As You Wish

September 14, 2009
The plot of Pearce's debut novel is simple: girl (Viola) meets boy (Jinn) and they fall in love, their story told in alternating perspectives. The twist: the boy happens to be a jinn (aka genie), and while Jinn is supposed to grant Viola three wishes and be on his merry way, he's definitely not supposed to become enamored of his master. Thus, their love is of the star-crossed variety. Luckily, Pearce doesn't allow things to become overly melodramatic. The banter between Viola and Jinn is quick, witty and, at times, comes with a dash of true feeling. However, their story is not without complications. When Viola shows an unwillingness to finish making her wishes, which would effectively banish Jinn from her life, Jinn orders a “press” from an ifrit (who acts as a heavy, forcing a reluctant wisher into compliance), and Viola is still working through complex emotions months after her breakup with Lawrence, her former boyfriend and current gay best friend. But Pearce never lets events become too dire. Overall, this is a fun, frothy read. Ages 12–up.

January 1, 2010
Gr 9-11-As she ponders what she calls the "social mystery" that makes some kids seem to belong and others not, Viola, 16, wishes she didn't feel quite so invisible. Ever since her boyfriend confided in her and came out to his high school class, she has felt neglected and alone, while Lawrence has been adopted by the school's Royal Family of popular kids. When Viola accidentally summons a jinn, she contemplates the three wishes he offers to grant her, while Jinn considers Viola herself. Told in the alternating voices of Jinn and Viola, this story is a romance first and a fantasy last. After she wishes herself into the arms of popular Aaron, Viola finds herself comparing him unfavorably to Jinn, while Jinn, uncommonly critical of Aaron, struggles with his blossoming feelings for Viola. Though the first-person prose is easy to read and the romance is satisfying, the genre blending is less successful and might lead fantasy fans to judge the novel in harsher terms. The human/jinn romance ultimately comes off as a bit unbelievable, but the fantasy element draws attention to the wish-fulfillment trope at the heart of any romance novel."Amy S. Pattee, Simmons College, Boston"

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