Ten-year-old Felix Jones’s biggest problem at the moment is loneliness. His best (and only) friend has just moved away, and his big sister, who is seven years older, finds him annoying. Then he spots the strange little man fishing pennies out of the wishing fountain in the square. The man explains that he is the town Wishkeeper, and that he is collecting wishes. More importantly, he is invisible! He cannot explain why Felix can see him, but he does offer Felix a job as his apprentice.

In fact, Rupus Beewinkle is a Wishkeeper with a problem, and in desperate need of the help an apprentice could provide. His wishes are hitting snags at an unprecedented rate, and he can hardly keep up with the fixes. Some are going up in flames (literally!) He is afraid there is only one explanation: a Wishsnatcher, thought to be extinct, has moved into town. Wishsnatchers feed on hope, and if it catches Rupus, it will reverse all of Rupus’s granted wishes. That will spell the end of all that is good in the town of Whittlestone.

Things heat up for Felix when he accidentally discovers that Rupus broke a law of magic a decade ago and granted a wish that never should have been allowed. Seven-year-old Rebecca Jones had wished for a little brother, which means that Felix himself…is a wish. Suddenly, defeating the Wishsnatcher is more than just helping Rupus – it becomes a fight for Felix’s very survival!

A gently suspenseful transitional chapter book that will appeal to younger readers who enjoy magical tales and are ready for a longer text and more complex plot, without being overwhelmed. Grayscale pencil/digital illustrations enliven the text and round out the storyline.

4 Stars. A great addition to library shelves. Easy to offer to eager readers transitioning to middle grade books.

– Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta