Return to Sender

by Vera Brosgol

Magic, mystery, and a marvelous mailbox take two kids on a surprising adventure and, even, to a new dimension in this illustrated middle grade from bestselling comics creator Vera Brosgol. Perfect for fans of Greenwild and The Lost Library.

Be careful what you wish for…

After everything they’ve been through, Oliver and his mom finally have a place to call home. But Oliver’s fresh start feels more like a dead-end at his fancy new private school, where kids fly in on helicopters, wear the latest and most expensive sneakers, and go on luxury vacations. Oliver is only there because his mom’s the school custodian.

Oliver wishes his life could be easier. And then one day, after slipping a wish into a mysterious mail slot, it suddenly comes true. Pizza for dinner? Yes! The rarest sneakers in the world? Yes! Everything he could ever want, without spending a cent? Yes, yes, yes!

Oliver’s dreams are finally within his grasp… but what happens when he discovers that his wishes don’t come for free?

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, Childrens, Magical Realism, Mystery

320 pages, Hardcover

Published May 6, 2025

About the author

Vera Brosgol was born in Moscow, Russia in 1984 and moved to the United States when she was five. She received a diploma in Classical Animation from Sheridan College, and currently works at Laika Inc. in Portland, Oregon drawing storyboards for feature animation.

She has done illustration work for clients such as Nickelodeon, Sony Computer Entertainment, and Simon & Schuster. Her first graphic novel, Anya's Ghost, was published in 2011 by First Second Books.

She loves knitting, baking, and trying not to kill her plants. She hopes you are enjoying looking at her drawings!

Reviews

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read this author before [Anya's Ghost], I was really excited for this read as I know the author is an excellent writer.

This was a good read for me until suddenly, it was not. I really liked how the author addressed grief [and how it is never linear], being the "new kid" [as someone who was in 5 schools in 7 years, I know that feeling well and this part of the book really resonated with me], how needs evolve into wants [that then evolve into greed and dissatisfaction] and how there are always consequences to every action/words, good *AND* bad.

And then...well, I don't know what happened, but it kind of devolves into ridiculousness and I immediately checked out [and wanted to do anything but listen to this book]. The last chapter was good, and wrapped it all up okay, but overall, by the end, the book ended up being fairly disappointing.

While the narrator [Michelle H. Lee] was good [and I would be happy to listen to her again should she come up in a future book], it was a bit off-putting to have a female narrator for a male main character [especially a youngish boy]. I have had that experience in the past and it has worked for me, but in this case, it didn't really work for me, and just added to my discontent with this read. I will say this; I would still recommend this book as I know I am really, really fussy about my narration and therefore, what I dislike, someone else might love and I wouldn't want to dissuade anyone from not listening to this.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and narrator, and Macmillan Audio/Macmillan Young Readers for providing this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

Started off strong, and had excellent potential… but this one went way off the rails towards the end.

[The Loco Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERA, I LOVE IT!!

I’m so happy I got to read the ARC! Thank you, NetGalley!!!!! 😍😍😍😍

This is Vera’s first novel that doesn’t rely on pictures. Vera has written many delightful picture books and graphic novels. I’ve enjoyed her other works so much, I wanted to read this one! I am so glad I did! Return to Sender is a fun science-fiction read where a mysterious mail slot makes any wish you write down come true. Infusing quirky characters, deep problems of death, grief, depression, social classes, and dealing with desire. I laughed and felt the life lessons in my heart! I would read another book with these characters! The characters are likable fourth graders and a single mom who works for her son’s future. I highly recommend this to any elementary student who enjoys adventure, mystery, and magic!

[this_eel · Rating 4 out of 5]

If wishes were fishes they would be dead :(

This was engaging and well written and I do love a wishing tale where wishing is a TERRIBLE idea. Feels entirely its own thing with some Harriet the spy and Edward eager mixed in, as well as the mad madam mim duel from sword in the stone? Really delightful even if the main character gets a little horrible for a while. Or because…? Recommend!

[Elizabeth Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this. The ending lost me a bit, but I think kids will eat it up. The accompanying art adds so much as well, but the story is interesting enough to stand on its own. I hope Brosgol writes more MG fiction in the future in addition to her awesome graphic novels.

