M. Tara Crowl’s ‘Eden’s Wish’ is more meh than magical

“EDEN’S WISH (EDEN OF THE LAMP),” by M. Tara Crowl, Disney-Hyperion, Sept. 1, 2015, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)

Eden has spent her entire life inside of an antique oil lamp; all 12 years of her life minus the brief interludes where she explodes out of the lamp in a poof and grants three wishes to the lucky person who found it. Beautifully appointed and lacking for nothing — well nothing except fresh air, and sunlight, and people… — the lamp is more of a prison than a luxurious home for Eden.

Eden hates being a genie. She hates granting wishes. She even takes people’s wishes so literally that they end up rather sad or even dangerous. But Eden’s stuck. She can’t retire until she’s granted wishes to 1,000 people, and at the rate she’s going, she’s got years and years of work ahead of her.

That changes when Eden finds a secret exit, and decides to take her chance among humans. Eden finds herself thrust into a world she doesn’t completely understand. Luckily, she finds some nice kids who don’t seem to question her explanation for why she’s arrived in California with no clothes, money or parental supervision.

Everything seems perfect. But by escaping from the lamp, Eden has unwittingly stepped right into the middle of a centuries-old conflict she knows nothing and everything about. Eden’s escape could shift power and change life as we know it.

“Eden’s Wish” is a decent read. But there’s nothing spectacular about it. It’s pretty middle of the road when it comes to middle grade books. Though naïve, Eden is a likeable character, and the supporting cast helps flesh out the overall feel of the book. The book is somewhat predictable, though, and I had a hard time finding something that made it truly stand out. That said, it’s not bad, and there’s nothing really wrong with it. I recommend it as a good library read for someone looking for lighter, more TV movie-esque fare.