Return to Sender: A Novel

by Vera Brosgol

*An Instant New York Times Bestseller*

Magic, mystery, and a marvelous mailbox take two kids on an incredible journey in this middle grade adventure novel from bestselling comics creator Vera Brosgol. Perfect for fans of Greenwild and The Lost Library and kids ready to move from graphic novels to novels.

*This deluxe, beautiful book features dynamic yellow page edges and fun illustrations throughout by the author!*

Be careful what you wish for…

After everything they’ve been through, Oliver and his mom finally have a place to call home. But Oliver’s fresh start feels more like a dead-end at his fancy new private school, where kids fly in on helicopters, wear the latest and most expensive sneakers, and go on luxury vacations. Oliver is only there because his mom’s the school custodian.

Oliver wishes his life could be easier. And then one day, after slipping a wish into a mysterious mail slot, it suddenly comes true. Pizza for dinner? Yes! The rarest sneakers in the world? Yes! Everything he could ever want, without spending a cent? Yes, yes, yes!

Oliver’s dreams are finally within his grasp… but what happens when he discovers that his wishes don’t come for free?

“Vera Brosgol has combined the silliness and social satire of Roald Dahl with the imagination-bending multiverse of Everything Everywhere All at Once to create an utterly unique novel.” -Adam Gidwitz, Newbery Honor Author of The Inquisitor's Tale

"I wish that you would just open this book and start reading it." -Lemony Snicket, bestselling author of A Series of Unfortunate Events

Check out these other beloved books by Vera
Anya's Ghost
Be Prepared
Plain Jain and the Mermaid
Leave Me Alone!
Memory Jars
The Little Guys

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, Childrens, Magical Realism, Friendship

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2025

About the author

Vera Brosgol was born in Moscow, Russia in 1984 and moved to the United States when she was five. She received a diploma in Classical Animation from Sheridan College, and currently works at Laika Inc. in Portland, Oregon drawing storyboards for feature animation.

She has done illustration work for clients such as Nickelodeon, Sony Computer Entertainment, and Simon & Schuster. Her first graphic novel, Anya's Ghost, was published in 2011 by First Second Books.

She loves knitting, baking, and trying not to kill her plants. She hopes you are enjoying looking at her drawings!

Reviews

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read this author before [Anya's Ghost], I was really excited for this read as I know the author is an excellent writer.

This was a good read for me until suddenly, it was not. I really liked how the author addressed grief [and how it is never linear], being the "new kid" [as someone who was in 5 schools in 7 years, I know that feeling well and this part of the book really resonated with me], how needs evolve into wants [that then evolve into greed and dissatisfaction] and how there are always consequences to every action/words, good *AND* bad.

And then...well, I don't know what happened, but it kind of devolves into ridiculousness and I immediately checked out [and wanted to do anything but listen to this book]. The last chapter was good, and wrapped it all up okay, but overall, by the end, the book ended up being fairly disappointing.

While the narrator [Michelle H. Lee] was good [and I would be happy to listen to her again should she come up in a future book], it was a bit off-putting to have a female narrator for a male main character [especially a youngish boy]. I have had that experience in the past and it has worked for me, but in this case, it didn't really work for me, and just added to my discontent with this read. I will say this; I would still recommend this book as I know I am really, really fussy about my narration and therefore, what I dislike, someone else might love and I wouldn't want to dissuade anyone from not listening to this.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and narrator, and Macmillan Audio/Macmillan Young Readers for providing this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[The Loco Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERA, I LOVE IT!!

I’m so happy I got to read the ARC! Thank you, NetGalley!!!!! 😍😍😍😍

This is Vera’s first novel that doesn’t rely on pictures. Vera has written many delightful picture books and graphic novels. I’ve enjoyed her other works so much, I wanted to read this one! I am so glad I did! Return to Sender is a fun science-fiction read where a mysterious mail slot makes any wish you write down come true. Infusing quirky characters, deep problems of death, grief, depression, social classes, and dealing with desire. I laughed and felt the life lessons in my heart! I would read another book with these characters! The characters are likable fourth graders and a single mom who works for her son’s future. I highly recommend this to any elementary student who enjoys adventure, mystery, and magic!