[Maia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oliver's father passed away a year ago, and since then he and his mother have struggled to stay afloat in New York City. Finally they catch a break when an elderly aunt dies and leaves them a tiny 7th floor walk-up apartment in Manhattan. Oliver's mom enrolls him in a very fancy expensive private school where all of the kids are driven by bodyguards and nannies, and boast of their international trips and celebrity friends social media. Oliver's mom works at the school as a janitor. The only kid who seems interested in being Oliver's friend in a girl from a grade below who was previously suspended for biting. Then something astonishing drops into Oliver's lap- a seemingly unending supply of magic wishes. I am a big fan of Vera Brosgol's comics, but sadly this middle grade novel did not land for me, possibly because I am simply too old to enjoy it. The laptop/phone/social media usage of the child protagonists is probably realistic but made me want to go reread old kids books from before the internet existed. I also did not love the explanation of how the wishes worked, and wanted more resolution after Oliver's big fights with his mom and his friend. But honestly if I was eight I might have loved this, in the same way I remember loving Half Magic.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and very satisfying. In her first novel, Brogsol creates a believable and very likeable cast of characters, thrusting them into a magical premise that somehow seems grounded in reality. I’ve loved Brogsol’s graphic novels and her artwork is always magnificent but experiencing this tale as an audiobook cemented my admiration for her storytelling talent.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced audiobook.

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great middle grade read. I loved the overall storyline of this book as well as the cast of characters. I enjoyed following Oliver in this story as he starts a new school, makes a new friend and discovers a magical mailbox. Return To Sender is packed with great illustrations which help to visualize the story. Overall this was a fun read that middle graders are sure to enjoy.

Thank you to @mackidsbooks for the gifted copy.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an awesome read! I had never read any of the authors other works which apparently are picture books of high quality. Well we obviously was able to parlay that into words for the young reader.

The plot is entertaining as our MMC find a way to make his wishes come true via a magical mail slot. But beneath it all it has so much heart of a child’s grief through the loss of their father and how he deals with it as well as takes care of his mother.

Many young readers will be able to see themselves in the pages. I consumed the audiobook which was very well done.
The narrator Michelle H Lee did a fabulous job with the voices and makes it fun for the reader throughout. At the recorder speed it was a little slow for me, an adult but I expect it would be a good speed for a younger reader. What was great was when I sped it up it didn’t impact the vocals as they were just as endearing to listen to.

This book is perfect for ages 8-12 and is a great introduction to magical realism.
I am thankful to have gotten the audio ALC for free from Macmillan Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system for Middle Grade and children’s books

⭐️ Significant problems and would never recommend to the audience.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea but may have some appeal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ an ok book which I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend but it has some value for young readers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! I would recommend for the age or reading level appropriate for the book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Would recommend highly, especially to school programs as a wide spread reading opportunity.

[Kelly Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Return To Sender is unlike any other middle grade novel I've read. It starts out with the typical fantasy, wish granted trope, but quickly turns into a high stakes sci-fi thriller. In the end, the novel begs the bigger question of: is getting what we want worth it even if others are hurt in the process? And: what would life be like if we were simply content with what we already have?

This middle grade delight covers topics like the death of a parent, depression, home and food insecurities, inequalities in education and health care, and the idea that sometimes we're unhappy simply because we find out what other people have, even if those things are truly frivolities. Oliver's character is so likeable, and I felt so much empathy for him as he deals with extreme anger over the unfair struggles his family has experienced, as well as the extreme pressure he feels to take care of his mother.

I cannot wait to order this for my school library and start hyping it up next school year. I loved how this ended, and can see there being a sequel of some sort.

[Patti Sabik · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book but wish there was no mention of specific ages or grades for the characters. My middle school students will most likely balk at reading a book about 9 and 10 year old protagonists even though the story is wonderful.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wishes gone mad

This started out as one of those, kids with a dead parent going to a new school and having no friends, sort of book. But from there, it wandered off into having a wish-fulfillment mailbox. The twist was, that for every wish you got, something bad had to happen to someone else. The bigger the wish, the worse the consequences.

Throughout the book, I wondered how it would end, as things got worse and worse. I always hope that perhaps all the wishes can be reversed, for stories like this, but that isn’t the way life works,and good stories don’t have an easy out like that.

