Wanda Seasongood and the Mostly True Secret

This enchanting chapter book, reminiscent of "The Princess Bride," follows Wanda Seasongood, an 11-year-old girl who believes she's been stuck with the wrong family. Frustrated by her "monstrous" little brother, Zane, and her parents' constant blame, Wanda wishes to find her true kin. Her wish is answered by Voltaire, a talking bluebird who confirms a secret spell has altered her life. Together, they embark on a humorous and adventurous quest through the Scary Wood, encountering magical creatures and ultimately confronting a powerful witch. The story explores themes of identity, family bonds, and the journey of self-discovery, making it suitable for children aged 7-10 for independent reading, or 4-11 as a read-aloud.

In this Princess Bride-style fairy tale romp, a girl strikes out on a quest to find her rightful family--because the one she's been stuck with all these years is most definitely wrong. Wanda hates her little brother, Zane. But don't judge her for it--Zane is an absolute terror, and her parents blame Wanda for his monstrous behavior. On her eleventh birthday, Wanda makes a wish: to find her true family, because she knows deep down that this one can't be hers. She gets a surprise visit from a talking bluebird named Voltaire who seems wise and confirms her suspicion that someone has been meddling with her life. He knows the secret . . . he just can't remember what it is right now. Together they venture into the Scary Wood, where they encounter many magical creatures as they search for the truth. None of these adversaries prepares her for the biggest one: a witch named Raymunda, who has put her and her family under a spell. Will Wanda succeed in breaking the curse, or will she be stuck in the wrong life forever?