The Wishmakers

Wishmakers #1

by Tyler Whitesides

Twelve-year-old Ace’s life is about to change in the most unexpected and magical ways—all because of a peanut butter jar.

When he opens it, he inadvertently releases a genie named Ridge. Now a Wishmaker, Ace is given a week to complete a seemingly impossible quest, and if he fails the world will end in the most tragic (but cuddly) way imaginable.

Luckily, Ridge can help by granting Ace an unlimited number of wishes…as long as Ace is willing to accept the consequences. The bigger the wish, the greater the consequence. So, if Ace wants to avoid having pogo sticks for legs or his clothes turn invisible, he'll have to be careful what he wishes for and get a little creative.

Perfect for fans of Dan Gutman and Max Brallier, this new middle grade series by Tyler Whitesides (author of the Janitors series) is a wonderful mix of unpredictable magic, zany humor, and daring adventure. You’ll wish it never ends!

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Adventure, Magic, Contemporary

336 pages, Hardcover

First published February 27, 2018

Reviews

[Janssen · Rating 3 out of 5]

My girls were SUPER into this book and it was fun to read it together as a family - now they're begging to read the next book (this one ends on a total cliffhanger).

[A.L. Sowards]

What if you found a genie who would give you unlimited wishes for a week? And what if every wish came with a consequence? Want to fly? Okay, but every bird you see will poop on you. Want a lifetime supply of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Sure, but you’ll have a peanut butter smear on your face for a year. Oh, and with the gene comes a quest. Fail to complete it, and it’s the end of the world. Literally.

This was a fun middle grade adventure. I read it with my twins and we enjoyed it. Warning: MASSIVE cliffhanger at the end.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd time reading this - to my eleven year old son this time. This book works so well - it starts fast and kids love the ridiculous consequences the wishmakers have to accept throughout the book. Very funny and fast-paced.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having enjoyed Whitesides Janitors series I was thrilled to discover this new series. The concept behind this new series is a clever one, one I haven't seen in any other book I've read. Ace doesn't expect anything except peanut butter when he opens that peanut butter jar to make himself a sandwich. But what he gets is a genie offering him as many wishes as he wants. There are a couple of catches though. First, each wish has a consequence accompanying it. Some consequences are short term, some are permanent. The bigger the wish, the more uncomfortable the consequence. For example, Ace's first wish is for a lifetime supply of peanut butter sandwiches, which carries the consequence of a smudge of peanut butter constantly visible on his face for a year. The second catch is a quest that needs to be completed in seven days or the world will be destroyed by all the world's cats and dogs turning into zombies. Things get even more complicated when Ace runs into a couple of other kids (wishmakers) with quests of their own that seem to conflict with his. And as the consequences start to pile up, Ace has to decide just what price he is willing to pay to save the world. Whitesides has created another fun series opener full of both humor and heart. The occasional illustrations are a delightful addition. I look forward to seeing the unexpected places this series will take me.

[Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the book The Wishmakers by Tyler Whitesides for the second time and I still loved it! I had read all of Whitesides's books in The Janitors series that he wrote and I loved those books so I chose to read this book. Something kind of out of the ordinary that I really liked was all the names of the characters. They are names that I hear not that regularly and some not even at all and I feel like most of the books that I read just have boring names that I hear all the time. It just makes the book more unique and just adds to how much I enjoyed it. The other main thing that I liked was how much I appreciate the things you can learn from this very unique story. The main lesson I can learn from this is that in life you make decisions and there are consequences to go along with those decisions. This is a very important aspect of life that really helps me realize that before I make a decision, I should try to think of what is going to happen when I make that decision. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fun read and who loves a good story with some good humor.

[Molly Cluff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The concept of unlimited genie wishes (that all come with bizarre consequences) made for a read that's simultaneously hilarious and thought-provoking for kids--seeing that each action has a consequence, and sometimes you have to weigh instant gratification with long-term implications. Definitely some heart-warming conversations between the main characters, too. And I love an ending that outfoxes a bad guy! Nice twist at the end, and I can see this lending itself very easily to putting together bookclub activities.