ANd like all good middle-grade books, there is a good message about true friends, and how to keep them. That you don’t have to have the newest and the biggest and the brightest to get friends, though it often feels like that.

I also loved how the main character’s family came from Georgia, the country, not the state. it gave more context to the food that Oliver liked to make, and eat.

I don’t think the author could write a bad book, but I was hesitant because before I had only read her graphic novels. i was not disappointed. This was absolutely amazing, and I highly recommend it, even if you too have only read her graphic novels.

[Susan Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

After his father's death, Oliver and his mom move to a new apartment in the city. His elderly aunt was a recluse, and no one appears to have been in her apartment since she died. It's certainly better than couch surfing though. Oliver's mom gets a job at the fancy prep school in the neighborhood - which means that Ollie can attend for free. The school is nice, but full of rich kids who are all much more wealthy and priveleged than him. When he discovers a magical mail slot in his new apartment that appears to grant wishes, he can't resist the temptation to acquire a few things that will make him fit in better at his new school. But wishes - and competition - can become dangerous...

Brosgol writes in the acknowledgement that this is her first work that doesn't rely on artwork to tell the majority of the story. And she's done a bang up job!

[Not Sarah Connor Writes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - I really liked how Brosgol talked about some pretty heavy topics that most middle grade books don't tackle, like grief and homelessness, and for the most part really enjoyed this book. But the last bit before the end really didn't fit with the rest of the book. Great illustrations though!

Read the full review on my blog!

Also, I am more active on Storygraph now so if you want to see what I'm read right away, follow me there!

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library just for fun and it was exactly that. Great storytelling, important lesson, totally fantastical with the wish-making and the different universes. I might have to get a copy for my kid book library.

[Genevieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good choice for 3rd-5th and especially as a family read aloud. Definitely hits a Roald Dahl sweet spot of wacky and life lessons and the illustrations are of course delightful.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this charming story! This illustrated middle grade read is funny, quirky, heartwarming, and mysterious.

After losing his father, Oliver and his mom have struggled to make ends meet, moving around more times than he'd like, until now. They have settled in at his late aunt's unusual apartment, which comes equipped with a mysterious mail slot on the wall. After struggling to go unnoticed at his preppy new school and falling victim to the school bully, Oliver discovers that the mail slot will make his wishes come true. Little does he know that those wishes have a major impact on the world around him. His wishing spirals out of control, making him the most popular kid at school, but at what cost?

At the heart of it, this is a story about friendship, fitting in, struggling with loss and grief, and discovering that sometimes our actions (or wishes in this case) can have some serious consequences.


The writing and storytelling are brilliant. I enjoyed this book immensely and would suggest picking this one up as a great summer read for your middle grade readers.

[Grace Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up for a young reader I know and while browsing through it I was completely immersed.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if all your wishes came true?

Oliver’s dad died last year and Oliver and his mom have been bouncing from one relative to another before they land in a more permanent place. A great aunt has left them her apartment, prompting all the typical challenges: settling into a new place, new friends and neighbors, and still grappling with their loss. But then Oliver discovers a mind blowing feature in his new digs, and he has to decide whether having things come easy is worth it once he realizes the consequences.

I’ve always adored Vera Brosgol’s illustration style, and this venture into a chapter book was a lot of fun. Oliver was holding his little family together—until he wasn’t. Colette becomes his first friend (she comes from an isolated background, too), but that journey isn’t smooth either. She takes themes we’ve seen before and twists them nicely, and in ways I’ve come to expect from her. The shift from reality to unreality that comes toward the end had me thinking about Leave Me Alone!, but she doesn’t just refer to her own work. The illustration on page 86 has a strong resemblance to a Ramona illustration. It’s a fantastic homage.

Her books are always fun. And this was different from her other work, but brought the same sense of reality combined with whimsy.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the first 3/4 and then it got too bizarre.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

One special feature of this book is that occasionally the author/illustrator intersperses b&w spot illustrations in place of words. I don't think I've ever seen this in a chapter book before - the images are not rebuses, they are more like snippets of a wordless graphic novel, but it feels kind of similar to reading a story with occasional rebuses. I think those passages will be fun for the intended audience. (It also means that it does not work as a read-aloud.)

