As an adult reading this book, I was able to figure out quite quickly what was happening but that did not deter from the story. This was an interesting story and I like that the wishes are not filled in an expected way. It gives you pause and makes you think about the wishes you might make on a shooting star or as you blow out the candles on your cake. ( )

children's/middlegrade fiction e-audio (8.5 hrs) - book 1 in series; adventure with magic and talkin animals, main character (11 y.o. Van=Giovanni) uses hearing aids and self-identifies as HoH.

I liked that the reader got to experience some of what Van does with his relief at taking off hearing aids when he got home, at constantly trying to decipher what people were saying, at not being able to follow anything when conditions were not right. A fun story, too. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. It felt magical from the first page, and it was quite creative and unique in its premise. What I especially enjoyed what the way you, like Van, the main character, which side was bad and which side was good. It seemed like there were good people, who thought they were doing right on both sides and Van was stuck in the middle. One minute he would think one particular side was right, and then the other, then back again. He came to realize that one shouldn't just take a position without really learning more and investigating into ALL the facts behind certain positions. Things aren't always what they seem, nor are people, which Van learns as he finds out more about the family life of another boy.

It's a story that can make a child think and ponder, and that's a good thing. Even wishes that seem all good could come true in bad ways. Sometimes when you get what you think you want, you discover it's not really that great. Life is never as simple as it seems. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and have already ordered it. ( )

Interesting concept. Pretty good story. ( )

Van likes to collect little unnoticed trinkets. He's small and usually goes unnoticed, so his hobby fits right in. Until one day, when a girl notices him- one who has a squirrel on her shoulder and leads him into an adventure where this hearing impaired boy can hear animals talk and hold a magical creature called a wish-eater in the palms of his hands. He learns there are consequences of making a real wish, and sometimes these are not what the wish-maker intended. Van also gets caught in the middle as 2 groups discover his special abilities and want him to help them, and there's no telling which group is more dangerous. This is a great fantasy adventure for grades 4-7. ( )