Middle school would be a whole lot better if there were a little magic to make everything go your way, right? In The Wish Switch by Lynn Painter, Emma Rockford certainly thinks so.
Heading into the seventh grade, Emma wants to make sure everything is perfect, and she knows exactly how. Before she passed away, her nana told her about a magical portal that grants wishes – and the steps to make it happen. So she gathers up her friends, Allie and Kennedy, and they all make wishes together during their school trip. Except, when she tosses in her wish package, a rock knocks it off course! She doesn’t think anything of it – until school starts a few months later.
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Allie and Kennedy seem to have gotten their wishes, while she’s left wondering why hers didn’t come true. That is, until new kid, the insufferable Jackson Matthews, seems to have everything Em wanted, and things are more mixed up than just their wishes, it’s affecting their lives in a big way. They’ll have to team up to untangle everything before the last wish takes hold, but Emma can’t stand him – at least, until it seems Jackson might just be kinda sweet, a good listener, and fun to be around after all.
Magic and mayhem collide in beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter’s hilarious children’s book debut, perfect for fans of Sarah Mlynowski and Wendy Mass.
Emma Rockford knows it will take bonafide magic to make middle school everything she wants it to be. Luckily, before Emma’s beloved Nana died, she left detailed instructions on how to access an ancient, secret, magical wishing well. Emma follows each step and plans out every moment…except for the one where the obnoxious new kid, Jackson, tosses in wishes of his own that literally knock her wishes off course. When seventh grade starts, Emma discovers that her wishes are starting to come true, alright. But not for her…for Jackson.
Which, the two quickly discover, could have disastrous consequences for both of their families, and cost Emma her best friends. Can they set everything straight in time to prevent full-blown catastrophe?
With the trademark wit and heart that have earned her legions of fans, #1 New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter delivers a laugh-out-loud story of friendship, family, and wishing—with a delightful dash of magic.
The Wish Switch
AUTHOR: Lynn Painter
PUBLISHER: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
DATE: May 13, 2025
The Wish Switch adds a sprinkle of magic to seventh-grade struggles in this adorable story about friendship, family, and first crushes. Emma and Jackson are accidentally tied together when he unknowingly steals her wishes, and we know you’ll fall for them.
Summer break may be on the horizon, but Emma and Jackson know that a new school year is a tricky thing to navigate, so we teamed up with author Lynn Painter to guide you through. She shared advice from Emma and Jackson for handling the first day of school, so you can spend your summer relaxing (and reading!) instead of worrying.
Emma and Jackson from THE WISH SWITCH Share Their Advice for A Great First Day at School:
EMMA: Wait. Are we serious with this ‘great first day of school’ thing? This is our topic?
JACKSON: It’s a great topic that everyone can relate to, Em. What’s the problem?
EMMA: The problem is that you single-handedly destroyed my first day of seventh grade, so I’m not sure we’re the best people to help on this particular subject.
JACKSON: First of all, the only thing I did was throw a football—
EMMA: At my face!
JACKSON: –that accidentally got caught by your nose.
EMMA: You know, it might be easier to believe it was an accident if you didn’t smile quite so huge and clownlike while you reminisce about it.
JACKSON: (grinning) It was an accident, which I deeply regret, but you have to admit – the way your honker immediately turned into a gushing fountain was really quite memorable.
EMMA: You turned my favorite shirt into a bloody crime scene.
JACKSON: (grinning bigger) Yeah, I did.
EMMA: Not a compliment.
JACKSON: Says you.
EMMA: You’re proving my point on the whole advice thing right now, Matthews.
JACKSON: You might be right, Rockford – my apologies. Let’s re-focus.
EMMA: But are you capable?
JACKSON: Let’s find out. SO. Back to the whole advice thing. Even if Em’s first day didn’t go quite as hoped, there are plenty of things a person can do to help guide their opening day of the school year in a better direction.
EMMA: Such as…?
JACKSON: Oh, I thought you would throw out the first example.