Another unique feature is that the main character, Oliver, starts as loving, supportive, patient, diligent, and humble, and goes VERY FAR down a path of behavior that is cruel, irresponsible, impatient, lazy, and arrogant. It made me cringe! We are not talking about a character who makes one bad decision, then lies to cover it up, then gets caught in a tangle of their own making. We are talking about increasingly terrible decisions and an increasingly disconnected, frantic state of mind, with increasing humongous consequences, of which he remains fixedly unaware.

Some of the decisions Oliver makes are a result of being selfless and caring - when he chooses bad methods of supporting his new friend, Colette, who likewise has good motivations to support Oliver but also makes bad choices.

However, the way it unfolded allowed for a sophisticated ethical parable. By the end, despite my cringing, I appreciated that readers were given enough hints to know that his choices are questionable, and a comeuppance will surely happen.

The hugely negative consequences of his actions are made clear to the readers...meanwhile, he is at first totally unaware of them, then gets hints, which readers but no person within the story could possibly connect, and then finally, the main character arrives at a clear understanding.

If all that sounds didactic, NOT TO WORRY! The comeuppance is the absolutely silliest, cartoon-like explosion of a fantastical stupidity, in a colossal battle of monsters, green slime, and total destruction, logically contained to just one part of one of the multiple universes.

And one beautiful thing is that in the crucial moment that Oliver gets his opportunity to solve the problems he caused AND those caused by an evil menace, he does it in a uniquely loving, empathetic, and holistic way.

I wanted to note that reading this book reminded me of several others with a parallel concept, each of which stuck with me longer than you'd expect for books that never actually gained too much popularity with young readers:
You Wish
Olivia Kidney
The Glitch in Sleep
In each of these (and this one) an ordinary kid unwittingly stumbles into a hidden space that secretly controls things in our world that seem to be up to chance.

As I wrote in another of those reviews, the storyline about discovering that a group of people (often incompetent) instrumentally control our lives seems like an insight worth experiencing in literature, even if it is written as a ridiculous metaphor, because it so often does seem to accurately reflect reality. AND if that group can be infiltrated, influenced, and nudged into more empathetic practices, the metaphor seems even more important.

[Dale Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #43 for the year, #9 for February
This story was provided by the publisher in exchange for a non biased review.

Review of "Return to Sender" by Vera Brosgol - Oliver's Take

Introduction:

Hey, I'm Oliver Bakh, and I guess you could say I've been through the wringer with this whole "Return to Sender" thing. Vera Brosgol wrote about my life - or at least, a wild version of it where wishes come true in the weirdest ways. Let's dive into my story, shall we?

Summary:

So, after my dad passed away, my mom and I moved into this cramped, old apartment in Manhattan. I started at this fancy school where everyone had more money than sense, and I felt like I didn't belong. Then, I found this magic mail slot that made my wishes come true. But, uh, not in the way you'd expect. It was like a rollercoaster of "be careful what you wish for" moments.

Main Characters:

Me, Oliver Bakh: Yeah, that's me. I'm the kid who wished for a better life and got more than I bargained for.
My Mom: She works super hard at my school, cleaning up after all those rich kids.
Great-Aunt Barb: She's not around anymore, but her old apartment was the start of all this madness.

Plot Points:

The Big Move: We moved into this new place, hoping for a fresh start. Spoiler: it was anything but.
Magic Mail Slot: I found this slot that made wishes come true. It was cool... at first.
Wish Chaos: Every wish got crazier, like pizza raining from the sky or tripping over rare sneakers.
Another Dimension Adventure: Me and my friend ended up in this other world because of my wishes. It was nuts but kind of cool?
Learning Stuff: I realized maybe I didn't need all that stuff I thought I wanted.

Passages:

"Be careful what you wish for…" - My new life motto, thanks to that mail slot.
"Oliver wishes his life could be easier. And then one day, after slipping a wish into a mysterious mail slot, it suddenly comes true." - That's when things got interesting.
"Pizza for dinner? Yes! The rarest sneakers in the world? Yes!" - I thought I was the luckiest kid ever.
"Everything he could ever want, without spending a cent?" - It sounded like a dream until it wasn't.
"With courage and persistence and imagination, Oliver finally discovers he already has everything he needs." - Yeah, that was me learning the hard way.

