Maggie Malone and the Mostly Magical Boots

Gr 3–6—Maggie Malone's 12th birthday is turning out to be the worst one ever. Since her dad lost his job, she has to change schools and start attending "Stinkerton" middle school where she has no friends and she's practically invisible. And her favorite aunt, who usually sends her awesome presents, has given her a pair of old used brown boots for her birthday. What good are an old pair of boots? Well, quite a lot actually—these aren't ordinary boots; they're Mostly Magical Boots! When Maggie wishes her life could be like that of her favorite pop star …Bam! she gets pop sensation Becca Starr's life for a day. But like any wish come true, things aren't always quite what the wisher expects. Maggie's discoveries during her day as a diva help provide insight into how to make the best of her own situation. While this book follows a familiar formula, it does it well and will find a ready-made audience. This lighthearted contemporary fantasy will appeal to fans of Sarah Mlynowski's "Whatever After" series (Scholastic) and be a nice fit for readers graduating from the "Katie Kazoo" series by Nancy Krulik (Grosset & Dunlap).—Stephanie Whelan, New York Public Library