3.5 Stars
Spindrift is 15-years-old. Since her parent's death, she has lived with her grandfather and helped out in his curiosity shop. Spindrift has one special treasure from her parents - a simple, glass orb. One night the orb changes right before her very eyes. First a beautiful black orchid forms inside the glass. Then from the bloom of the flower a woman in a dress as black as the midnight sky. The "black orchid" can grant Spindrift many wishes. . .and does! Oh, what fun she has - for a little while. But you must be careful what you wish for!

What follows is an age-appropriate, action-packed, magical adventure. Her grandfather shares a box of old letters from her parents that open Spindrift's eyes to importance of the The Seven Sages and the Seven Orbs they placed at the time of creation. In the wrong hands, these orbs will cause a lot of harm. She also learns the true identity of the stranger that visited her grandfather's shop asking about the black orchid. He killed her parents.

The relationship between Spindrift and her grandfather is deep, meaningful, and easily relatable. The old letters is a wonderful way to have her parents' voice heard. The story moves steadily and only gets bogged down a few times. Roland is scary, but it is age appropriate. There's nothing here that will cause your middle-grade reader nightmares. A good "one-read" read book.

Great book for middle grade students. I immediately connected to Spindrift and the relationship she had with her grandfather. The friendships and family relationships in this book are very well written. Even though Spindrift is an orphan, she is able to get to know her parents through the letters her mom sent to her grandfather. This book has a little but if something for everyone.