Finally: A Wish Novel

Do you remember when your parents used to tell you "wait until you're 12" or "wait until you're 16"? You were, no doubt, just like Rory Swenson and created a list of things you would "someday" be able to do or have. FINALLY, that day has arrived for Rory. Being 12 means being on the edge of her teen years. Rory can hardly sleep the night before. She's thinking of her list - getting a cell phone, getting her ears pierced, getting a pet, and getting to go to her first boy/girl party. Those are just a few of the things she is excited about finally being about to do. Let's take the cell phone. She can't believe it's true when she finds the box that looks like it's her dream come true. Imagine her disappointment when she opens it to find a cell phone, but not the one she's dreamed of. Instead, this is an ugly thing with two buttons. Count them! Just two buttons! One to call home and the other to call 911. WT*! Leave it to her parents to give her the second present, which is a box filled with cell phone brochures and calling plans. They confess that the two button phone is some sort of sick joke, and then tell her since the phone will be her responsibility, she must investigate all the choices and make a presentation about which are the best - and then they'll make the purchase. Next, imagine Rory getting her cell phone and managing to lose it in 15 minutes before they've even left the mall where it was purchased. Yep, that's how being 12 begins for Rory. FINALLY is one girl's experience as she reaches the magical age where everything seems possible. Whatever can go wrong, does. There are incidents involving leg shaving, make-up, being home alone, and contact lenses, just to name a few. Author Wendy Mass captures the frustration of pre-teens as they reach the magical time that allows them to begin experiencing tidbits from the grown-up world. FINALLY will have readers laughing, nodding in agreement, and sighing in sympathy as they follow Rory's tale of reaching 12. Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

"Finally" had me remembering my past birthdays with all of Rory's birthday wishes. It was an entertaining story, with cameos done by Amanda and Leo from "11 Birthdays". There were many unexpected things happening to this girl that is turning twelve, who has many things she wants to get and do once she turns 12. However, along the way, she helps many people without even noticing. Rory is like many girls around us today, because she constantly blends into the background, even though she is very different from people around her. This book is good for all Wendy Mass readers, and all girls from 12-16 will find it extremely enjoyable!

Rory wants to be 12 like yesterday because her utterly-overprotective parents will FINALLY let her shave her legs, drink coffee, wear make-up, get a pet, go to boy-girl parties, and best of all, get her a cell phone. When the big day finally arrives, Rory makes a chart filled with all her deepest desires and proudly displays it in the living room. Tired of being blah and boring, Rory is set on standing out a little more. When news that teen heart-throb Jake Harrison will be filming a movie at Rory's school, she and her friends decide to try out as extras. What better way to break-free of her "baby" image, right? As Rory fumbles through her list--and gets a role in the movie,--she flip-flops in her longing between the comfort of what's always been and the fear of what's new; between confidence and insecurity. We're lucky to have front row seats as we watch Rory grow-up before our eyes. Her mishaps and embarrassments are the highlights of the story which will have you laughing out loud. Finally, when Rory discovers that most things on her list are more work than they're worth, she realizes that being plain `ol Rory isn't a bad thing after all and that she actually has a very unique gift inside her. -- Reviewed by Kerry O'Malley Cerra

This book will make you laugh! The author really lets you get to know the main character, Rory Swenson, who has the worst luck! Many of these problems lead to hilarious happenings and although the reader will find it very funny, they feel sympathy for poor Rory. This book is about Rory not being able to do things other students at her school in Willow Falls can do.Some of these rules are resonable, like not being able to have a cell phone or get contacts. Others are outrageous, like not being allowed to pick out her own clothes! When she turns twelve she can do all these things and even more.FINALLY! In fact she has a whole list of things she can do when she turns twelve! At the end of the story there is a true moral. I beileve that everyone going through puberty should read this book to make them see that there is no rush to grow up, and to never forget the things you like and the things you need. If you have read 11 Birthdays (by Wendy Mass ) then you'll like this book because it takes place in the same town and some characters from 11 Birthdays appear in this book a few times. Remember, you won't get what you want until you see what you need.

Rory is counting the minutes until she turns 12. She has a list of things that she wants to do once she is 12. A couple of the things that she will be allowed to do are get a cell phone, get a pet, shave her legs and get her ears pierced. One mishap after another follows. Wendy Mass did not disappoint me with this book! It made me laugh- out- loud in some parts. I think my favorite part was when Rory tried shaving her legs for the first time~oh my goodness it was funny! Even though there were laugh-out-loud moments in Rory's attempts at working through her list you could see the life lessons that she was learning and the maturity that she is reaching by the end of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!