Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps [Hardcover]

Linda Chapman (Author), Steve Cole (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Be careful what you wish for. . . .

When new stepsiblings Milly, Michael, Jason, and Jess move to a town in the middle of nowhere, the last thing they expect is to find a magic book. But then they stumble upon The Genie Handbook, and their lives are changed forever. Each chapter in The Genie Handbook contains one of six stages of training to be mastered, and the kids are thrilled to begin their schooling—especially since once they become genies, they can wish themselves back to London and their old lives.

But then some of the wishes go wrong, and the magic starts to seem scarier. And when the kids discover a mysterious couple watching them covertly, they realize there's more to the handbook than they ever could have guessed.

If the children's greatest wish of all is finally granted, will their world change for better or for worse? Maybe sometimes it takes something even more powerful than a genie to reveal your true heart's desire.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–7—This modern-day homage to E. Nesbit's Five Children and It brings humor and gender equality to the original story line. The offspring of a newly blended family, Milly, Jason, Michael, and Jess are adjusting to life in small-town Moreways Meet with ill grace. All of them want to return to London, so when Milly discovers The Genie Handbook and its occupant, Skribble the bookworm, the children are eager to pass quickly through the six challenges involved in becoming a genie. As readers might expect, the wish-granting quickly spills over into chaos, and the children as well as Skribble learn about the true desires of the heart as they settle into their new home. For those who enjoyed Nesbit's charmer, this novel will be a nostalgic walk down familiar paths, and it will direct new readers toward the works of Nesbit and Edward Eager. While the idea of the children training to be genies gives the story a slightly different structure, the outlandish wishes gone wrong share the same flavor of daring adventure. Milly, especially, with her sweet concern for Skribble's feelings and for the genie ethic, is reminiscent of Nesbit's characterizations. Some elements, especially the conclusion, are predictably saccharine, but even the thinly veiled moral lessons can't detract from the sheer joy of imagining oneself in possession of a magic lamp. Most imaginative readers will want to check out this family-driven fantasy adventure.—Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT
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Review

“Gripping and fun—a pleasure to read.” (Georgia Byng, author of the New York Times bestselling Molly Moon series )

“An entertaining adventure.” (ALA Booklist )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (September 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061252190
• ISBN-13: 978-0061252198
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #670,584 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, August 25, 2010

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps (Hardcover)

Part of a newly blended family, Milly, Michael, Jason, and Jess are having trouble adjusting to their new living arrangements. When the four discover a magic book with a resident bookworm, they decide to follow the six steps to becoming a genie.

Things aren't all candy and roses for them, however. The wishes keep going awry, the magic seems to get scarier, and a mysterious couple is following them.

Is there more to the magic book than meets the eye?

A fun-filled adventure filled with action, magic, and a fast-paced plot. The characters are memorable, the story is engaging, and the premise is intriguing. Readers who like Harry Potter, fantasy, and magic fiction will enjoy reading BE A GENIE IN SIX EASY STEPS.

Reviewed by: Kira M