shifts. Friends of all ages, old and new, support her. And she finds outlets in ice fishing and Irish dance. Most affecting, Charlie begins to understand the serenity prayer. Hopeful, empathetic, and unusually enlightening. (author's note) (Fiction. 8-12)