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and very satisfying. In her first novel, Brogsol creates a believable and very likeable cast of characters, thrusting them into a magical premise that somehow seems grounded in reality. I’ve loved Brogsol’s graphic novels and her artwork is always magnificent but experiencing this tale as an audiobook cemented my admiration for her storytelling talent.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced audiobook.

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great middle grade read. I loved the overall storyline of this book as well as the cast of characters. I enjoyed following Oliver in this story as he starts a new school, makes a new friend and discovers a magical mailbox. Return To Sender is packed with great illustrations which help to visualize the story. Overall this was a fun read that middle graders are sure to enjoy.

Thank you to @mackidsbooks for the gifted copy.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an awesome read! I had never read any of the authors other works which apparently are picture books of high quality. Well we obviously was able to parlay that into words for the young reader.

The plot is entertaining as our MMC find a way to make his wishes come true via a magical mail slot. But beneath it all it has so much heart of a child’s grief through the loss of their father and how he deals with it as well as takes care of his mother.

Many young readers will be able to see themselves in the pages. I consumed the audiobook which was very well done.
The narrator Michelle H Lee did a fabulous job with the voices and makes it fun for the reader throughout. At the recorder speed it was a little slow for me, an adult but I expect it would be a good speed for a younger reader. What was great was when I sped it up it didn’t impact the vocals as they were just as endearing to listen to.

This book is perfect for ages 8-12 and is a great introduction to magical realism.
I am thankful to have gotten the audio ALC for free from Macmillan Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system for Middle Grade and children’s books

⭐️ Significant problems and would never recommend to the audience.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea but may have some appeal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ an ok book which I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend but it has some value for young readers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! I would recommend for the age or reading level appropriate for the book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Would recommend highly, especially to school programs as a wide spread reading opportunity.

[Patti Sabik · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book but wish there was no mention of specific ages or grades for the characters. My middle school students will most likely balk at reading a book about 9 and 10 year old protagonists even though the story is wonderful.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

Started off strong, and had excellent potential… but this one went way off the rails towards the end.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wishes gone mad

This started out as one of those, kids with a dead parent going to a new school and having no friends, sort of book. But from there, it wandered off into having a wish-fulfillment mailbox. The twist was, that for every wish you got, something bad had to happen to someone else. The bigger the wish, the worse the consequences.

Throughout the book, I wondered how it would end, as things got worse and worse. I always hope that perhaps all the wishes can be reversed, for stories like this, but that isn’t the way life works,and good stories don’t have an easy out like that.

ANd like all good middle-grade books, there is a good message about true friends, and how to keep them. That you don’t have to have the newest and the biggest and the brightest to get friends, though it often feels like that.

I also loved how the main character’s family came from Georgia, the country, not the state. it gave more context to the food that Oliver liked to make, and eat.

I don’t think the author could write a bad book, but I was hesitant because before I had only read her graphic novels. i was not disappointed. This was absolutely amazing, and I highly recommend it, even if you too have only read her graphic novels.

[Kelly Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Return To Sender is unlike any other middle grade novel I've read. It starts out with the typical fantasy, wish granted trope, but quickly turns into a high stakes sci-fi thriller. In the end, the novel begs the bigger question of: is getting what we want worth it even if others are hurt in the process? And: what would life be like if we were simply content with what we already have?

This middle grade delight covers topics like the death of a parent, depression, home and food insecurities, inequalities in education and health care, and the idea that sometimes we're unhappy simply because we find out what other people have, even if those things are truly frivolities. Oliver's character is so likeable, and I felt so much empathy for him as he deals with extreme anger over the unfair struggles his family has experienced, as well as the extreme pressure he feels to take care of his mother.

I cannot wait to order this for my school library and start hyping it up next school year. I loved how this ended, and can see there being a sequel of some sort.

