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. 

• Middle School Magic: A single enchanted candle is Sage’s only hope to fix her cursed life on her twelfth birthday.
• The Contrarium Curse: Since birth, if something goes right for her perfect classmate Priscilla, it goes horribly wrong for Sage.
• Reluctant Allies: When Sage’s wish backfires, she’s forced to team up with Priscilla Petty, the girl she blames for everything.
• Heart and Humor: A funny, heartfelt story about navigating friendship, family reputation, and the chaotic magic of being twelve.

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.