Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough

Title: Don't Expect Magic
Author: Kathy McCullough
ISBN: 9780385740128
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Page #: 247
Released: November 8, 2011
Source: From my library

Summary:
"Delaney Collins doesn't believe in fairy tales. And why should she? Her mom is dead, her best friend is across the country, and she's stuck in California with 'Dr. Hank,' her famous life-coach father - a man she barely knows. Happily ever after? Yeah, right.

Then Dr. Hank tells her an outrageous secret: he's a fairy godmother - an f.g. - and he can prove it. And by the way? The f.g. gene is hereditary. Meaning there's a good chance that New Jersey tough girl Delaney is someone's fairy godmother.

Even though she's not the pink and sparkly type. Delaney soon finds herself with a client: Flynn Becker, a boy at her new school who's hopelessly in love with a girl who doesn't know he exists. Flynn's wish is Delaney's command.

With her customized black boots and chopstick wand, Delaney does everything in her power to make Flynn's wish come true. But what happens when a fairy godmother needs a wish of her own?"
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First Lines:

"Of course I'm cursed with the most uncomfortable seat on the plane. The cushion's deflated in this bizarrely lopsided way, like somebody with one butt cheek exponentially bigger than the other sat there before me and crushed it."
Page 1
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Review:

What a crazy story! Can you imagine finding out that your dad is a Fairy Godmother?! And then finding out that YOU might be one, too?! Crazy town. But so much fun.

Delaney is sort of a punk. She's not happy about much - and has been shipped off to her absent-father's house after her mother's death. He's already a strange guy... but then she finds out his secret. He's not just giving people life advice - he's changing their lives as their Fairy Godmother. Or father, I guess. But Delaney decides she wants to take the fast-track to F.G.-dom. She hunts down people in her new high school to grant their biggest wishes... if only she can figure out what those wishes are.

Delaney kicks a lot of ass... no doubt about that. She designs her own boots, she glowers a lot, and really just wishes she was somewhere else all of the time. But she slowly comes to terms with the fact that she's stuck with her father. A guy she really doesn't know. And she's in a new town with a new school.... and everyone seems kinda happy all of the time. She sticks out like a sore thumb. But yet... she's super cool and makes friends very quickly - whether she wants them or not (not all that realistic, is it? :)).

Okay, I have to take issue with this cover. I mean, it seems really cute when you give it a passing glance. But if you really take it all in... you realize you're looking straight up the models skirt. I mean, seriously. Is that necessary? Couldn't we have chosen something a little longer? I would say something about the boots - they're not quite what the main character goes for - but that seems like a non-issue when you're staring up someone's dress. Otherwise, I really like it.

I love the crazy characters she meets at school, too. And the fact that she tries to figure them out while she's learning to be a Fairy Godmother. Tries to guess their inner desires... and to make them happen. I also really like that not everyone fits the mold that she starts out with... people are a bit more complex than she expected them to be. I thought that was a really nice touch.

So, this book was a fun story and fairly unique. I don't think I've ever read anything about someone being a Fairy Godmother before. Have you? I think this story did a great job exploring those posibilities. I think lots of girls will get into this book - it's hilarious and an easy sell. I look forward to reading more from this author, for sure.
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