EMMA: No, it’s all you, buddy.
JACKSON: Okay. Fine. I’ve got this. For starters, it’s always good to select an outfit you feel comfortable in. Something that makes you feel like you look good, but nothing too…outfitty.
EMMA: I’m sorry, did you just say outfitty?
JACKSON: I did, and I stand by it. Outfitty. Sometimes people overthink the first day of school outfit and choose the whole looks-cool-but-is-so-uncomfortable route, and once they arrive for the festivities, they have regrets. They feel try-hard in their clicky heels and rigid clothing and spend the entire day homesick for the trusty old t-shirt-and-shorts combo they left at home.
EMMA: Okay, that’s actually a very fair point. I wore a white eyelet dress and clicky heels on my first day of sixth grade. It was such a cute oufit, but I spent the entire day panicking that I looked like a deranged bride who fell off the top of a wedding cake. I actually was homesick for shorts and a tee.
JACKSON: I bet you looked adorable, though.
EMMA: I actually got mustard all over that dress at lunch.
JACKSON: Typical.
EMMA: Who serves corn dogs on the first day of school, though? I think the administration ordered up that menu on purpose just so they could place bets on which students would be sporting ketchup and mustard stains post-lunch.
JACKSON: You have to be right. Those diabolical cafeteria workers totally had it out for you from the second they plotted-out doggers-on-sticks.
EMMA: Right?
JACKSON: (quietly) You don’t really think that, do you, Em?
Emma shrugs and waves a hand for him to move on.
JACKSON: Okay, well, another helpful hint for the first day of school is to gather a little intel beforehand. Because it’s intimidating, having new teachers, new rules, a new locker and a whole new schedule; that’s a lot, right?
EMMA: For sure it is. I’m getting butterflies, just thinking about it.
JACKSON: You sure those aren’t from looking at me? From gazing upon the ruggedly handsome face of Jackson Matthews? You can be honest, Rockford.
EMMA: (laughing) You did not just call yourself ruggedly handsome. Aren’t you the guy who got swallowed up by a magical hole in the ground and needed me to pull you out with a tree branch while you yelled ‘help, help’?
JACKSON: Yes, I am the ruggedly handsome man you rescued. Your point?
EMMA: My point is that first days of school are nerve-wracking.
JACKSON: They are, so information-gathering is key. Ask your friends’ older siblings about their experiences. They can tell you the basic facts about specific teachers, schedules, and all the little secrets that can help in navigating your new grade.
EMMA: That was actually really good advice.
JACKSON: Yes, I know I’m brilliant, thank you.
EMMA: I’m picturing you dangling over that hole in the ground again, not looking so brilliant…
JACKSON: It was a magic hole, so no one would’ve looked brilliant.
EMMA: Says you. Anyhoo…another helpful hint for the first day of school is waking up early.
JACKSON: Now you sound like my mother.
EMMA: I know, but having extra time helps keep the nerves at bay. If you have plenty of time to do your hair, eat some food, even watch a little TV, well – then it feels more like a calm, regular day.
JACKSON: Okay, maybe mother knows best, because that’s actually a really solid plan.
EMMA: Never call me mother again.
JACKSON: Done. So we’re kind of nailing this advice thing, don’t you think?
EMMA: I think we are. Maybe we should dole out one more word of wisdom before we ditch this interview and go grab some food. What do you think?
JACKSON: I think I want to know what kind of food we’re talking. Is this a let’s-raid-your-mom’s-cupboard situation, or are we considering leaving the vicinity and dipping into a fast-food establishment? Because I am so down for some pizza.
EMMA: Pizza’s good. I could eat pizza.
JACKSON: Brilliant. So then we just need one more advice-y thing.
EMMA: This is all you. Bring it home, Matthews.
JACKSON: Okay. My biggest piece of advice for a great first day of school is if you’re going to throw a football, don’t let it hit the nose of the girl you’ve got a crush on.
EMMA: (laughing) Yeah, that’s really great advice, bring on the pizza.
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