Ratings Breakdown:

Story: 4.5/5 - It was like living in a comic book, but with homework.
Characters: 4.5/5 - I mean, I'm pretty cool, and my mom's the best.
Artwork: 5/5 - The drawings made everything feel more real, even the crazy parts.
Themes: 4/5 - It's like, deep stuff about wanting, having, and being happy with what you've got.
Overall: 4.6/5 - It's a wild ride, but hey, it's my life, right?

Conclusion:

So, "Return to Sender" is basically my story, but with a magical twist. If you ever feel like your life is boring or you wish for something you think you need, just remember - wishes can be tricky. But, in the end, I learned some cool stuff about myself and what really matters. If you want a laugh, some adventure, and maybe a little life lesson, check out my story. Just don't try to find a magic mail slot; trust me, it's not worth it.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find wish fulfillment novels an easy sell with elementary-age kids and suspect most will enjoy Return to Sender, with its NYC setting, clever illustrations, and pointed class commentary. Oliver and his mom (depicted as white in the illustrations) are homeless and poor, grieving after the untimely loss of his dad, a talented cook who dreamed of opening a restaurant. The death of an eccentric aunt results in a home for them at last, a tiny 7th floor walk-up with a magical mail slot. This relocation also means a new school for Oliver; he’ll be a fifth-grade scholarship student at snooty Whittle Academy while his mom works there as a janitor. Given their problems, Oliver feels pressured to act as his mom’s partner, but the intense financial divide between him and his new classmates soon has him dreaming of creature comforts. A series of mail slot wishes results in free pizza delivery, spiffy stylish sneakers, and even a magical plane. Aided by his new BFF, an eccentric Chinese-American girl Collette (with her own bodyguard/nanny), Oliver enters a state of moral ambiguity as he starts lying to his mom about the increasingly outrageous events wreaking havoc on the entire city. A nosy neighbor turns out to be much stranger than we could have ever guessed and the final section of the book veers into science fiction as Oliver enters an alternate universe of aliens, addictive glorp, and some sharp commentary on consumerism. 

Brosgol keeps all her plates juggling with goofy set pieces and extremely engaging illustrations. The book’s design, with its bright green jacket and neon yellow page edges, loudly telegraphs fun and adventure. Admired and well-known for her previous picture books and graphic novels (Be Prepared, Anya’s Ghost, among others), Brosgol brings that graphic talent to the black-and-white illustrations scattered throughout the book. Oliver quickly begins to suspect that his good fortune is counterbalanced by someone else's bad luck, which Brosgol portrays with Rube Goldberg-style diagrams, connecting the disparate elements through dotted lines. Occasional full page artwork will make the book appealing to young readers who’ve gotten stuck in graphic novels and are looking for a slightly more ambitious reading experience. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Our Weekend Is Booked · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Having enjoyed Vera Brosgol's graphic novels, I jumped at the chance to read her latest novel, Return to Sender. It's a truly captivating and imaginative story that blends magical elements with realistic and relevant topics such as immigration, socioeconomics, and grief.

The story centers on Oliver, a fifth-grader whose life has been turned upside down since his father's death. He and his mom move between various relatives' homes until an unexpected inheritance from his Aunt Barb leaves them with an apartment in Manhattan. Oliver has another big change when he starts the elite private school Whittle Academy. Oliver's mom gets a job as a custodian at the school, allowing him to attend on a scholarship. Thrust into a world of immense wealth, Oliver feels the disparities between his life and those of his privileged classmates.

Oliver soon discovers that his new apartment holds a secret: a mysterious, wish-granting mail slot. Oliver begins to use this magical mail slot more frequently, to impress his new classmates, and of course, chaos ensues.

What I Liked: Vera Brosgol's sensitive depiction of Oliver's grief and his stepping up as a caregiver to his mom really touched me. The grief felt palpable and heartbreaking. It was also interesting to see how Oliver struggled to relate to his Whittle Academy classmates as he dealt with life's unfairness and how his privileged classmates had it far easier than he did. Oliver manages to make one true friend in Colette, a hilarious character who adds much-needed comic relief to the narrative. The sprinkling of black-and-white illustrations throughout the book helps to keep readers engaged.

