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Ribar, Lindsay
4 Reviews
(3)
YA
Vanessa, Phoebe, and Callie--attendees of vastly different conventions (fandom, percussion, and taxidermy, respectively)--meet at a convention center and form a friendship better than many of their existing relationships with their con-companions. Well-drawn characters enhance the humor of this multiple-perspectives tale, which is light but progressive; Vanessa's blossoming romance with genderqueer Merry is a particularly heartwarming subplot.
Reviewer: Shoshana Flax
(2)
YA
Aspen Quick participates in the long-standing family ritual of preventing a magical, sentient Cliff from falling and destroying a town. Aspen is cocky about his magical abilities, using them casually and cruelly (e.g., trying to steal his best friend's girl). The story's fantasy elements are well structured; the "dude"-heavy dialogue is entertaining; and the characters (some of whom learn their lessons) are can't-look-away wicked.
Reviewer: Sian Gaetano
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
May, 2016
(4)
YA
Having learned the hard way that making a fourth wish turns you into a genie (The Art of Wishing), Margo finds herself subject to the commands of a succession of masters, all while trying to maintain her previous persona as a normal teenager. Myriad characters can be hard to track and Margo's emotional shifts feel orchestrated, but Ribar's premise is still enjoyable.
Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby
(4)
YA
Likable, wry teen Margo finds a magical ring that summons genie Oliver, who grants her three wishes--but in a twist, he can expand upon them based on what she is thinking. When Margo learns that a rival shape-shifting genie is after Oliver, she determines to save his life. This enjoyable if contrived read offers humor, romance, drama, and a cliffhanger ending.
Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff
4 reviews