Looking up at the night sky always held the allure of possibility for me as a child. The possibility of a secret wish granted simply in exchange for a softly whispered “Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight…” rhyme. The magic of it lasted well past my young childhood, and I can’t deny trying it once or twice as an adult either. (You never know.) With these memories in mind, I approached the new middle grade novel The Wish Stealers with a smile on my face.
In Tracy Trivas’ first children’s novel, we encounter a world in which wishes are truly powerful, and it isn’t always a lucky thing. Griffin Penshine (really, the perfect name for this cute character) has a penchant for making wishes, and when she finds herself suddenly in possession of a “lucky penny” given by an old woman at a local shop she hopes for some good luck as her first day of sixth grade is approaching soon. However, when she discovers the package contains eleven shiny pennies that actually represent stolen wishes, her luck quickly turns sour. Her fortune rests upon her ability to reverse the curse placed on her with this “gift,” and she’s got her work cut out for her. Add to that the regular social challenges of middle school, innocent adolescent crushes, and school projects all vying for her attention, as well. In the end, can she reverse her own fortune, possibly even spreading some good luck to others as well?
If I could go back in time, I would bring this book back to my own 9-year-old self, because I’m confident this is the exact kind of story I was drawn to–a spunky and unique main character, a fun writing style, and an imaginative conflict that, of course, gets wrapped up with a bow by the end of the story. My own nine year old son read this book (in a morning!), and came away with a huge smile on his face and a declaration of “that was so cool!”
In conjunction with the release of The Wish Stealers, publisher Simon and Schuster is also working with Pennies for the Planet, “a successful nationwide campaign to help critical conservation projects, powered by kids collecting pennies (and nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollars, too!) to help save wild places and wildlife in the United States. Working in classrooms, clubs, Scout troops, other groups, with their families, and on their own, kids have turned pennies into a gold mine for wild spaces and wild species needing protection,” according to the media release.
Are you wishing for a copy of The Wish Stealers for a young reader you know? Today just may be your lucky day, since we have FIVE copies to giveaway (U.S. only, please). Please leave one comment here to be entered. (Have a little wish to share??) We’ll announce the winner in next week’s column.
The winner of last week’s book, All Things at Once, is #7 Carolyn.
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Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the review copy and giveaway copies.
Written by book blogger Dawn of my thoughts exactly and 5 Minutes for Books
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{ 94 comments… read them below or add one }
We’d love a copy of this book.
This sounds like such a wonderful book! I would LOVE it for my kids
(I’m sure my 9 yr old self would’ve loved it too!)
I subscribe via google reader.
sounds like a wonderful read myself and few others here would love to read
shopannies@Yahoo.com
That does sound cool, I’d love a copy.
Sounds like a great one!
Sounds good! I’d love a copy for my daughter and I to read.
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance to win.
Love your blog, Jennifer !
I’m always searching for a great read for my ten year old. This could be THE ONE!
This sounds like a story that I would have loved at the age of 9 or 10, and I know a 9 year old girl now who is an avid reader.
Sounds great, thanks for the entry
This sounds like a great book. If we could have wishes come true, I know that my son and I would both be wishing for a worship pastor job for my husband. We’ve been looking for 8 months.
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net
The Wish Stealers looks like a perfect book to read with my 10-year-old daughter. I’ve been looking for something that I can read aloud to her in the evenings, in addition to the other reading she does solo. I think my four-year-old would also love listening in!
Hope I win!
Ooohhh…I wish I may I wish I might win this book! Even though she’s a teensy bit old, I know my 12 year old would love this!
I would love to win a copy of this! (I’ve seen the cover around the blogosphere and have had it on my Wish List ever since…..
Thanks for the chance….and happy reading (a wish for all!).
=0)
My daugther would love this!!!
I’m intrigued! I have a lot of friends in this age range who love to read (and I’m trying to encourage my toddler to cultivate a love of reading).
Sounds really good. Please enter me. Thanks!
Looks like a fun book to have in the library! Thanks for the chance!
This sounds like a wonderful book for my daughter. Even though she is in first grade we have already dealt with some school & social issues that I remember bumping into in my jr. hi years … thanks for a great review and I will check out the fundraising site as well.
