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The Wishworks Factory’s recent battle against Curseworks has left relations between humans and Jinn very strained, and before long, Ben finds himself embroiled in another war. While evil cousin Penelope and Curseworks lawyer, Rottenjaw, try to recruit the disgruntled Jinn to their own army reserves, Ben and Candlewick try to negotiate peace. Ultimately, two precious magical weapons must be located in order to protect Wishworks. And the key to finding these weapons lies deep below the grounds of the factory, submerged— where else?—inside a wishing well!
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
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167 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 14, 2018
A pleasant diversion. When I'm stressed, I need to escape. This book was just the ticket: Fantastic, whimsical, and utterly unreal in the best sense of the word. There is no true conflict. Everything works out for everyone. Perfect escapism.
March 25, 2015
You know, I didn't expect a lot from this book, but I would have liked it at least to be grammatical. The grammatical flaws aren't the "I know my grammar and I choose to creatively transgress it" variety (a questionable thing to do in a novel aimed at 8-13 year olds in any case). They are of the "I don't know how to string a good sentence together" variety. I forgive terrible grammar in a lot of people but I think professional writers and proofreaders need to do better than this.
Then there is the way gender unfolds in this book. There are many female characters, and they get to speak a lot so on the surface it is good right? Only they spend far too much of the book being interested in males, deferring to males (in a dance that is not quite two way) and being jealous of the attention of bemused and almost oblivious male. The only character that is less revolved around male characters (but still get a bit sighy pathetic over one for moments) is the bad-guy who is a 2 dimensional, unlikeable stereotype of an irritating mean girl. Then every single characters life and identity exists in reference to exclusively male relatives/ancestors even the female characters. So yeah, the gender relations in the book were depressing (sure Nora was SECOND in charge to try to look like gender wasn't an issue)
But really the run on sentences, the too much information, the overly whimsical plot all contributed to this book being hard to wade through (it's short, it has short pages, it has short chapters but it was exhausting hard work). Nearly every success by the main characters is due to luck, or due to a function of their techonological gadgets that they were either unaware of or didn't understand unti the moment when suddenly it became life saving. One character falls down into an abyss (cliche much?) but they have technology with them so I predict this character will make a come-back in the next book. The whimsy and weirdness (wish factory, inventor gnomes) would be better with more comedy. I do think the author tried to add comedy but it tended to flop.
The inclusion of a 3rd world child bookending the main plot had potential but I sort of found it a bit like the inclusion of female characters. This character is definitely second rate, helpless and needing the intervention of the strong and mighty rich, white, male main character.
So why two stars? There are most definately worse books out there. I didn;t loathe it and want to throw it away from me as I read; I just sighed and thought "here we go again" in a disappointed voice. There are better books you could read, on the other hand if you want to waste some time and it's all you've got, it's mildly entertaining.
Then there is the way gender unfolds in this book. There are many female characters, and they get to speak a lot so on the surface it is good right? Only they spend far too much of the book being interested in males, deferring to males (in a dance that is not quite two way) and being jealous of the attention of bemused and almost oblivious male. The only character that is less revolved around male characters (but still get a bit sighy pathetic over one for moments) is the bad-guy who is a 2 dimensional, unlikeable stereotype of an irritating mean girl. Then every single characters life and identity exists in reference to exclusively male relatives/ancestors even the female characters. So yeah, the gender relations in the book were depressing (sure Nora was SECOND in charge to try to look like gender wasn't an issue)
But really the run on sentences, the too much information, the overly whimsical plot all contributed to this book being hard to wade through (it's short, it has short pages, it has short chapters but it was exhausting hard work). Nearly every success by the main characters is due to luck, or due to a function of their techonological gadgets that they were either unaware of or didn't understand unti the moment when suddenly it became life saving. One character falls down into an abyss (cliche much?) but they have technology with them so I predict this character will make a come-back in the next book. The whimsy and weirdness (wish factory, inventor gnomes) would be better with more comedy. I do think the author tried to add comedy but it tended to flop.
The inclusion of a 3rd world child bookending the main plot had potential but I sort of found it a bit like the inclusion of female characters. This character is definitely second rate, helpless and needing the intervention of the strong and mighty rich, white, male main character.
So why two stars? There are most definately worse books out there. I didn;t loathe it and want to throw it away from me as I read; I just sighed and thought "here we go again" in a disappointed voice. There are better books you could read, on the other hand if you want to waste some time and it's all you've got, it's mildly entertaining.
September 8, 2015
The story starts out in a remote African village that is suffering from drought.
Ben and his friends at Wishworks are attempting to prevent a war between the Jinn and the factory and set off on a quest.
the story ends with a bit of a cliff hanger.
Ben and his friends at Wishworks are attempting to prevent a war between the Jinn and the factory and set off on a quest.
the story ends with a bit of a cliff hanger.
June 10, 2009
Better than the second, I would reccomend this book to hesitant readers because everyone will be able to get into this book and finish it soon after. I can't wait for the fourth book in the series.
August 22, 2011
I love a story that gives you more. Great sequel.
May 30, 2016
AN AWESOME BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 12, 2013
Love this series!
Want to read
January 4, 2015I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13100012
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13100012
January 24, 2014
How do I read the book
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews