Addie Bell’s Shortcut to Growing Up

Readers eager to become full-fledged teens may have second thoughts after seeing what happens to 12-year-old Addie Bell when her wish to be 16 is granted. After receiving a magical jewelry box from an elderly neighbor with dementia, Addie writes down her greatest desire, locks it inside the box, and awakens the next morning to find that four years have passed. Now she and her friends are high school juniors, but because Addie still has the life experience of a 12-year-old, things like driving her car and trying to keep up in trig class are no easy tasks. Worst of all, Addie’s former best friend Grace no longer speaks to her; 16-year-old Addie is now pals with popular but mean Clementine, with whom she runs a beauty-focused YouTube channel. Addie’s attempts to understand the confusing landscape of high school create plenty of funny moments, but the experience is more often stressful for this sympathetic heroine. Writing with humor and sensitivity, Brody (the Unremembered trilogy) offers a fresh take on the age-old theme of being careful what you wish for. Ages 10–up. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Feb.)