What Left Me Wanting More: While the magical mail slot was an interesting and unique concept initially, I found that it quickly delved into a realm of insanity that felt too far-fetched. In my opinion, the book should have focused on the realistic emotional storyline that Brosgol writes so well.

Return to Sender is a middle-grade book that will appeal to readers who enjoy stories with heart, humor, and magic sprinkled in.

This review first appeared on Ya Books Central and can be found here: https://yabookscentral.com/return-to-...

[Dest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver is a 10-year-old boy with long hair. (I mention it because you don't see a lot of boys with long hair in illustrated children's books.) He lives with his mom in a Manhattan apartment they recently inherited from his great-aunt. Oliver's mom gets a job as a custodian at a fancy school, so Oliver gets to attend. He has never been in such proximity to wealth before. In his first days of school, he's bullied by a terrible older kid. Then he discovers a strange mail slot in his apartment that grants his wishes.

This book could have gone in the direction of the classic "be careful what you wish for" story. But none of Oliver's wishes go terribly wrong. Instead, I felt like the story became a critique of consumerism and capitalism. If you had endless wishes, would you wish for stuff? Would having the best shoes, the coolest tech, the nicest apartment make you happy? Obviously, in the short term, stuff does tend to make people feel happy. But does all this consumption have a cost? If some people have way more than they need, does that necessarily mean other people suffer for it?

The kicker is that what Oliver really wants is to bring back his father who recently died from a serious illness. It drove me a little crazy that Oliver didn't wish for that immediately. But he's a careful kid and decides to build up to it. I wonder what young readers will think of this choice. Why does Oliver make a bunch of wishes for stuff before making the wish for his dad?

The wish thing turns out to be not exactly magical but more sci-fi. An alien race has the technology to give humans instructions to fulfill their wishes. The aliens then feed off the desire that's heightened by the granting of more and more wishes. It's called GLORP. This is yet another level of the capitalism critique, in my opinion. I saw some reviews that said this is where the story goes off the rails, but I liked the unexpected twist.

This is Vera Brosgol's first book that doesn't rely on illustrations, though it does have a lot of great ones. I started off listening to the audiobook but then switched to the print edition so I could see the pictures.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I just love Vera Brosgol's graphic novels, so I couldn't wait to see what this fewer images / more words option would have to offer. As expected, so SO much!

Oliver is 10 years old, but he has some hefty challenges and responsibilities to manage, When his father died, his mother understandably crumbled. While she sank into a depressive state, which is referenced several times throughout the novel, Oliver took care of her and also himself. To some degree, though his mother is much more functional, Oliver still has a lot of responsibility and worry, not to mention his own grief to address. On top of the death of his father and difficult state his mother has been in, Oliver and his mother have recently relocated. This means a new house, new neighbors, new school, and new kids and norms. The new school highlights Oliver's lower socioeconomic status by placing him with a number of privileged peers. But all of the money in the world can't buy them something very special and quite magical that Oliver has on lock.

Oliver is such a likeable character, and it's always heartbreaking to find a young person who is facing so much difficulty. It's also often easy to connect with them, and that definitely happens here. Although the book is full of serious motifs and challenging moments, there are also careful touches of lightheartedness and so much hopefulness that help to balance emotions.

I came in a devoted Brosgol fan and am leaving with the same enthusiasm for this wonderful author.

