Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Life has been rough for fourth grader Oliver and his mother since his father died. After a short period spent unhoused, their luck seems to be changing for the better: Oliver's idiosyncratic, recently deceased aunt Barbara bequeaths the duo an apartment in her will. Now Oliver attends exclusive Whittle Academy, where his mother works as a custodian and student concierge. Surrounded by classmates from wealthy and influential families, Oliver keenly notes differences in their circumstances. When Oliver discovers a wish-granting mail slot in the apartment, he and his new--and only--friend, troublemaker Colette, make increasingly grand wishes, written on slips of paper they push through the opening. Upon realizing how the wishes adversely affect others, Oliver and Colette scramble to undo the damage and shutter the mail slot. But others, including neighbor Eliza, want the wishes to continue at any cost. In her prose debut, Brosgol (Plain Jane and the Mermaid) employs a whimsical conceit to spin an unforgettable tale. Readers will resonate with sensitive and empathetic Oliver, whose pie-in-the-sky desires and earnest, grief-fueled yearning for his father are achingly heartfelt. Ages 8--12. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--5--Brosgol makes her prose debut in this lightly illustrated novel of wishes and wanting in New York City. Oliver and his mother end up in an unusual Manhattan apartment after being transient for some time after the death of Oliver's father, only finding a stable home upon inheriting one from a relative. Oliver is hoping that this time they will get to stay, putting all of his energy into his cooking and fulfilling his father's dream of opening a restaurant. When he begrudgingly begins attending fifth grade at an exclusive private prep school, he is mortified that he is the only underprivileged student at the tech-forward institution. He constantly finds himself lacking when held up against his wealthy peers. A solution appears, however, in the magical mail slot in his apartment that grants him the brand-new sneakers he desperately wished for to help him fit in at school. Oliver, along with his new friend, precocious and rich Collette, begin to make increasingly fantastic wishes; first to make their own dreams come true, then simply to impress their jaded and unfriendly classmates. They find along the way that their wishes have consequences, and Oliver becomes increasingly uncomfortable with what the wish fulfillment does to his community. The story veers jarringly from lightly magical to full-on science fiction for a portion before returning to reality for the conclusion. Brosgol's signature illustrations add richness to the story without overwhelming the prose, and appear mostly on partial pages interspersed with numerous pages of full text. VERDICT A fantastical middle grade story with a touch of ethics; would be a good fit in collections favoring adventure and fantasy.--Kate Olson
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Award winner Brosgol's latest is a wish-fulfillment tale that follows Oliver Bakh, a long-haired fifth grade boy whose life is upended. After Oliver's father, a cook who emigrated from the country of Georgia, passes away, Oliver and his mom, who presents white, bounce around among relatives' homes. Financially strained and emotionally overwhelmed, Oliver's mother falls into a deep depression, leaving him to take on responsibilities far beyond his years. Just when things seem hopeless, their luck takes an unexpected turn: Oliver's 96-year-old great-aunt Barb dies, leaving them her Manhattan apartment. Oliver and his father dreamed of opening a restaurant together, one built around their love of traditional Georgian food. Now Oliver has cherished memories, his dad's recipe book, and a small, frozen batch of his special khinkali, or dumplings. Their new home comes with a magical mail slot that communicates via typewritten notes and grants wishes, but each wish comes with unpredictable consequences. Oliver's wishes are small at first, but as he navigates the competitive environment of his new private school and befriends Colette, a spirited fourth grader who's eager for adventure, his wishes grow bolder. With each one, the consequences spiral further out of control. The story's playful yet darkly humorous tone is enhanced by black-and-white illustrations that add depth and meaning to the fantastical elements. The absurd situations, unexpected twists, and colorful, exaggerated villain add to the tale's appeal. A vividly told narrative.(Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
