Let's talk about the set up for a moment here. At the beginning of the book we are introduced to Alex and Conner who are twins and total opposites. Alex is a smart and bookish young girl while Conner is a slacker type who doesn't do well on tests but has a knack for being able to talk himself out of sticky situations. He also, in true adolescent boy fashion, likes his sleep. They receive a book from their Grandmother (their father's mother) and that is where the true story begins. Once they receive the book, weird things begin to happen and the twins get sucked right into it.
We also learn early on that the twins have recently lost their father, although we get a sense of the father's character through flashbacks to the stories he has told each of the twins. I will also point out here that through the loss of their father, they see their mother go through grief and I love that this books shows adults as fallible characters. We see it in the "bad guy" of the book too while we follow the adventures of the Evil Queen from Snow White.
Speaking of Snow White... in an effort to not give spoilers, the Evil Queen from Snow White escapes from her prison and is also after the same Wishing Spell the twins are after. I loved that this book showed a different side of the Evil Queen's story and showed that maybe she wasn't the villain we all believed her to be.
This book is a for a middle grade audience and would probably be enjoyed by younger. I do admit there were a few jokes throughout that younger children may not get but adults would probably enjoy if they are reading to a younger child. I have recommended this book to many families who enjoyed books like Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia. It has that wonderful fantastical element along with a revisit to some of your favorite fairy tales.
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