Review by Booklist Review
When they move into his late great-aunt's apartment in Brooklyn, Oliver's mom promises this will be the last time. The last new school, the last time he'll be the new kid, the last move before they can finally settle following his father's unexpected passing. There's something different about this place, though--and it's not just the lack of cockroaches or the taxidermied animals lining the walls. Tucked away is a magical mailbox that makes wishes come true. Included among his wishes are ways to fit in at his new, posh school, like cool shoes, winning a fight, and even an invisible jet plane. Like Brosgol's previous works, this whimsical story features a marvelous twist and her delightful illustrations throughout. Within its pages is a tender story about a small family doing their best to provide for each other and fit in, honor a father's legacy, and learn to be careful what you wish for. It's perfect for fans of magic realism and would make a great family read.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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 Horn Book Review
Brosgol (most recently Plain Jane and the Mermaid, rev. 5/24) pivots from graphic novels and picture books to an illustrated middle-grade novel (finished art unseen). After the death of his father, ten-year-old Oliver and his mother have "moved on, and on, and on, exploring the corners of his mom's address book," relying on the kindness of relatives for places to live. When his eccentric great-aunt Barb dies, leaving her small New York City apartment to Oliver's mother, Oliver wonders how long it will be until they have to move again. It's a creepy place: butterflies pinned to the walls, dead caterpillars in the oven, a taxidermied cat perched on a stool, and a neighbor (named Elizabeth Appleblood) who considers Oliver "a perfectly edible child." Odder still is a mail slot in the living room wall that leads nowhere. When Oliver discovers that it grants wishes, the novel's "be careful what you wish for" theme kicks in. First, a free pizza is delivered. Expensive sneakers help him fit in better at his new ultra-wealthy private school (where his mother works as a custodian). But the wishes have unforeseen repercussions, and Oliver and his new friend, Colette, must navigate the school as outsiders and face the consequences of their actions. Readers with a taste for absurdity and social satire will relish this imaginative tale. Dean SchneiderJuly/August 2025 p.92 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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.
