Blog Tour/Review: Wish You Weren't by Sherrie Petersen

Release date: March 17, 2014
Genre: MG sci-fi/fantasy
ISBN: 9781494766825
LCCN: 2014902688
BISAC: Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic

Marten doesn't believe in the power of wishes. None of his have ever come true. His parents ignore him, his little brother is a pain and his family is talking about moving to Texas. Not cool. So when he makes an impulsive wish during a meteor shower, he doesn't expect it to make any difference.

Until his annoying brother disappears.

With the present uncertain and his brother’s future in limbo, Marten finds himself stuck in his past. And if he runs out of time, even wishes might not be enough to save the ones he loves.

Marten's mom is a scientist and so Marten and his brother, Aldrin, are outside watching the shooting stars whenever there's a show. They're currently on vacation in Texas, where they're looking to move and Marten's friend Paul is with him. Marten is 11 and his brother is 6 and annoying. Aldrin does something that Marten finds unforgivable and his mother lets him get away with it, so he wishes that Aldrin wasn't there.

The next day, while visiting a museum, Marten and Paul are given the assignment to watch Aldrin. Aldrin is annoying, but fine, until he disappears in front of Marten's eyes! While searching for him, he realizes what he wished for the night before, but his wishes don't come true, do they? 

He meets a man named Tor who time travels and is able to help him. It's not smooth sailing, though, and Marten isn't sure if he'll be able to save his brother and reunite their family.

This is an interesting book! I understood Marten's frustrations with his brother and what prompted him to wish his brother wasn't around anymore. I also understood his panic when his wish actually came true! This book is fast-paced and sometimes left me a little confused. That didn't detract from the main points, though. Marten was in quite a few tight spots and it was interesting to see how he got out of them and continued with his journey. 

He learned more about his parents and what led to their decision to move. There's a twist at the end that changes his perspective on his entire experience. 

This is a fun, imaginative read that any middle-grade reader should enjoy. It also might make you think what life would be like without that one certain annoying person in it. It would certainly be different, but would it be better?

My Rating=4 Stars

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Praise for WISH YOU WEREN’T:

“If you’re looking for the same old formula middle grade fantasy, this isn’t it. Wish You Weren’t is magically real. You wouldn’t be surprised if you met Marten in “real” life, but what he encounters in this story is pure magic.” ~VALERIE HOBBS, award-winning author of Wolf, Sheep and Minnie McClary Speaks Her Mind


“Wish You Weren’t is a sweet story about the blessings of family contained within the rip-roaring roller coaster of time travel. It is a page turner that kids are going to love!” ~KATIE D. ANDERSON, bestselling author of Kiss & Makeup


“I love all the science details mixed with fantasy in Wish You Weren’t — just the kinds of flights-of-science-fancy I wish I had as child!” ~SUSAN KAYE QUINN, bestselling author of the Mindjack Trilogy, Faery Swap and Third Daughter


“Fun and accessible, rich with realism and heart, this magical adventure reminds us of the things truly worth wishing for.” ~CASEY McCORMICK, literary agent intern and blogger at Literary Rambles

About Sherrie Petersen:

Sherrie Petersen still believes in magic and she loves to write (and read!) stories that take her on fantastic adventures. In addition to writing middle grade novels, Sherrie moonlights as a graphic designer, substitute teacher, freelance writer, school newspaper advisor, yearbook advisor and mother of two children. She spends her free time watching movies, driving kids around and baking cookies. Or eating them.

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Blog Tour/Review: Blood Crown by Ali Cross

About BLOOD CROWN: Androids have claimed power over what remains of the human race. They rule without remorse. They are the Mind and humans exist only to serve them.

But it wasn't always so.

Before the android uprising, select droids, called Servants, were pivotal in engineering a new human race with nanotechnology enhanced DNA. The Blood Crown theorum was to be humanity's crowning glory and the key to their survival in deep space.

But Serantha, Daughter of the West, was the last female to receive Gifts from her Servant and when the Mind mutinied, she was hidden away, and presumed dead.

Without Serantha there is no hope of the Blood Crown being realized so Nicolai, Son of the East, abandons his crown to join the rebel forces. He might not provide the future for his people he had once dreamed of, but he will not go down without a fight.

When Nicolai discovers Sera among a small compliment of kitchen staff, everything changes--but Sera's Gifts were never completed and she is ill-equipped to face a legion of androids determined to wipe her, and every other human, out of existence.

Their only hope is the Blood Crown--but even if Serantha and Nicolai can realize their potential it may be too late to save mankind.

Release date: February 28, 2014



This story is told from three points of view: Archibald, Nicolai and Serantha. Archibald is Serantha's Servant, created to serve her until she dies. He wasn't part of the android uprising, but when it happened, he saved her and shut off his connection to her, leading others to believe she was dead. The story begins nine years later and Archibald is starting to receive information from Sera again. Galen, his one-time friend and traitor, believes that Sera is alive and is using Archibald to get the information he needs.

Nicolai abandoned his crown to join the rebels and tries to convince his father to join as well. He and Sera were close once but since he believes her to be dead, he doesn't see any reason to stick around. 

Sera works in the kitchen of a ship. She has no memory of who she really is. She fights off advances of the guards when she's not scrubbing dishes. She is tired of the life she's living and when she's had enough, she makes a decision which will change everything.

I enjoyed this book! Sera's chapters were the longest so we hear the most from her. I was lost somewhat in the beginning but as Sera started piecing her past together, my interest was piqued. When Nicolai appears, she has no idea who he is at first. As her memory returns, they grow closer but they have trust issues to work through. The romance is sudden, but as the Blood Crown is explained, it makes sense and works. There are villains to dislike and good, likable side characters that add to the story. If you enjoy fast-paced science fiction (in space!) with romance and fairy tale elements, then this is a book you will enjoy!

Content: Unwanted groping, intense kissing (neither of them are graphic)

My Rating=4 Stars

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About Ali Cross: Ali Cross is the sensei of Novel Ninjutsu where she holds a black belt in awesome. She lives in Utah with her kickin' husband, two sparring sons, one ninja cat, one sumo dog and four zen turtles.

Ali is the award-winning author of young and new adult fiction and moonlights as Alex Cross when she can write wild middle grade adventures set in the faraway places of her imagination.

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