Wand by Landra Jennings: A Heartwarming Adventure about Family, Grief, and Magic | Book Review

Hello, everyone! It’s finally happened — I’ve finished my first read of the year! The month may be closer to ending than beginning, and I know this is a shorter read, but I’m happy. And what a sweet story to start off with!

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This heartwarming adventure follows 11-year-old Mira who lives unhappily with her stepmother and two stepsisters after the sudden, unexpected death of her father as a twist on Cinderella. When she meets Lyndame, an older girl bearing a wand and the offer of three wishes, Mira’s journey towards the life she longs for begins.

We spend time with her in her life before while she weighs her wants — fashionable clothes, popularity at her new school, etc. A general feeling of togetherness in a home where she feels forgotten. As she fulfills her quota of three wishes, worlds open up before her metaphorically and literally. In this, she discovers where she came from and where she may truly belong. The adventure, magic, and tensions rise as she seeks what she longs for most: family.

With themes of grief, loneliness, and belonging, this portal fantasy middle grade story is excellent for young readers and the young at heart alike. I’d recommend this story to those interested in these themes and in books that will bring a smile to your face!

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Have you read Landra Jenning’s Wand? If so, what did you think? Are there other middle grade stories you enjoy? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!

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