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The Unfortunate Wishes of Nelly Young

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About The Book

A girl and her friends find their wishes coming true and their world turned upside down in this absurdly funny middle grade romp that’s Dork Diaries meets The Wish by Gail Carson Levine.

It’s spring break, and twelve-year-old Nelly Young is determined to ditch the embarrassing nickname Breaking News Nelly and become Totally Cool Nelly. She’s not quite sure how, but she’s sure she’ll figure it out…especially when she has her two best friends, Clara and Jas, by her side. Though nothing seems to go right for any of them, at least the three girls have each other.

With nothing to lose, they’re determined to make their own luck and write down their ultimate wishes. But to their surprise, the next morning they find their wishes starting to come true. But how?! They haven’t got a clue, but soon the tides are turning for Nelly, Clara, and Jas, and all it takes is one wish…and then another…and another.

Because when you have the power of unlimited wishes on your side, what could possibly go wrong?

About The Author

Photograph by Beth Garrod

Beth Garrod is a bestselling author of graphic novels, middle grade, and young adult books and loves finding the funny in the everyday. After growing up in the UK, she worked around the world, including the USA, India, South Africa, and Canada, producing everything from mental health campaigns to music TV shows, working with broadcasters including the BBC, MTV, and UNICEF. Beth now lives in East London and splits her time between writing and producing. She’s also the inventor of Continuous Greetings, a range of greetings cards designed to be shared back and forth between two people. Find Beth on Instagram @Beth__Garrod.

Why We Love It

“I howl with laughter every time I open this book. Nelly is so supremely loveable that you’ll want to be her best friend yourself. Beth Garrod’s sense of humor is so on point and she clearly understands the mindset of your average disastrous middle schooler. It’s impossible to keep yourself from smiling when reading this book.”

—Dainese S., Associate Editor, on The Unfortunate Wishes of Nelly Young

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (March 18, 2025)
  • Length: 304 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781665959704
  • Ages: 8 - 12

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