[Susan Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

After his father's death, Oliver and his mom move to a new apartment in the city. His elderly aunt was a recluse, and no one appears to have been in her apartment since she died. It's certainly better than couch surfing though. Oliver's mom gets a job at the fancy prep school in the neighborhood - which means that Ollie can attend for free. The school is nice, but full of rich kids who are all much more wealthy and priveleged than him. When he discovers a magical mail slot in his new apartment that appears to grant wishes, he can't resist the temptation to acquire a few things that will make him fit in better at his new school. But wishes - and competition - can become dangerous...

Brosgol writes in the acknowledgement that this is her first work that doesn't rely on artwork to tell the majority of the story. And she's done a bang up job!

[Not Sarah Connor Writes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - I really liked how Brosgol talked about some pretty heavy topics that most middle grade books don't tackle, like grief and homelessness, and for the most part really enjoyed this book. But the last bit before the end really didn't fit with the rest of the book. Great illustrations though!

Read the full review on my blog!

Also, I am more active on Storygraph now so if you want to see what I'm read right away, follow me there!

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library just for fun and it was exactly that. Great storytelling, important lesson, totally fantastical with the wish-making and the different universes. I might have to get a copy for my kid book library.

[Genevieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good choice for 3rd-5th and especially as a family read aloud. Definitely hits a Roald Dahl sweet spot of wacky and life lessons and the illustrations are of course delightful.

[Sarah-Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this charming story! This illustrated middle grade read is funny, quirky, heartwarming, and mysterious.

After losing his father, Oliver and his mom have struggled to make ends meet, moving around more times than he'd like, until now. They have settled in at his late aunt's unusual apartment, which comes equipped with a mysterious mail slot on the wall. After struggling to go unnoticed at his preppy new school and falling victim to the school bully, Oliver discovers that the mail slot will make his wishes come true. Little does he know that those wishes have a major impact on the world around him. His wishing spirals out of control, making him the most popular kid at school, but at what cost?

At the heart of it, this is a story about friendship, fitting in, struggling with loss and grief, and discovering that sometimes our actions (or wishes in this case) can have some serious consequences.


The writing and storytelling are brilliant. I enjoyed this book immensely and would suggest picking this one up as a great summer read for your middle grade readers.

[Grace Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up for a young reader I know and while browsing through it I was completely immersed.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the first 3/4 and then it got too bizarre.

[Dale Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #43 for the year, #9 for February
This story was provided by the publisher in exchange for a non biased review.

Review of "Return to Sender" by Vera Brosgol - Oliver's Take

Introduction:

Hey, I'm Oliver Bakh, and I guess you could say I've been through the wringer with this whole "Return to Sender" thing. Vera Brosgol wrote about my life - or at least, a wild version of it where wishes come true in the weirdest ways. Let's dive into my story, shall we?

Summary:

So, after my dad passed away, my mom and I moved into this cramped, old apartment in Manhattan. I started at this fancy school where everyone had more money than sense, and I felt like I didn't belong. Then, I found this magic mail slot that made my wishes come true. But, uh, not in the way you'd expect. It was like a rollercoaster of "be careful what you wish for" moments.

Main Characters:

Me, Oliver Bakh: Yeah, that's me. I'm the kid who wished for a better life and got more than I bargained for.
My Mom: She works super hard at my school, cleaning up after all those rich kids.
Great-Aunt Barb: She's not around anymore, but her old apartment was the start of all this madness.

Plot Points:

The Big Move: We moved into this new place, hoping for a fresh start. Spoiler: it was anything but.
Magic Mail Slot: I found this slot that made wishes come true. It was cool... at first.
Wish Chaos: Every wish got crazier, like pizza raining from the sky or tripping over rare sneakers.
Another Dimension Adventure: Me and my friend ended up in this other world because of my wishes. It was nuts but kind of cool?
Learning Stuff: I realized maybe I didn't need all that stuff I thought I wanted.

