The 12th Candle: A Middle Grade Magical Realism Story About Wishes and Friendship for Children (Ages 8-12)

Middle school meets magic in this hilarious and heartfelt novel about a girl whose life flips when she wishes on an enchanted candle—perfect for fans of Sarah Mlynowski and Wendy Mass.

Sage Sassafras’s life is cursed! No, really. Since birth, Sage has been plagued by the Contrarium Curse that’s set her at odds with classmate Priscilla Petty.

Every time something goes right for Priscilla, it goes terribly, horribly wrong for Sage. And things always go well for Priscilla.

Sage blames the curse for all her middle school misery—from losing a friend to failing gym to gaining a reputation as the girl whose daddy’s in trouble. So when Sage is given a magical candle on her twelfth birthday, she seizes the chance to turn her luck around—with a wish to reverse the curse.

But when the consequences of her wish take a terrible turn, Sage has to team up with her worst enemy—before she’s doomed to a life of opposites forever. 

What happens when the only person who can help is the one who caused all your problems?

• Enemies to Friends: Sage and Priscilla have been rivals since birth. Now, a wish-gone-wrong forces them to work together, or face the consequences of the curse forever.
• A Touch of Magic: It starts with an enchanted birthday candle and a single wish. But in a town like Goldview, where the weather is already magical, Sage is about to find out that wishes have a price.
• Middle School Drama: From losing friends and failing gym to dealing with a parent in prison, Sage is convinced a curse is behind all her bad luck. Can one wish really fix everything?
• Heart and Humor: Perfect for fans of Wendy Mass and Sarah Mlynowski, this story is packed with hilarious moments, heartfelt lessons, and the power of kindness.

Kim Tomsic was a classroom conversationalist and got in trouble (a lot!) with teachers for talking. The trouble spanned from the East Coast to the West Coast, because she was a military brat and the new girl at eight different schools. In between friendships, she discovered that a good book can be a welcomed companion. Her closest friends know that her favorite foods are ice cream, peanut M&Ms, and Li Hing Muis, and her favorite word is “possibilities.” Kim has two grown children and now lives in Arizona with her husband and dog; The 11:11 Wish is her first middle grade novel and is followed by The 12th Candle. Visit her at kimtomsic.com or kimscritiquingcorner.blogspot.com.