Friday, October 2, 2009

Review JUST ONE WISH by Janette Rallison

JUST ONE WISH by Janette Rallison (who else?)
Published March 5th 2009 by Putnam Juvenile
Hardcover, 272 pages

Placement in the Pile: Top Picks

Summary: 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. (GoodReads)

Review: I absolutely adore this book. There are so many amazing things going on within its pages. It has Janette's wonderful sense of humor, great realistic teenage characters, the dashing young man that has to learn to get over his faults in order to woo the girl, and more heart than any other romantic comedy YA book I have ever read.

Annika's story was so touching to me at this time in my life because I can relate so deeply to her feelings of having someone in her family have cancer. A cancer that seems to be winning regardless of Annika's determination that it isn't.

Janette writes this story with an expert hand. In talking to her about this book, she told me that her mother died from cancer when she was still very young. This wrenched my heart as I have just lost my father to his 6 year battle with cancer. Because of this, and dealing with friends, a teacher, and a young daughter of one of my Youth Group leaders in High School contracting cancer and seeing their fight I think this is a must read.

Anyone who has anyone in their life who has been touched by cancer will adore Annika's desire to do anything to make her brother's life better...and will fall in love with the dashing young Robin Hood. To date this is my favorite Janette Rallison book!

I hope you all enjoyed Janette Rallison week! A big thanks to Janette for being an amazing person and author and supporting me in my writing and my blog. You are the best! Tomorrow be sure to check in for our current contest winner announcement!

2 comments:

Ratliffs said...

Oh! Sounds like a great one!! My Granddad also lost to cancer. It was a very hard, emotional struggle to go through. Thanks for the review!

Deb Cushman said...

This sounds wonderful and very heartwarming. Annika was the name of the little girl friend in Pippi Longstocking, which I just read, so fate tells me I must read this book also!