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5 Minutes for Books: The Wish Stealers

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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

Reader Interactions


96 Comments

  15. 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.

  27. This sounds like the perfect book for my little sister… thanks for hosting a great giveaway!

    click4cash4me(at)gmail(dot)com

  37. 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

  42. The Wish Stealers sounds like a good. My grandaughter would enjoy reading it. I wish I win it for her.

  48. My niece would like this book. Right now, I am wishing we don’t get the foot of snow they are calling for

  56. I am always looking for something new that would engage my 11 year old son. This sound like a very adventurous book!

  61. 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!

  73. 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!

  74. 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.

  77. 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).

  79. 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)

  80. 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!

  81. 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!

  82. 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

  84. 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.

  93. 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!)