Well, both concepts have been done plenty of times before. I've really not much at all to say about all the cliches in the girl story. The boy story was a tiny bit richer, but the thing is, I read this type of story so often when I was a child that I was always a good girl, waiting and waiting for a fairy godmother to recognize my worth and reward me with a wish. Never got, and never found out why. I mean, what's so special about this boy that he gets a wish? He's a nice kid and his wish leads eventually to his family dynamic improving, but what about all the kids who don't have Fat Fairies coming to help?

I understand Gardner is dyslexic and was neglected in school, and now wants to appeal to reluctant readers. But they deserve something meatier and more resonant than this fluff just as much, if not more, than avid readers do. ( )

Meh. A bit too whimsical and twee for me. In two unrelated stories, two children with unusual magic are either ignored or taken advantage of. Adults who could solve all the children's problems early on simply don't explain themselves, making all the misadventures that follow a bit tiresome. ( )

Grade: 2-4
Genre: Fantasy
Themes: magic, relationships, diversity
Ruby cannot do magic like her parents and then Thomas can fly because of a wish granted. The two stories kind of play off each other as Ruby disappears into a handbag to be found by a kind old lady and Thomas becomes bigger than life by being able to fly. The illustrations are scattered throughout the book. It is a cute little story of these children. I would have this book in the library and introduce it to the children as a Maine Student Book Award that other children have liked and suggest it to some students as a good fantasy read. I do not think that I would make a lesson out of the book. ( )