The Wishing Well

Another Weaver Tale

Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Kindle Edition
Reviewed on 08/11/2013
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Kai Strand writes fiction for kids and teens. Her debut novel, The Weaver, was a finalist in the 2012 EPIC eBook Awards. She is a (very lucky) wife and the mother of four amazing kids. The most common sound in her household is laughter. The second most common is, "Do your dishes!" She and her family hike, geocache, and canoe in beautiful Central Oregon, where they call home.

To find out more about Kai’s books, download companion documents, find links to her published short stories and discover all the places to find Kai both virtually and in person, visit her website: www.kaistrand.com. She loves to hear from readers, so feel free to send her an email or visit her facebook page, Kai Strand, Author.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

The Wishing Well - Another Weaver Tale by Kai Strand is the story of Molly Minstrel who is treated badly by her mother and sisters. The story then takes you to Molly's meeting with this mysterious creature, UNWANTED, whose magical powers help to wish her problems away. The story is a twist on the original Cinderella story. Instead of the fairy godmother, the author has introduced UNWANTED, an amazing blue creature.

I liked the idea of recreating the magic of Cinderella. It is very innovative to have a theme on similar lines. It is disheartening to see children being treated badly and abused by the people with whom they stay. There are some lessons to be learnt too through the story. Molly's character is also portrayed with some depth and the valuable education she gives other children by her behavior is commendable.

The Wishing Well is a book that all children from the age of seven would enjoy. But the story demands that there are pictures of Molly Minstrel, Riddle, and UNWANTED. The story line is great, and illustrations would have added to it.

Apart from Molly, the characters of Riddle and UNWANTED are worth mentioning. The meanness of her mother and sisters is depicted very well. The book also speaks about helping, loving, and the victory of good over evil. Will Molly be granted the wish that she is looking for?

Penelope Anne Cole

I reviewed "The Wishing Well, Another Weaver Tale," by Kai Strand, with cover art by K.C. Snider, on my blog, August 7, 2012. This is the second in the Weaver Chapbook series for ‘tweens about folks in the town of The Tales who are “word weavers.” At the drop of a hat, or when asked, each person can weave tales, stories, riddles, poems, or fables to entertain and instruct. Their last names - and sometimes their first names - are word-related as well. The story is compelling from the first page and keeps your interest throughout -- I couldn’t put it down until I’d finished.

Poor Molly Minstrel is badly treated by her own mother and two sisters. She’s required to do all the chores: washing, ironing, cooking, cleaning, chopping wood, running errands, even filling the water bucket from the well. It’s much too much work for an eleven year old. Fortunately, she has a dear friend named Riddle who helps her so she can enjoy some play time with her friends. Since this is in the “Cinderella” theme, you wonder, along with Molly, why would her own mother and sisters treat her so terribly? After all, Molly is family, not step family. We wonder, too, until the end of the story.

There is magic in the story in the person of a small, ugly, blue creature called “Unwanted.” Molly is kind to Unwanted and he rewards her with a wish. How that wish plays out in the book reveals why Molly is badly treated by her family and how they work out their problems in the end.

The story is entertaining, but also has important life lessons. Kids will easily relate to the feelings of the children and the problems Molly faces. They’ll see that others’ life experiences shape the way they behave, but also see they can be helped to change for the good. The values of kindness, generosity, helping, and problem-solving are woven throughout the book along with the characters’ “word weavings.”

I look forward to reading all of the books in this charming series. K.C. Snider’s cover art is lovely and puts you right in The Tales. You want to visit and you want to see more illustrations of life in this special place. Thank you, Kai Strand, for a perfectly delightful tale.

Susan Hornbach

Best wishes Kai, for a great book that keeps the reader turning the pages!