Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Grosset & Dunlap
Pages
215
Description
When a miserable orphan unknowingly disrupts the balance of power between the magical realms of wishes and curses, he must join forces with the Wishworks Factory to reclaim his errant wish and set things right again.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2007
Physical description
215 p.; 7.6 inches
ISBN
9780448448350
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User reviews
LibraryThing member SunnySD
When Ben's parents are killed in a plane crash he's sent to live in an orphanage of the very worst sort. Most nights he spends scouring out the horrible, smelly kitchen pots with a worn toothbrush as punishment for imagined infractions. Imagine his surprise and delight when a wild wish made on his
But at the Wishworks Factory, where hardworking fairies, jinns, and assorted other magical creatures work hard and happily to prepare children's birthday wishes, panic ensues - every wish Ben makes means some other poor child is disappointed. And to make matters worse, Ben's wishing globe has gone missing - stolen by the rival Curseworks factory. Now it's up to Ben and the Wishworks staff to set things right.
In a word, slight. It's readable, but rings of a bit too much Harry Potter wannabe for me.
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birthday comes true! Suddenly Ben has unlimited wishes at his disposal.But at the Wishworks Factory, where hardworking fairies, jinns, and assorted other magical creatures work hard and happily to prepare children's birthday wishes, panic ensues - every wish Ben makes means some other poor child is disappointed. And to make matters worse, Ben's wishing globe has gone missing - stolen by the rival Curseworks factory. Now it's up to Ben and the Wishworks staff to set things right.
In a word, slight. It's readable, but rings of a bit too much Harry Potter wannabe for me.
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LibraryThing member C.Vick
The best thing about this book was the title.
The next best thing was how it started out. And then it just kept going downhill from there. I can't quite put my finger on why it failed to be engaging, but despite all the magic, the magic just wasn't there.
While the basic structure premise was okay,
And don't we have enough fantasy boy-heroes?
In a genre rife with stories like this, why bother with ones that really don't shine?
The next best thing was how it started out. And then it just kept going downhill from there. I can't quite put my finger on why it failed to be engaging, but despite all the magic, the magic just wasn't there.
While the basic structure premise was okay,
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the execution offered nothing new, and the whole story seemed to be packed in a too-small package. (This is dangerously close to the attitude of it's so bad and there's so little of it, but there you are.) None of the characters were ever given any depth, and the ultimate direction of the plot was more or less obvious from page two.And don't we have enough fantasy boy-heroes?
In a genre rife with stories like this, why bother with ones that really don't shine?
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LibraryThing member hezann73
Benjamin Bartholomew Piff lives in a horrible orphanage after the death of his parents. When a kindly social worker brings Benjamin a birthday cake, Benjamin makes a birthday wish that actually comes true - a wish for unlimited wishes!
However, Benjamin's wish is causing chaos at Wishworks - where
However, Benjamin's wish is causing chaos at Wishworks - where
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wishes are fullfilled. Not only is Benjamin's wish causing other children to lose their wishes, it might just cause a war between Wishworks and Curseworks. Benjamin is recruited into a world of genies, leprechauns and fairies to try and undo the damage his wish has done. Show Less
LibraryThing member Librarygirl66
When a miserable orphan unknowingly disrupts the balance of power between the magical realms of wishes and curses, he must join forces with the Wishworks Factory to reclaim his errant wish and set things right again.
LibraryThing member library-lisa
If you had one birthday wish, what would you wish for? Well Benjamin Bartholomew Piff wishes for what any orphan in the would might wish for... Unlimited Wishes. The mayhem begins as the employees at Wish Works Factories try frantically to get out of having to grant young Ben's wish before chaos
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ensues. Other children in the world are having their wishes taken away to fill Ben's orders and worse still the evil president of Curse Works is out to steal his wish and turn all of the world's wishes upside down. This fast pased book with hook anyone who has ever wished on a birthday candle and will surely bring out the kid in anyone. Show Less
LibraryThing member beserene
This was quite a clever little YA book -- I finished it a while ago, but despite the ordinary plot (orphaned boy becomes remarkable hero, battles evil, saves magical world and/or day, gets to live happily ever after), the premise and circumstances are fresh and sharp. Much of the book is situated
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in the Wishworks factory, the place where wishes come from, and all the trouble begins when a boy (said orphan hero) makes a perfect, by-the-book wish... for infinite wishes. This, of course, throws the factory into chaos and the boy has to come to terms with his overstep and, naturally, fix the mess. It's quick and bright, has some nifty ideas (flying battle-chairs -- picture your La-z-boy with wings, shields, and a cannon -- are simply cool), and a pretty decent message about personal responsibility, so I have no trouble recommending it. Show Less
LibraryThing member librarian1204
How many other books can you combine in one?
LibraryThing member Ginerbia
My son picked this one up from a book fair and enjoyed it when I read it to him. It didn't really give me any thrills though.
Subjects
Call number
J4A.Let