Passages:

"Be careful what you wish for…" - My new life motto, thanks to that mail slot.
"Oliver wishes his life could be easier. And then one day, after slipping a wish into a mysterious mail slot, it suddenly comes true." - That's when things got interesting.
"Pizza for dinner? Yes! The rarest sneakers in the world? Yes!" - I thought I was the luckiest kid ever.
"Everything he could ever want, without spending a cent?" - It sounded like a dream until it wasn't.
"With courage and persistence and imagination, Oliver finally discovers he already has everything he needs." - Yeah, that was me learning the hard way.

Ratings Breakdown:

Story: 4.5/5 - It was like living in a comic book, but with homework.
Characters: 4.5/5 - I mean, I'm pretty cool, and my mom's the best.
Artwork: 5/5 - The drawings made everything feel more real, even the crazy parts.
Themes: 4/5 - It's like, deep stuff about wanting, having, and being happy with what you've got.
Overall: 4.6/5 - It's a wild ride, but hey, it's my life, right?

Conclusion:

So, "Return to Sender" is basically my story, but with a magical twist. If you ever feel like your life is boring or you wish for something you think you need, just remember - wishes can be tricky. But, in the end, I learned some cool stuff about myself and what really matters. If you want a laugh, some adventure, and maybe a little life lesson, check out my story. Just don't try to find a magic mail slot; trust me, it's not worth it.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find wish fulfillment novels an easy sell with elementary-age kids and suspect most will enjoy Return to Sender, with its NYC setting, clever illustrations, and pointed class commentary. Oliver and his mom (depicted as white in the illustrations) are homeless and poor, grieving after the untimely loss of his dad, a talented cook who dreamed of opening a restaurant. The death of an eccentric aunt results in a home for them at last, a tiny 7th floor walk-up with a magical mail slot. This relocation also means a new school for Oliver; he’ll be a fifth-grade scholarship student at snooty Whittle Academy while his mom works there as a janitor. Given their problems, Oliver feels pressured to act as his mom’s partner, but the intense financial divide between him and his new classmates soon has him dreaming of creature comforts. A series of mail slot wishes results in free pizza delivery, spiffy stylish sneakers, and even a magical plane. Aided by his new BFF, an eccentric Chinese-American girl Collette (with her own bodyguard/nanny), Oliver enters a state of moral ambiguity as he starts lying to his mom about the increasingly outrageous events wreaking havoc on the entire city. A nosy neighbor turns out to be much stranger than we could have ever guessed and the final section of the book veers into science fiction as Oliver enters an alternate universe of aliens, addictive glorp, and some sharp commentary on consumerism. 

Brosgol keeps all her plates juggling with goofy set pieces and extremely engaging illustrations. The book’s design, with its bright green jacket and neon yellow page edges, loudly telegraphs fun and adventure. Admired and well-known for her previous picture books and graphic novels (Be Prepared, Anya’s Ghost, among others), Brosgol brings that graphic talent to the black-and-white illustrations scattered throughout the book. Oliver quickly begins to suspect that his good fortune is counterbalanced by someone else's bad luck, which Brosgol portrays with Rube Goldberg-style diagrams, connecting the disparate elements through dotted lines. Occasional full page artwork will make the book appealing to young readers who’ve gotten stuck in graphic novels and are looking for a slightly more ambitious reading experience. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Our Weekend Is Booked · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Having enjoyed Vera Brosgol's graphic novels, I jumped at the chance to read her latest novel, Return to Sender. It's a truly captivating and imaginative story that blends magical elements with realistic and relevant topics such as immigration, socioeconomics, and grief.

The story centers on Oliver, a fifth-grader whose life has been turned upside down since his father's death. He and his mom move between various relatives' homes until an unexpected inheritance from his Aunt Barb leaves them with an apartment in Manhattan. Oliver has another big change when he starts the elite private school Whittle Academy. Oliver's mom gets a job as a custodian at the school, allowing him to attend on a scholarship. Thrust into a world of immense wealth, Oliver feels the disparities between his life and those of his privileged classmates.

Oliver soon discovers that his new apartment holds a secret: a mysterious, wish-granting mail slot. Oliver begins to use this magical mail slot more frequently, to impress his new classmates, and of course, chaos ensues.

