2002 IRA Young Adult's Choice The Wish is a 2000 children's novel by Gail Carson Levine, the Newbery Honor winning author of Ella Enchanted.

Gail Carson Levine wanted to get as much material for this book as possible, as she had skipped eighth grade herself.

To make up for missing personal experiences, she interviewed a group of eighth graders about school, friends, and relationships.

[5] Publishers Weekly said of The Wish in a May 2000 review, "Levine turns from fairy godmothers in the Brothers Grimm era to modern-day magic in this provocative meditation on what it means to be popular.

And middle school readers from every spot in the pecking order will sympathize with Wilma's efforts to be comfortable in her own skin.