Tracy Trivas

BOOK SUMMARY

Griffin Penshine is always making wishes.  But when a sinister old woman, Mariah Weatherby Schmidt, tricks Griffin into accepting a box of eleven shiny Indian Head pennies from 1897, Griffin soon learns these are no ordinary pennies, but stolen wishes.  This box of labeled pennies comes with a horrible curse: anybody in possession of the stolen coins is a Wish Stealer, who will never have their wishes come true…in fact, only their evil wishes can come true.  Wish Stealers make people ashamed for trying, eat up people’s courage, and stomp on their enthusiasm.  Griffin must find a way to return these stolen wishes and undo the curse.

But how can Griffin return wishes to strangers who might not even be alive?  Griffin sets out on a desperate quest to right Mariah’s terrible wrongs.  At first her journey leads her to the ancient alchemists, Macbeth’s witches, and the chance to do some good beyond her imaginings.

But the temptation of the Wish Stealers dark and compelling power is growing stronger.

Can Griffin reverse the curse in time to save herself and the people she loves?

A REVIEW FROM THE ONWER OF THE SAN ANTONIO BOOK REVIEW:

If you’ve just about given up on finding books for your “tweenage” daughter that feature strong and capable female protagonists, check out:
The Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas

The heroine of this book is a plucky sixth grade girl named Griffin Penshine who loves to make wishes every chance she gets.  Her story starts when an evil old woman tricks her into accepting a box of shiny Indian Head pennies that correspond to people’s wishes stolen out of fountains over the course of several decades.  Duped into becoming a Wish Stealer, she races to fulfill the stolen wishes as best she can, because if she doesn’t, her good wishes will never come true again.  It’s a cute book with an eminently likable protagonist: Griffin is artistically and musically inclined, has a strong and loving relationship with her family, and starts a “save the earth” charity as a school project.  Side effects may include approving of your child’s choice of reading material, a marked increase in the number of wishes made on loose change, and fielding questions from your daughter about Shakespeare, philanthropy, and vegetarianism.

http://biblio-voracious.blogspot.com/2010/02/bibliovorx-in-which-i-cure-what-ails.htm

FROM THE BLOG: Where The Best Books Are! – http://wherethebestbooksare.blogspot.com/

This story sparkles from start to finish — the perfect pick-me-up for any reader who’s ever thrown a wish to the wind. Every chapter ends with an inspirational quote about believing in yourself and not letting others trounce on your dreams, either from a famous thinker or the author, including some I’m sure to borrow.

My favorites, “Stuff your ears with clouds,” (Grandma Penshine’s advice if someone tries to pull you down with negativity), and philosopher Joseph Campbell’s “Follow your bliss.”

Consider sending this gem to your favorite middle-grade reader, along with a box of 11 shiny pennies she can label and give away, as well as a few good luck charms similar to those given to Griffin by her grandmother, a shiny river rock, a ring with a faux blue gem and one lucky penny of her own.

Then check out these great websites: www.penniesfortheplanet.org and www.worldwishproject.com and help turn wishes into gold.