What I Liked: Vera Brosgol's sensitive depiction of Oliver's grief and his stepping up as a caregiver to his mom really touched me. The grief felt palpable and heartbreaking. It was also interesting to see how Oliver struggled to relate to his Whittle Academy classmates as he dealt with life's unfairness and how his privileged classmates had it far easier than he did. Oliver manages to make one true friend in Colette, a hilarious character who adds much-needed comic relief to the narrative. The sprinkling of black-and-white illustrations throughout the book helps to keep readers engaged.

What Left Me Wanting More: While the magical mail slot was an interesting and unique concept initially, I found that it quickly delved into a realm of insanity that felt too far-fetched. In my opinion, the book should have focused on the realistic emotional storyline that Brosgol writes so well.

Return to Sender is a middle-grade book that will appeal to readers who enjoy stories with heart, humor, and magic sprinkled in.

This review first appeared on Ya Books Central and can be found here: https://yabookscentral.com/return-to-...

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I just love Vera Brosgol's graphic novels, so I couldn't wait to see what this fewer images / more words option would have to offer. As expected, so SO much!

Oliver is 10 years old, but he has some hefty challenges and responsibilities to manage, When his father died, his mother understandably crumbled. While she sank into a depressive state, which is referenced several times throughout the novel, Oliver took care of her and also himself. To some degree, though his mother is much more functional, Oliver still has a lot of responsibility and worry, not to mention his own grief to address. On top of the death of his father and difficult state his mother has been in, Oliver and his mother have recently relocated. This means a new house, new neighbors, new school, and new kids and norms. The new school highlights Oliver's lower socioeconomic status by placing him with a number of privileged peers. But all of the money in the world can't buy them something very special and quite magical that Oliver has on lock.

Oliver is such a likeable character, and it's always heartbreaking to find a young person who is facing so much difficulty. It's also often easy to connect with them, and that definitely happens here. Although the book is full of serious motifs and challenging moments, there are also careful touches of lightheartedness and so much hopefulness that help to balance emotions.

I came in a devoted Brosgol fan and am leaving with the same enthusiasm for this wonderful author.

*Special thanks to NetGalley, Roaring Brook Press, and Macmillan Audio for this arc and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Sheila Bracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life has been rough for long haired fifth grader Oliver Bakh and his mother since his father died. Oliver’s mother fell into a deep depression leaving Oliver to take on responsibilities far beyond his years, like cooking. Oliver and his father dreamed of opening a restaurant together, one built around their love of traditional Georgian food. But all Oliver has left is his dad’s recipe book, and a small, frozen batch of his special dumplings. Financially strained and emotionally overwhelmed, Oliver and his mom spent a short period bouncing around among relatives’ homes until their luck seemed to change for the better when 96-year-old great-aunt Barb dies, leaving her Manhattan apartment to them in her will.
The apartment is walking distance from the exclusive Whittle Academy, where Oliver will attend and his mother will work as a custodian and student concierge. Surrounded by classmates from wealthy and influential families, Oliver keenly notes differences in their circumstances. When he discovers a wish-granting mail slot in the apartment, Oliver and his new—and only—friend, Colette, a spirited fourth grader who’s eager for adventure, make increasingly grand wishes. Each wish comes with unpredictable consequences that spiral further out of control. Upon realizing how the wishes adversely affect others, Oliver and Colette scramble to undo the damage and shutter the mail slot. But others want the wishes to continue at any cost.
In her prose debut, Brosgol employs a playful yet darkly humorous tone, 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 while teaching readers to be careful what you wish for. 4

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if all your wishes came true?

Oliver’s dad died last year and Oliver and his mom have been bouncing from one relative to another before they land in a more permanent place. A great aunt has left them her apartment, prompting all the typical challenges: settling into a new place, new friends and neighbors, and still grappling with their loss. But then Oliver discovers a mind blowing feature in his new digs, and he has to decide whether having things come easy is worth it once he realizes the consequences.

