Becca Singer is excited for her birthday. She has it all planned out. Her best friend Harper is coming over, and they’re going to stay up late doing tie-dye and eating pizza and playing their favorite storytelling game. Becca cannot wait for her birthday sleepover.

But when Becca asks Harper about it, Harper doesn’t sound all that excited. She says that she can’t sleep over, because she has to get up early on Saturday to go to a chess tournament with Georgette. Harper had been spending a lot of time with Georgette lately. In fact, Harper said that she wasn’t sure that she wanted Becca as her best friend any more.

Becca is very sad, but when she gets home, she finds tat there is a package waiting for her. Becca thought maybe someone had sent her a birthday gift, but it didn’t say that it was from anyone she knew. When she opened the box, she found that there was a bracelet inside. It had a strange message about giving her one wish, and Becca knew what it was that she wanted to wish for. She would wish for more friends.

The next day, Becca notices a difference. Some of the kids at school are friendly with her. They ask her questions and want to sit next to her. Becca feels good, feeling like people want to be friends with her. It makes losing Harper as her best friend easier to deal with.

The next day, more of the kids at school want to be her friend. Even the adults around Becca are acting differently. Her teacher gives her a good grade, even though she doesn’t deserve it. The principal is nice to her. And her mother taker her to the fancy coffee shop for a cup of hot chocolate and agrees to order pizza for dinner.

But as the days go by, Becca finds it harder to keep up with all her friends. She invites so many other kids to her birthday party. So many people want to sit next to her at lunch that she can barely fit at the table. Harper wants to be her friend again, but so does Georgette, who Becca doesn’t really like all that much. She has more texts than she can respond to, and her Friendstagram friend requests are out of control. But she’s not happy.

Being friends with everyone is fun, but Becca knows that it’s not real, and as soon as she takes the bracelet off, all those friends will go away again. And while she’s enjoying spending time with her mother and her brother, who is being nice to her for the first time in ages, she’s sad that her dad hasn’t called her. Ever since he moved away, Becca has had a hard time connecting with him.

As Becca tries to figure out what it is that she really wants in a friend, she realizes that what is more important is learning to be a good friend. But she can’t figure out how to be a good friend until she gets rid of all of her fake friends and can take off the bracelet. But now it’s stuck to her wrist and she can’t get it off. How will Becca undo the magic wish and get back to her regular life, so she can learn how to be real friend herself?

Best Wishes is the first in a new series from bestselling author Sarah Mlynowski. The series will follow the bracelet, as its wishes change the lives for two other kids, and Mlynowski will be writing the next two books with friends of hers, telling more stories of kids finding out that getting a wish granted may not be all it’s cracked up to be.

I really enjoyed Best Wishes. It’s smart and it’s sweet, and the moral of the story is a good reminder at any age. I especially liked how Becca figured out the key to making friends and shared it with all the readers. I know I could have used that information when I was a kid, and I think other kids will have an easier time making friends after reading Becca’s story. I also loved how Becca learned to be honest with herself and to share that with others, standing up for herself, admitting to her hurt feelings, and helping others find a way to share their talents. An encouraging read for kids struggling to find their place or to make friends, or for anyone who loves a good story with a bit of magic about it.

Galleys for Best Wises were provided by Scholastic Press, with many thanks.