THE WISHKEEPER'S APPRENTICE

“In my experience, almost all wishes are possible.”

Ten-year-old Felix Jones might as well be invisible. His best and only friend, Max, has moved away, and Felix’s very existence seems to irritate his college-aged sister, Rebecca. In contrast, solitary, overworked wishkeeper Rupus Beewinkle is supposed to be invisible to the residents of the quiet seaside town of Whittlestone. To Rupus’ surprise, Felix can see him, which prompts Rupus to grant his own wish and appoint Felix as his apprentice. Vexed by wish snags that undermine his work, Rupus suspects that a wishsnatcher is at large, a creature long believed extinct that bears a striking resemblance to the wolf-man of Felix’s recurring nightmares. After a series of events threatens to destroy all the wishes in Whittlestone, Felix must face his fears—and the wishsnatcher—to save the day. The well-constructed setup and dreamy, scene-setting exposition are enticing; Rupus’ home is a cozy oasis. The monochrome illustrations, consisting of two-page spreads that create immersive tableaux, along with spot art that supports comprehension of the text, are charming and an essential part of this work’s delightful appeal. The significant age gap between the siblings highlights the mutable transitions of the tween and young adulthood years and functions as a well-designed plot device. A concluding time jump, however, misses the mark in further plumbing Felix’s emotional depths. Major characters read white.

A sprightly and wholesome magical adventure.