I’ve always adored Vera Brosgol’s illustration style, and this venture into a chapter book was a lot of fun. Oliver was holding his little family together—until he wasn’t. Colette becomes his first friend (she comes from an isolated background, too), but that journey isn’t smooth either. She takes themes we’ve seen before and twists them nicely, and in ways I’ve come to expect from her. The shift from reality to unreality that comes toward the end had me thinking about Leave Me Alone!, but she doesn’t just refer to her own work. The illustration on page 86 has a strong resemblance to a Ramona illustration. It’s a fantastic homage.

Her books are always fun. And this was different from her other work, but brought the same sense of reality combined with whimsy.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver and his mom are moving again. His dad died from cancer recently, and they've bounced around to different relatives' houses. His reclusive great aunt Barb just died at 96 years old and left her apartment to Oliver and his mom. It's kinda a strange place with preserved butterflies on every inch of the walls, a taxidermied cat, and a mailslot inside the apartment. The new apartment means a new school, and it's a fancy one that Oliver has to go to because his mom is a custodian there, so free tuition. All the kids are rich, and it just reiterates to Oliver how much he doesn't have. Then, Oliver realizes that the mailslot not only works, but that it's also magical and grants wishes to the owner of the apartment, AKA Oliver. He starts small--getting a pizza delivered--and then wishes for bigger and grander things. Then, he learns that wishes have consequences. For example, the pizza he got was supposed to be delivered to someone else. It's an entertaining adventure that poses some moral and ethical questions for readers. The end fight scene was just ridiculous, but kids won't think so. Brosgol's illustrations bring the story to life, especially the domino effect of events that lead to a wish being granted. For fans of The Anti-Book, AKA me.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver and his mom have sofa surfaced for quite a while, ever since Oliver's father died. Now, however, they have been bequeathed the apartment belonging to his mother's aunt. When they have cleaned out the plentiful insect collection and moved in, Oliver starts his new school, tech-heavy and trying to prepare every child to be a powerhouse entrepreneur. Oliver doesn't feel at all at home, but his mother gets a break on tuition because she has a new job as custodial staff. Oliver, whose only dream is to open a restaurant like his father wanted, feels increasingly out of place, except for one new friend, Collette, who is a grade below him. Also, he discovers that someone, somewhere, grants wishes if he places them in the inner wall mail slot in the apartment. Between the increasingly complex instructions for having his wish come true, the nosy neighbor who works for social services and seems faintly sinister, and his friendship with Collette, Oliver is kept busy. However, Oliver soon learns that his wishes come at a cost. The only question is, will Oliver care about that cost to others? I loved this book from start to finish and was increasingly drawn in by the many plot twists and the very satisfying ending.

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting a graphic novel, but this illustrated novel is not a disappointment. MC is long-haired Oliver whose father has died, so the 5th grader is determined to open a restaurant someday -- his father's dream. Oliver's grieving mother gets a custodian job at a very fancy private school so he can get a top tier education. BUT the wretched excess of his new classmates changes Oliver, and when he finds a magical mail slot that grants wishes in their new apartment, his envy takes over. So there's the humor of a bug-infested taxidermied cat and the minty fresh wishes. And there's the over-the-top climactic action sequence complete with 10 ft mouse, dinosaur office workers, slimy but powerful green glorp, and a dragon. AND there's all this serious stuff woven in, too. Oliver has to be the "adult" when his mother is lost in grief, until CPS gets involved for alleged (and real, tbh) neglect. His only friend at school (spunky fierce Colette) has every material possession and a very attentive nannyguard, but she is the one who is actually neglected by her globetrotting parents. The enormous gap between the rich and the poor is a timely topic, for sure, as we watch billionaires take over the country. This is a new spin on the classic Be Careful What You Wish For tale. EXCELLENT.

