The Bad Genie is a delightful children’s story about a naughty boy who happens upon a genie’s bottle. Melvin is selfish and spiteful. His wishes are self-serving and mean, but his wishes do not turn out the way he plans much to his frustration. A wish for a life-sized, robotic T-Rex is disastrous. Reading about such an unrepentant and nasty boy was fun. His mishaps and comeuppance were even more enjoyable to watch.

The polar opposite of Melvin is Frankie, a nice, quiet, studious boy, who has trouble making friends. He is Melvin’s whipping boy and has some home hardships to deal with as well. He is a nice counter to Melvin. Reading this story was lovely. The dual protagonists and the effect the genie has on both their lives are nicely constructed. The end is a wee bit too saccharine for me, but I still took pleasure in the resolution.

The story is short and can be read in one sitting. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a light, amusing read or for children hungry for stories. I believe children 8 and up would enjoy this story immensely, especially young boys.

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