by Nashae Jones

Eighth grader, Bernadette (Birdie) Nkrumah has been best friends with Deve Banerjees since they were young. Birdie has always been just a little low on the social pyramid at school, mostly because she struggles to keep her overprotective mother under control which makes her just a little bit weird sometimes. This year she has PLANS! This is the year she’s going to get a boyfriend and be more normal. Deve does not understand this plan – he likes her just as she is. Birdie quickly learns that her family is related to an ancient family from Ghana who achieved the trickster god Anansi’s favor. Periodically down her family line, Anansi appears and grants the person 3 wishes. Wisher beware because Anansi never grants a favor without a hidden trick hiding in the fine print. Birdie thinks she’s being clever, but with every wish, the consequences get more tangled. I really enjoyed this book. Birdie’s older cousin was the protagonist of Nashae Jones’ other book Courtesy of Cupid and makes several appearances in this story. It is a completely separate story, and unnecessary to have read the other book first or at all. (Their families sure have been blessed – cursed?- by the gods, however!) 

A wonderful, magical, gently romantic book of finding one’s person who might just be standing right in front of you. I also really enjoyed the mythological character of Anansi in this story. Perfect book to put in the hands of a middle school reader looking for romance that is not at all over-the top. There’s not even any kissing.