Granted
By John David Anderson
336 pages – ages 9+
Published by Walden Pond Press on February 12, 2018

Synopsis from Publisher- “Everyone who wishes upon a star, or a candle, or a penny thrown into a fountain knows that you’re not allowed to tell anyone what you’ve wished for.  But even so, rest assured: There is someone out there who hears it.

Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets is no ordinary fairy – she is a Granter: one of the select few whose job it is to venture beyond the boundaries of the Haven and grant the wishes of unsuspecting humans every day.  It’s the work of the Granters that generate the magic that allows the fairies to do what they do and to keep the Haven hidden and safe.  But with worldwide magic levels at an all-time low, this is not as easy as it sounds.  On a typical day, only a small fraction of the millions of potential wishes get granted.  And even granting those promised few means navigating a human world fraught with danger.

Today, however, is anything but typical.  Because today, Ophelia is going out on her first assignment.  And she’s about to discover that getting what you truly want takes much more than a handful of fairy dust.“

What I Thought- With every book he writes, John David Anderson climbs my list of favorite authors. He is able to write in a variety of genres, pushing for the maximum emotion in each scene. It is truly remarkable, as Anderson does not pigeon-hole himself, and only shows his creativity at full power. That being said, this book was not something I would normally read, but I also enjoyed it. The story is about change, and doing what is for the best and how maybe that isn’t what you are told. The book is written very well, and I enjoyed reading how he set up the characters so that when events happened, we understood why they did what they did, and it seemed like the most natural thing for them to do. None of the characters particularly stood out to me, even Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets, but I think it was because I enjoyed each one of them. Anderson’s great story telling combined with rock solid writing, makes the book smooth and gives it a natural feel. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Anderson’s take on fairy lore and their culture – the amount of detail behind everything was absolutely amazing. I would wholeheartedly recommend “Granted” for middle-grade readers who want a story of cleverness, bravery, and strength in adversity as well as a highly character-driven tale.

I give this book five out of five bookworms!

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Categories: Age 9+, blog tour

Tags: blog tour, granted, john david anderson, walden pond press