Wishworks, Inc. by Stephanie S. Tolan
Max is going through a tough time. His parents have recently
divorced, and he and his mother and little sister had to move to a new part of the city. Their new apartment doesn't feel much like home at all. Mrs. Chang, the woman who watches Max and his sister until his mother comes home from work, gives them broccoli and carrots for snacks instead of cookies. But worst of all, Max's new school has bullies just like his old school. Fortunately for Max, he has a vivid imagination that allows him to escape the realities of his new life. Each time he is bullied at school, he envisions that he has a large, magnificent dog, King, at his side to protect him. In Max's imagination, he and King have many adventures together, such as fighting off vicious dragons. But soon, Max decides that an imaginary dog isn't enough. He needs a real, live King.
Max imagines that he is in a fanciful store, called Wishworks, Inc., where he can purchase a wish that is guaranteed to come true in real life for just an imaginary $20 bill that magically appears in Max's pocket. The storeowner cautions Max to choose his wish very carefully, though. When Max automatically wishes for a dog, he gets just what he asked for, plus an unexpected surprise!
In Wishworks, Inc., what starts out as a sad story turns into a delightful tale of creating your own happiness. The characters are complex but relatable, and the illustrations throughout the book play an important part in bringing the story to life. Tolan shows us that life is unpredictable, even if you get what you wish for.
My rating: 4 out of 5.
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This was a little boring for me because I guessed from the beginning exactly what was going to happen, and lot of the story is taken up with Max's adventure fantasies, which didn't forward the plot. But I can see how it would be enjoyable for kids who have similar fantasies (fighting dragons and stuff like that) and have yet to learn the "be careful what you wish for" lesson.
As an early chapter book, it's good, and I really liked the illustrations--but I wasn't super impressed by the writing.