Big Wish

Sam’s first day of middle school gets off to a rocky start when he and his best friend, Evan, have a run-in with school bully Scorpus. Then Sam learns that his father may lose his job. While walking the dog that evening, Sam makes a wish on a shooting star: the classic don’t-do-it “wish for a million wishes.” As with many wish-themed stories, things start out great: Sam secures a job for his father, heals Evan’s terminally ill father, and stands up to Scorpus. But some wishes (like acquiring superpowers) prove to be disappointing, and others (like banishing death) have consequences Sam never imagined. British author Robshaw effectively taps into a sense of youthful powerlessness that many readers will relate to. While the story charts a predictable course, Robshaw balances humorous, wish-driven disasters (such as Sam shrinking himself down to a height of five inches and promptly being snatched up by a bird) with touching moments, while reflecting on what it might truly mean to have near-omnipotent power. Ages 8–12. (July)