Sticks and Stones by Shawn McGuire explores the intersection of magic, wishes, and regular teen life.
Mandy, the heroine in this book, manages to work through an overwhelming burden of grief and guilt without that burden overwhelming the reader–or becoming trivialized. Granted, she’s got magical help, but still, it’s an impressive feat.
I’ll definitely be picking up more of Shawn McGuire’s books in the future.