The Wishkeeper's Apprentice

by Rachel Chivers Khoo (Author) Rachel Sanson (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

Wishes do come true--with some help from Felix and his quirky mentor, Mr. Beewinkle--in this magical adventure brimming with the power of hope.

When ten-year-old Felix drops a penny in the wishing fountain at the center of town, he really doesn't expect his sixteen-year-old sister to suddenly like him again, or to offer to share a cinnamon bun or watch cartoons like they used to. She hasn't even remembered she was supposed to give him a ride home! But someone else is at the fountain too: a strange old man with a fishing pole who claims to be invisible.

To Felix's amazement, he learns that the old man is a Wishkeeper, and he needs an apprentice! But being a Wishkeeper's apprentice isn't just about organizing incoming wishes and untangling wish snags: a strange wolf-man who's been haunting Felix's dreams is real and a threat to every wish that has ever been granted in the town of Whittlestone, the town's Wishkeeper, and Felix himself.

With lively illustrations, this sweet adventure bubbles with charm and heart.

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$16.99

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ALA/Booklist

A lively transitional chapter book with more than a touch of magic.

Kirkus

A sprightly and wholesome magical adventure.

Publishers Weekly

Ten-year-old Felix Jones is miserable: his best friend Max has moved away from their hometown of Whittlestone, and Rebecca, his beloved older sister, has been ignoring him. Trudging home alone--Rebecca forgot (or refused) to pick him up from soccer again--Felix pauses at Whittlestone's fountain, wishing on his last penny for Rebecca to like him again. Elderly wishkeeper Rupus Beewinkle appears and laments that while he wants to grant Felix's wish, his wishfulness gauge reports a dangerous level of downcast and disheartened feelings resulting from granted wishes mysteriously dissolving. As Rupus's newly appointed apprentice, Felix must seek out the monster destroying Whittlestone's wishes, along the way discovering that he himself is the result of a wish Rebecca made a decade ago--and, if the fur-covered wishsnatcher remains at large, Felix will fade from existence. British author Chivers Khoo's debut is a pleasantly cozy fantasy starring a resourceful hero with a knack for sorting out the delightfully disorganized Rupus, and whose yearning to repair his sibling bond is affecting. A recipe for snorlicks, the heartening wishkeeper's drink of choice, concludes. Most characters read as white. Ages 7-10. (Apr.)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6--Felix Jones wishes more than anything that his 16-year-old sister liked him again. He feels silly dropping a penny into a fountain making this wish after Rebecca forgets to pick him up from soccer, but figures it's worth a try. As he thinks about how much his sister has changed over the past year, he notices a small man who appears to be stealing pennies (wishes!) from the fountain. And that is how Felix meets Rupus Beewinkle, the town Wishkeeper. Rupus explains that lately there have been lots of "wish snags," and other wish anomalies. Felix realizes that the terrifying creature he has been seeing in his nightmares might have something to do with all the messed up wishes in town. Rupus needs Felix's help to figure out what's going on, but it may be more than both of them have bargained for. Black-and-white illustrations, both spread-length and scattered throughout, bring Rupus and Felix to life. Young readers will love learning about the whimsical world of Wishkeeping in this well-realized story. A dramatic twist halfway through will keep the pages turning. VERDICT A quirky novel recommended for young fantasy lovers.--Mandy Laferriere

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes


Rachel Chivers Khoo
Rachel Chivers Khoo was born in Belfast. Growing up, her greatest wish was to become a published children's author. Now that wish has come true, she's planning on making more wishes . . . possibly involving a puppy or a lifetime's supply of cinnamon buns. Rachel Chivers Khoo studied English literature at Trinity College, Oxford, and creative writing at Queen's University, Belfast. She previously worked in book publishing and wrote her debut novel, The Wishkeeper's Apprentice, at her kitchen table during maternity leave. She lives in London with her husband, two young sons, and far too many books.

Rachel Sanson is a children's illustrator from the UK. Originally from a little town in the north of England, she studied illustration at the University of Lincoln. Growing up, she wished for superpowers. It hasn't happened yet but hopefully someday soon. Rachel Sanson's hobbies include being nocturnal, making friends with cats, and hiding under large piles of blankets. She lives in Bristol, UK.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781536231205
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Candlewick Press (MA)
Publication date
April 02, 2024
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV013070 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Siblings
Library of Congress categories
Magic
Families
Family life
Mentoring
Fantasy
Apprentices
Wishes
Rules (Philosophy)
Records
Management
Siblings
Rules
Files (Records)

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