Just One Wish by Jannette Rallison

Pages: 272
Publisher: Putnam
Age Group: Young Adult
Challenges: N/A
Release Date: May 5, 2009


Seventeen-year-old Annika Truman knows about the power of positive thinking. With a little brother who has cancer, it's all she ever hears about. And in order to help Jeremy, she will go to the ends of the earth (or at least as far as Hollywood) to help him believe he can survive his upcoming surgery.

But Annika's plan to convince Jeremy that a magic genie will grant him any wish throws her a curveball when he unexpectedly wishes that his television idol would visit him. Annika suddenly fi nds herself in the desperate predicament of getting access to a hunky star actor and convincing him to come home with her. Piece of cake, right?

Janette Rallison's proven talent for laugh-out-loud humor, teen romance, and deep-hearted storytelling shines in a novel that will have readers laughing and crying at the same time.

Stars: 4/5

Cover: B+

I admit, I didn't have high expectations for this book, because I did the unthinkable and judged a book by its cover. The cover is cute and all, but I didn't expect the book to have much substance because of the cover. Well, I was wrong. If I Stay was an extremely enjoyable, fun read that wasn't just fluff.

I was constantly intrigued and wanting to read on. The pace in this book was spot on --- there was never too much going on, or too little.

Annika was a fun protagonist. She was sweet, but witty, and she was so driven. I loved the fact that she would do anything for her little brother, even if it was unrealistic.

I would have to say that was my main problem with this book --- that it was so unrealistic. I mean, I understand that Annika wanted to make her brother happy, but I really don't know any seventeen year olds that would do all the crazy stunts she did in the book. I will admit, though, that without all of that, there wouldn't have been a story.

The ending was cute, though, again, unrealistic. Putting that aside, it was one of those endings that gave you butterflies and made you think, "awwww!" Yet, it still leaves a little to the imagination of the reader, which is good. I was wondering how Rallison was going to end the book, and I think the way she did end it was perfect.

Lovely Line:
"Jeremy might not make it through surgery; he's six years old, and he might be gone forever after Friday morning. The thing he wanted most in the whole world was for you to come and visit him. I'm sorry I barged in your life this way, but I thought if I could talk to you, if you understood . . ." I kept my gaze on his, searching for a sign that he might relent. "I need you to grant him just one wish."
(145)

This is the first Janette Rallison, but judging by how much I enjoyed this book, it definitely don't be the last.

FTC: Bought.