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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.
Want to keep up with 5 Minutes for Books? Check out our current book giveaways. Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter.
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
my daughter would like this book im sure!
I think my niece would enjoy this. THank you
This sounds like a good book. I would love to win it for my niece.
My niece would love this book – please count me in. Thanks!
Sounds like a great story. Please enter me.
I would love to win!
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
dreamcleavers@yahoo.com
this really does sound like a good book-i think it would be really interesting
Sounds like a good book.
Thank you for the AWESOME GIVEAWAY.. Please count me in 🙂
My little one would love this book so i hope i win!
Please enter me 🙂
I would love this for my daughters This book is right up their alley
I’d love to read this! Thanks for the chance!
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 one!
Sounds like a great book for my sister’s family.
Love 2 read this w/my granddaughter!
Sounds like a great book. I would love to share it with my sister.
I have some grandchildren that would enjoy this
This sounds like a great book.
My wish is to win this book, thanks for the chance!
This sounds like such an interesting book.
luckycat1818(at)yahoo(dot)com
sounds wonderful thanks for the giveaway
sounds like the perfect book to share with my little ones
I wish someone would come and pay all my bills off 🙂
This sounds like the perfect book for my little sister… thanks for hosting a great giveaway!
click4cash4me(at)gmail(dot)com
I’d love to give it to my daughter!
Please enter me for this great book.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
My nephew would love this. Thanks for the chance
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
This book sounds really interesting.
This book sounds awesome!
It sounds like such a great book…I know my niece and her friends would enjoy it.
This book has a great story line and I know my niece would love it 🙂
I would love to win this for my granddaughters!
This sounds like a great read!
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
Looks perfect for my boys.
Thanks for the giveaway.
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
This sounds perfect for my niece!
this sounds very interesting
I’d love to win this!
The Wish Stealers sounds like a good. My grandaughter would enjoy reading it. I wish I win it for her.
Bet my twin nieces would love this one….
This sounds like a fascinating read.
Sounds like a great book. I would love to share it with my son!
I am wishing for a cure for my younger brother’s dementia.
I wish for sleeping through the night children and this book for my classroom!
My niece would like this book. Right now, I am wishing we don’t get the foot of snow they are calling for
I’d like to win a copy of The Wish Stealers for my daughter.
It looks like a good book.
YAY! Would love a copy!!
I’d love to read this and then give it to my SIL for her 6th grade classroom library! 🙂
I’m intrigued. Imagine if all of our wishes came true what a contradictory world this would be.
Sounds great. I want to read it myself.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Sounds like an awesome read! Something for myself & the kids! Thanks for the chance!
I am always looking for something new that would engage my 11 year old son. This sound like a very adventurous book!
This sounds wonderful! Makes me feel young again.
I would *love* to get a copy of this book. It looks amazing!!
This book sounds very interesting. I’d love to have a chance to win! thanks
I wish I could win this book for both my 9yo and 6th grader 🙂
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!
My granddaughter would really enjoy this book. She loves to read. Thank you!
Love to share this book with a youngster. Thanks for the giveaway.
Looks like this would be a great book for my nephew who loves to read just like his aunt.
Thanks for offering this book
I would love to read this childrens book with my granddaughter. I know she would love it!
Thanks
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
This would be perfect for my granddaughter!
I would love a copy for my grandchildren and for students in my Children’s Lit classes.
Sounds like a great book – for my son and for me! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
Sounds great! Thanks for the possibility.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
I have a 9 yo grandson who would like to read this.
Sounds like a book my 9 yo would love! Thanks for the giveaway!
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!
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.
Looks like a fun book to have in the library! Thanks for the chance!
Sounds really good. Please enter me. Thanks!
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).
My daugther 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)
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!
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!
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
Sounds great, thanks for the entry
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.
I’m always searching for a great read for my ten year old. This could be THE ONE!
Love your blog, Jennifer ! 🙂
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance to win.
Sounds good! I’d love a copy for my daughter and I to read.
Sounds like a great one!
That does sound cool, I’d love a copy.
sounds like a wonderful read myself and few others here would love to read
shopannies@Yahoo.com
I subscribe via google reader.
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!)
We’d love a copy of this book.