The Wish Master

December 1, 2000
Gr 4-7-An adventure story with a hint of the supernatural. When his paternal grandmother falls ill, Corby Hill and his mother travel to the family farm in Berry Hill, WI, leaving his father behind in California, unable to take time off from work. The boy's mom is preoccupied and his grandfather pays little attention to him since he is small, timid, and has no perceivable skills. Then he meets Buck Miller, a bit of a bully with a penchant for adventure. They share exploits and embark on the ultimate adventure, a midnight trek to the Wish Master, whose "body was a rough column of rock covered with strange markings; its head was a mammoth skull-shaped boulder-it-was smiling hideously." After making his wishes, things begin to happen that can only be attributed to the Wish Master-Or can they? Wright examines a child's idea of self-worth and family relationships in this quick read that will appeal to her many fans and to readers looking for a story full of action and suspense.-Alison Grant, West Bloomfield Township Public Library, MI

Copyright 2000 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2001
Spending the summer in Wisconsin with his demanding grandfather and ailing grandmother, Corby and a new acquaintance visit the Wish Master, a mysterious stone structure that has the supposed power of granting wishes. The Wish Master seems to grant Corby a new dog, but Corby fears it may also be responsible for a setback in Grandma's health. The pace is fast in this lightly suspenseful tale.

(Copyright 2001 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

November 1, 2000
Gr. 3-6. Veteran author Wright offers the story of a boy who finds his life turned upside down when he must spend the summer in Wisconsin. His grandmother has suffered a heart attack, so Corby and his mom go to the Midwest to help Grandpa care for her. Corby, something of a scaredy-cat, is intimidated by his gruff grandfather, but he almost immediately becomes involved in doing dangerous things he shouldn't, thanks to a neighbor boy, Buck. One of the first things Corby does is sneak out at midnight to visit a scary-looking pile of rocks known as the Wish Master. Corby wishes for a dog --and a way out of Wisconsin. When his grandmother seemingly suffers a relapse, Corby is worried that his wish might be coming true in a way he doesn't like. This is a solid story, with no gimmicks or frills, and there is some good action mixed with emotion. A choice for boys who aren't usually readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)