Common Sense Media Review
By Darienne Stewart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Grounded fairy learns to let her heart lead in magical tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets is finally getting her first wish-granting assignment in GRANTED. Her fairy home is endangered by the decline of magic, so every mission is critically important -- and Ophelia's ready to use all her training to grant a girl's wish to replace her stolen bike. But outside the Haven, Ophelia's blown off course by a near-miss with a plane, run-ins with hostile birds, and humans making her job harder (and more dangerous). Tired, bruised, and grounded with a broken wing, Ophelia forms an unlikely partnership with Sam, a stray dog who's had more than his share of misfortune too. As Ophelia gets closer to fulfilling her mission, however, she starts to wonder whether there's a better way to decide which wishes deserve to be fulfilled.
Is It Any Good?
Like a secret wish whispered into the world, John David Anderson's wistful story about a plucky young fairy trying to help keep magic alive is about hope and dreams of change against very long odds. Anderson (Posted, The Dungeoneers) writes with gentle compassion for his characters, from ambitious Ophelia to the wounded creatures she encounters on her quest. While granting a human's wish has long been Ophelia's own great wish, her unexpected adventures cause her to re-examine her beliefs about tradition, want, generosity, and kindness -- the rule-follower, imagining a better way, starts to rebel.
The story's beating heart is Sam, an abused and abandoned stray dog who helps Ophelia even when she tries to go it alone. He sticks by her with simple, straightforward loyalty: "Because you are broken and lost and I licked you, so now we are friends."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way Granted weaves fantasy into a modern setting. Do you prefer fantasy that's grounded in the real world, or fantasy that involves a wholly separate imagined world?
What do you do when you want to provide more for others than you're really able to manage?
Where is your haven -- your safe place where you feel warm, loved, and supported?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Walden Pond Press
- Publication date : March 13, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate