The Wish Stealers (review)

Shooting stars, falling eyelashes, dandelion dust, and the occasional wishbone—sixth-grader Griffin Penshire is constantly on the lookout for any of these supposedly lucky things as she wishes her way through life. Her requests vary from predictably self-centered ("I wish to become an amazing bass guitarist") to the altruistic ("I wish that no worms will fry on the sidewalk the next sunny day"), but it's not really the specific wishes that have Griffin so keen on wish-making opportunities but rather the general hopefulness of the whole process. That is, until an evil old woman gives her eleven cursed pennies that effectively turn Griffin from a wish-maker to a wish stealer unless she can find a way to return the pennies and their accompanying wishes to their rightful owners. Trivas composes a nifty little tale, in which the magic of wishes and curses believably coexists with the dramas of middle school. The supernatural elements are certainly entertaining, but the real star of the story is the charmingly eccentric Griffin and her ability to navigate the perils of the sixth grade's social ladder while dealing with an unlucky enchantment. While the conclusion overdoes its "reach for the stars" sermonizing, young readers will appreciate the happy ending for all, especially after the bad fortune Griffin has to endure to find her lucky charm.