A Granted Wish, Iyana Jenna

-Review by Kazza K



This is a very short story that I cannot give a big review for because it lacks pages BUT it is so cute, nice and different that I had to give it a review on Greedy Bug.

The MC's are Kyle and Aiden. They have growing feelings for one another. They sneak hand-holding under their bags on the school bus -

(Kyle) loves seeing the blush on the other boy's face, feel the slight tremor running through his hand, though from excitement or fear he knows not.

That's what he feels every time Aiden is around. In the classroom, at PE sessions, during breaks, He cant wait to see him again once he loses sight of him.

When Kyle's dad sees him wistfully looking after the school bus he thinks it's about a girl -

"Don't worry about the girl. She's not going anywhere,"

And besides he's too young -

You're fifteen, Kyle. You shouldn't think about that yet, really.

Hmm, I think Kyle's dad's a bit,uh, wrong about that. At fifteen that's exactly what he would be thinking about -

Kyle sighs. It's bad enough that his dad keeps reminding him he's still too young to think about having a crush on someone; Kyle doesn't have to make it worse by telling his father that it's a boy, not a girl.

And we get Aiden's thoughts as well -

Aiden can't stop smiling. He feels like he's walking in the clouds. He's that happy. The cutest boy in class, the one with twinkles in his eyes, the deepest dimples, and the most engaging and contagious of smiles, the one by the name of Kyle. Kyle who's head over heels over him. Or at least that's what Aiden thinks...... 

That night at dinner Kyle adds his own prayers to grace -

...that he were older in a place with no dad nagging at him. And that Aiden would be older, too, with no one getting in their way, not their friends or teachers.

Kyle gets his prayer/wish, which I won't discuss because I've already put a lot in here. The granted wish is interesting, short, quirky, and, because of the story's length, it isn't explored fully. But, having said that, A Granted Wish still makes some points.

Kyle's father assumes it is a girl his son is thinking about. Kyle doesn't feel like he wants to 'disappoint' his father by being gay as well as actively thinking about another boy. His wish is to do with the freedom he would like to experience with Aiden, being with him, being older. An understandable wish given the secrecy that LGBT youth often have to conduct their relationships under - no matter whether it be holding hands, a kiss, or more.

I'm going to assume that Iyana Jenna is finding her way in the writing world. I would like to see her write something longer. This had the potential to be a very good book, as opposed to short story. It was different and sweet, nonetheless.

Overall, very short but very promising. I will keep on the look-out for longer books from Iyana Jenner and watch to see what happens with her writing career.

This book was provided by the author in return for an honest review.