A Place of a Thousand Wishes

Set in 1899, and offering a short history on the context of the story – ice cream selling – at the back of the book, A Place of a Thousand Wishes has some clear appeal to the intended audience. What child wouldn’t be interested in the story of a youngster who not only sells ice cream for a living, but also discovers they have magical powers and those that can change the fortunes of their family. But as is so often the case in such stories, these powers quickly bring with them forceful enemies, and Mason must grow up fast making decisions which may impact on all those around him.

This is a most unusual junior title, and in many ways this is welcome. Both the subject and the serious undertones are less obvious choices than many comparative texts currently available for this age group and it is possible to see assured readers of 8-10 enjoying accompanying Mason as he discovers not only his hidden gifts but also his family’s history. The writing encourages the readership to embrace a challenge with effective and detailed descriptions driving the narrative, combined with clever use of short chapters ensuring that, despite the overall length, young readers should stay engaged until the end.

That said, A Place of a Thousand Wishes does feel slightly like it is one wish short in places. It offers plenty of opportunity for productive book talk, considering themes such as the true meaning of family and how to navigate who to trust in testing times – both themes as pertinent to Y5s and Y6s today, as they would have been to Mason and Clem in the story. Equally of note, are the quite superb illustrations by Ewa Beniak-Haremska. Yet just as these illustrations never seem to truly get their moment to shine, there are similarly times when the plot dims, the narrative feels less driven and the focus less clear, and for these reasons it may not be the most obvious choice to consolidate reading for pleasure practice with the intended audience.