Wow, that sounds like such a great story! I’m always looking for new children’s books to check out and this is the next one I will look for!
Sounds like a book my 9 yo would love! Thanks for the giveaway!
I have a 9 yo grandson who would like to read this.
Sounds great! Thanks for the possibility.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sounds like a great book – for my son and for me! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
I would love a copy for my grandchildren and for students in my Children’s Lit classes.
This would be perfect for my granddaughter!
I’d love to read this myself! And share it…
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2010/01/wish-stealers.html
I would love to read this childrens book with my granddaughter. I know she would love it!
Thanks
Looks like this would be a great book for my nephew who loves to read just like his aunt.
Thanks for offering this book
Love to share this book with a youngster. Thanks for the giveaway.
My granddaughter would really enjoy this book. She loves to read. Thank you!
I have a 10 yo son and an 11 & 12 yo nieces that would all love this one. Not to mention that I would read it too. Thanks!
I wish I could win this book for both my 9yo and 6th grader
This book sounds very interesting. I’d love to have a chance to win! thanks
I would *love* to get a copy of this book. It looks amazing!!
This sounds wonderful! Makes me feel young again.
I am always looking for something new that would engage my 11 year old son. This sound like a very adventurous book!
Sounds like an awesome read! Something for myself & the kids! Thanks for the chance!
Sounds great. I want to read it myself.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I’m intrigued. Imagine if all of our wishes came true what a contradictory world this would be.
I’d love to read this and then give it to my SIL for her 6th grade classroom library!
YAY! Would love a copy!!
It looks like a good book.
I’d like to win a copy of The Wish Stealers for my daughter.
My niece would like this book. Right now, I am wishing we don’t get the foot of snow they are calling for
I wish for sleeping through the night children and this book for my classroom!
I am wishing for a cure for my younger brother’s dementia.
Sounds like a great book. I would love to share it with my son!
This sounds like a fascinating read.
Bet my twin nieces would love this one….
The Wish Stealers sounds like a good. My grandaughter would enjoy reading it. I wish I win it for her.
I’d love to win this!
this sounds very interesting
This sounds perfect for my niece!
Looks perfect for my boys.
Thanks for the giveaway.
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
Oh, yes! I think my 9-y-o nephew would like this, too! He’s just getting into INKHEART and really having fun. I want to encourage him. O.K., I really want to read it, too. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
This sounds like a great read!
I would love to win this for my granddaughters!
This book has a great story line and I know my niece would love it
It sounds like such a great book…I know my niece and her friends would enjoy it.
This book sounds awesome!
This book sounds really interesting.
My nephew would love this. Thanks for the chance
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
Please enter me for this great book.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I’d love to give it to my daughter!
This sounds like the perfect book for my little sister… thanks for hosting a great giveaway!
click4cash4me(at)gmail(dot)com
I wish someone would come and pay all my bills off
sounds like the perfect book to share with my little ones
sounds wonderful thanks for the giveaway
This sounds like such an interesting book.
luckycat1818(at)yahoo(dot)com
My wish is to win this book, thanks for the chance!
This sounds like a great book.
I have some grandchildren that would enjoy this
Sounds like a great book. I would love to share it with my sister.
Love 2 read this w/my granddaughter!
Sounds like a great book for my sister’s family.
I’d love to read this one!
This sounds like a great book~ I know a few girl who would love to read it! Heck-I would love to read it..and my wish-I wish that my best friend would just let me know that hes ok. Im pretty worried about him today.
I’d love to read this! Thanks for the chance!
I would love this for my daughters This book is right up their alley
Please enter me
My little one would love this book so i hope i win!
Thank you for the AWESOME GIVEAWAY.. Please count me in
Sounds like a good book.
dreamcleavers@yahoo.com
this really does sound like a good book-i think it would be really interesting
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
I would love to win!
Sounds like a great story. Please enter me.
My niece would love this book – please count me in. Thanks!
This sounds like a good book. I would love to win it for my niece.
I think my niece would enjoy this. THank you
my daughter would like this book im sure!