Review: Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

Title: Just One Wish
Author: Janette Rallison
Publisher: Penguin
Pub. date: 2009
Genre: YA
Main Themes: wishes, family, cancer, celebrity, love, friendship, death
Pages: 264
Plot (from book jacket):
"It seemed like a good idea at the time, a foolproof plan, and not something that was likely to get me, say, thrown in jail. All I was trying to do was help my six-year-old brother, Jeremy, beat his cancer. He's been so afraid of his upcoming surgery that I was trying to use some of that "power of positive thinking" everyone keeps talking about.

I told Jeremy that I had a genie, and I still had two wishes left. He could use one for anything he wanted and one to make sure his surgery went well. I knew he'd ask for the new action figure of Teen Robin Hood. It's all he's talked about since he started watching the TV series.

But there is no such thing as a foolproof plan where six-year-olds are concerned. Instead he asked for the real Teen Robin Hood to come teach him how to shoot arrows. And now I have just a couple of days to drive to Hollywood, find the actor who plays Teen Robin Hood - incredibly hot and way too famous - and convince him to visit my little brother.

At times like this, I could use a genie myself."

When I picked this one up I was looking for a cute, fluffy read with some possible romance. And I got it - in ways - but I feel like I got a lot more from this book as well.

The plot centers around a scheme to get the actor who plays Teen Robin Hood to come visit the main character Annika's brother before he has surgery for his cancer. Jeremy, Annika's brother, is only six, so right off the bat that makes this novel a little heavier. The plot is, for various reasons, a bit far-fetched, but Rallison really surprised me: she made the scheme believeable. I could actually see Annika getting the famous Steve Raleigh to come visit her brother.

I think the reason that I believed the plot was Annika's characterization. She was a really great character - full of spunk and confidence. Not that she didn't have her moments of weakness, moments that made her even more realistic and relateable.

There was romantic plot line as well. I think you can imagine pretty much how it went - and, again, not very realistic. But with Annika anything seemed possible, so I believed it.

Janette Rallison is an amazing storyteller. She blended heavy and light story lines together perfectly - the heavy tones were touching and the funny, romantic tones balanced well.

Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 10
Characters: 10
Writing style: 10
Romance: 10
Originality: 10

Total: 50/50 (A)

I'm definitely going to look for more of Janette Rallison's books. Just One Wish was a quick and satisfying read! I definitely recommend it!