When Wishes Were Horses

What would you wish for? In this young middle-grade novel by the Newbery Medal– and Newbery Honor–winning author, four kids in the same town are each granted two wishes. Full of magic, adventure, friendship, family, surprises, and lots of dogs, this is for readers who love Katherine Applegate and Sara Pennypacker.

How do such things happen? Something appears, sudden as disaster. It wasn’t there and now it is. An envelope arrives, in your mailbox, on your dinner table, your dresser, your computer keyboard. It’s in your hand. You are alone when it finds you. No one else sees it, to ask about it or take it from you. There is only your name on the envelope. Inside, two pieces of pale gray tissue paper, each the size of a playing card, and simple instructions:

ONE WISH AT A TIME

WHISPER IT TO ME

BE WISE

Magic? Impossible. But what if . . . ?

Casey, Zoe, Billy, and Bug live in the same town. They don’t know one another . . . yet. But mysteriously, they are connected by magic. Specifically, they’ve each been given two wishes. What would you wish for? Casey yearns for a dog. Zoe wants her parents to stop fighting. Billy has always wanted a unicorn. Bug would love a Lego kit, a really complicated one. And do their wishes come true? The answer may surprise you.

"Each story explores the balance between selfishness and selflessness. A cautionary moral lesson lies at the heart of these narratives, with the characters’ inner conflicts and social-emotional learning adding depth and captivating interest. . . . Newbery-winning author Voigt skillfully weaves modern-day fairy tales that will resonate with readers, imparting timeless lessons about what truly matters in life. Kaulitzki’s spot art adds a sweet and whimsical touch. . . . This enchanting book will leave readers contemplating their own wishes and the deeper meaning behind them." - Kirkus Reviews

“Voigt treads a skillful line between magic and concrete human realities, between getting what you want and discovering what you value—all with convincing, flawed characters, child and adult, in a variety of family situations. The narrative voice, complete with direct address to the reader, is ever-present here, and the moral lessons learned—honesty, compassion, generosity, humility, grit—are made explicit in a way appropriate for fable, which is really the storytelling territory these tales inhabit.” - Horn Book Magazine

“Two girls and two boys, tweens living in the same town. . . choose their wishes in different ways, depending on their personalities as well as personal circumstances. After their wishes are granted, each one deals with the consequences of their decisions. . . . Voigt. . . tells four separate, parallel, realistic stories; each one is magical and memorable in its own way” - Booklist (starred review)

“In this gentle, thoughtful tale, four children are unexpectedly granted two wishes each. . . . Though the entries briefly overlap, Newbery Medalist Voigt (Toaff’s Way) presents each child’s story as a self-contained narrative. . . . [A] modern fairy tale that capitalizes on ambiguity and mystery.” - Publishers Weekly