[Tweller83 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure what I expected from this book but it really felt like two different books. The first is so good about grief, being the new kid at a school where you don't fit in, what a little power will do to you when you find it, etc. and I was really liking it. But then, it just went right off the rails for me. It was a fantastical book with lots of weirdness and some things to say but I didn't really see how they fit in with what we were already talking about. It felt more like the neighbor was the main protagonist and what it means to be human, etc. (trying to keep it vague so no spoilers). But this part just didn't seem to fit with the first part and I didn't care for both parts being in one book. I would have preferred either a magical realism story where the "magic" didn't really get explained but the protagonist learned from his grief. Or a fantastical story from the beginning that explained it all, maybe from Frank's point of view or another character from that part of the "world" and the whole humanity thing was explored along with some of the other worlds. This one gets a 3.5 from me, but not a favorite and certainly not what I was expecting.

[stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were many charming characters and touching aspects that made it such an endearing story for the first 200 pages. Unfortunately the switch-up in the last 100 pages is abrupt and jarring and something that the book never recovers from, leading to a very unsatisfying ending that feels like a "mindless third act battle sequence" that makes up a majority of animated films of the last decade. So that was super sad to see.

The writing style is also very "tell" instead of "show," which makes it kind of boring for the reader, since there's nothing for us to figure out ourselves since it's all laid out on a silver platter in each paragraph. If a characters sad then we're told "Oliver was sad." If they're mad we're told, "Oliver was mad." If a door is open we're told "they'd left the front door open to help air the place out." It's overwritten and overexplained. Maybe kids will enjoy that writing style more since I'm not the target audience, but it wasn't my cup of tea.

A book with a lot of promise that ultimately feels like it's simply a movie-pitch-in-disguise as opposed to a fully realized story.

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this teen book and I enjoyed reading this.

Oliver and his mom moved into her late aunt’s home. This is meant to be a new start for Oliver, a new home, a new school and new friends. However, the school that he was enrolled to was filled with rich children and he found it difficult to fit into the new environment.

Back at home, there is a magical mail slot that is able to make his wishes come true. This helped Oliver to attain what he had always wanted. Unfortunately, with every wish, there is a consequence.

This story teaches one about greed, about gratefulness and about family and friends and how a boy learns how to choose his wishes wisely while helping others. I would recommend this book to tweens and teens

Favourite quotes:
💌 humans need wishes. That urge got more of that spurs progress, creativity, population growth - why, life itself! It inspires you, drives you, gives you a shred of hope that your lives can be something other than the nasty, calamities blips that they are

[Celina Kamler · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. If I could give this book six stars, I would. Vera Brosgol is so unbelievably talented it's almost unfair. Perhaps this is the beauty of a talented graphic novelist teaching herself how to write middle-grade fiction: the illustrations are alive with humor, drama, and palpable tension. And the story is equally propulsive and kid-centric. It's no wonder her editors let her get away with sneaking in words like 'obsequiousness' and 'calamitous.' Most adults don't use these words in everyday speech, so it's hard to imagine a 10-year-old narrator using them. But who cares! This book is genius, and as an adult reader, I appreciated the word choices that made this as enjoyable a read for me as it will be for my own 10-year-old. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that this hilarious, speculative adventure story is also an allegory about greed. But it's never, not for one minute, didactic in its delivery of the message. Vera, thank you for writing this story! I think it's my new favorite children's book.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I had to put this aside for a bit. Too much spiraling out of control chaos. But I’m glad I stuck with it (and took a break). This is a very plot twisty story about wishes and their consequences. Some of the twists worked for me and others not so much.

Oliver has had to be the grownup after his dad died. He rose to the occasion but it took a toll. In addition to adopting his dad’s wish to open a restaurant, he had a big hole in his heart that wishes just might fill. When he discovers the wish filling mail slot in his house, he quickly discovers the addicting allure of wish fulfillment—even when he knows that each wish comes with sometimes horrific consequences for someone else.

As Oliver discovers the source of his wish grantor, all hell breaks loose bringing Oliver to another world altogether.

I’m not sure how a 10 year old would receive this wild and crazy story. For me it was too much.

Throughly enjoy Vera Brogosol’s work. I will continue to read her.