*Special thanks to NetGalley, Roaring Brook Press, and Macmillan Audio for this arc and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Sheila Bracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life has been rough for long haired fifth grader Oliver Bakh and his mother since his father died. Oliver’s mother fell into a deep depression leaving Oliver to take on responsibilities far beyond his years, like cooking. Oliver and his father dreamed of opening a restaurant together, one built around their love of traditional Georgian food. But all Oliver has left is his dad’s recipe book, and a small, frozen batch of his special dumplings. Financially strained and emotionally overwhelmed, Oliver and his mom spent a short period bouncing around among relatives’ homes until their luck seemed to change for the better when 96-year-old great-aunt Barb dies, leaving her Manhattan apartment to them in her will.
The apartment is walking distance from the exclusive Whittle Academy, where Oliver will attend and his mother will work as a custodian and student concierge. Surrounded by classmates from wealthy and influential families, Oliver keenly notes differences in their circumstances. When he discovers a wish-granting mail slot in the apartment, Oliver and his new—and only—friend, Colette, a spirited fourth grader who’s eager for adventure, make increasingly grand wishes. Each wish comes with unpredictable consequences that spiral further out of control. Upon realizing how the wishes adversely affect others, Oliver and Colette scramble to undo the damage and shutter the mail slot. But others want the wishes to continue at any cost.
In her prose debut, Brosgol employs a playful yet darkly humorous tone, enhanced by black-and-white illustrations that add depth and meaning to the fantastical elements. The absurd situations, unexpected twists, and colorful, exaggerated villain add to the tale’s appeal while teaching readers to be careful what you wish for. 4

[Sue.the.very.busy.reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first half of Return to Sender! 💌 Oliver and his mom have had a tough year, but things take an exciting turn when they inherit a New York apartment — a real home of their own. But here’s the twist… it comes with a magical mailbox! 📬
At first, Oliver uses it for small wishes to make life easier for him and his mom. But as he adjusts to his fancy private school and meets his new friend Colette, his wishes start getting a little bigger… and that’s when things get interesting!
What I loved about this book:
📖 The fun use of different fonts for letters and wishes — such a creative touch!
❤️The illustrations! They add so much humor and personality to the story.
❤️The characters’ facial expressions were spot-on and full of emotion.
❤️The idea that every wish came with a consequence — such a clever detail!
I did lose focus a bit toward the end when Oliver and his neighbor Eliza stepped through the mail slot into the fantasy world of the Benevolence Bureau. It got a little too strange and unbelievable for me. BUT — I loved how it wrapped up with a positive ending.😍Overall, this one gets a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me! I enjoyed most of it and definitely recommend giving it a try. Thank you to Vera Brosgol @verabee, Roaring Brook Press, and @mackidsbooks for sending me this magical read! ✨
Published back in May — you can find it now at your favorite bookstore or library. 📚
All opinions are my own.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver and his mom are moving again. His dad died from cancer recently, and they've bounced around to different relatives' houses. His reclusive great aunt Barb just died at 96 years old and left her apartment to Oliver and his mom. It's kinda a strange place with preserved butterflies on every inch of the walls, a taxidermied cat, and a mailslot inside the apartment. The new apartment means a new school, and it's a fancy one that Oliver has to go to because his mom is a custodian there, so free tuition. All the kids are rich, and it just reiterates to Oliver how much he doesn't have. Then, Oliver realizes that the mailslot not only works, but that it's also magical and grants wishes to the owner of the apartment, AKA Oliver. He starts small--getting a pizza delivered--and then wishes for bigger and grander things. Then, he learns that wishes have consequences. For example, the pizza he got was supposed to be delivered to someone else. It's an entertaining adventure that poses some moral and ethical questions for readers. The end fight scene was just ridiculous, but kids won't think so. Brosgol's illustrations bring the story to life, especially the domino effect of events that lead to a wish being granted. For fans of The Anti-Book, AKA me.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver and his mom have sofa surfaced for quite a while, ever since Oliver's father died. Now, however, they have been bequeathed the apartment belonging to his mother's aunt. When they have cleaned out the plentiful insect collection and moved in, Oliver starts his new school, tech-heavy and trying to prepare every child to be a powerhouse entrepreneur. Oliver doesn't feel at all at home, but his mother gets a break on tuition because she has a new job as custodial staff. Oliver, whose only dream is to open a restaurant like his father wanted, feels increasingly out of place, except for one new friend, Collette, who is a grade below him. Also, he discovers that someone, somewhere, grants wishes if he places them in the inner wall mail slot in the apartment. Between the increasingly complex instructions for having his wish come true, the nosy neighbor who works for social services and seems faintly sinister, and his friendship with Collette, Oliver is kept busy. However, Oliver soon learns that his wishes come at a cost. The only question is, will Oliver care about that cost to others? I loved this book from start to finish and was increasingly drawn in by the many plot twists and the very satisfying ending.