[Devin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids brought this book home as a school wide family book quest. The whole school reads the same book with their family. Can I just tell you that it was as fun for me to read as it was for them. I had to stop myself from reading ahead. It’s hard finding a book that both me and my kids enjoy, so it was fun. Can’t wait to read the second one.

[Kellianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun! I can’t believe I haven’t read this until now. My third graders absolutely loved it. We’ve never laughed so much together reading a book!

[Tina Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun! I read this aloud with all three of my kids (ages 11, 9, 7) and each one enjoyed it. The author has a silly but clever writing style, and we loved all of the adventures and the consequences that the wishmakers go through. The end is a bit of a cliffhanger, and we can't wait to get our hands on the second book!

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was funny and I liked the part when ace was making a sandwich and he opened the peanut butter and Ridge came out of it.

[Ashlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids loved this book. The consequences were sometimes so funny and set off a chain of events that we would all get giggling. Would definitely recommend as a great family read aloud

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would've thought opening a peanut butter jar would've been the beginning to Ace's quest? He's given the task to stop the Undiscovered Genie from being found because this genie can't grant wishes without consequences. Ridge (the Genie) can grant an unlimited amount of wishes to help Ace on his quest to stop Thackary Anderson from locating the Undiscovered Genie.

Ace is the only one who can save the world and on this quest he meets some interesting people, like Tina and her Genie Vale who have to help a former Wishmaker and Jathon, who is Thackary's son. Jathon wants to help his dad because he's had a troubled life and this will make up for it. With all of their paths crossing, how can Ace save the world?

This was such a fun book to read and it was very fast paced. I loved the story line and can't wait for the next one. THE WISHMAKERS is an original, unique story. I thought it was interesting that the genies came out of jars and can grant unlimited wishes. I also found myself eating a peanut butter sandwich while reading this.


Final Verdict: I would recommend this story to fans of magic, genies, and adventure. It was very entertaining and the second one can't come quick enough!

[Kevin R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read! I'll try not to give too many spoilers away, but to talk about any fictional book, you have to spoil something, right?

This book is mostly about Ace, who, after opening what he thought was a jar of peanut butter, finds himself connected to a genie named Ridge. The genie informs him he has one week to complete a quest or else the world will be doomed by all dogs and cats turning into zombies. Soon Ace finds out that his quest intertwines with two other Wishmakers (kids who have genies) and somehow it seems impossible for all three of their quests to be successful.

The best concept behind this book is that for every wish someone makes, there is a consequence. Some consequences are minor and even a little silly (a shoelace coming untied whenever somebody claps). Other consequences are far more severe. Can the Wishmakers fulfill their quests without taking upon themselves consequences too dire? Every wish has a price, but when will that price be too steep?

This book also has a major cliff hanger, which is unusual to me for a first book in a series. I'm excited to read #2!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been wanting to a read a fun story for awhile but have been putting off checking out a middle school book since I have no children and feel a bit out of place reading middle school stories. However The Wishmakers was flat out a fun story.

Ace is shocked beyond belief when he opens up a peanut butter jar and a kid pops out. After gathering his wits about him Ace learns the kid is a genie and going to grant him wishes. Even better Ace is not limited to three wishes he gets as many as he wants for a whole week as long as he accepts the consequences of the wish. Ace and the Genie, Ridge, develop a friendship and both want each other to succeed. I enjoyed reading about their relationship and seeing the two working together to accomplish things. The consequences for a wish was a great twist with the story, some were hilarious and some really made Ace think about things. Ace grew a good deal as the story progressed and learned to balance out his wishes and choices far more carefully as the plot progressed.

The writing was fun, witty, entertaining, and well done. I am already on the waiting list for The Wishbreaker and hope it will not be a long wait.

[Elise Derr Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Ace wanted was a peanut butter sandwich. Instead, he ended up with a boy genie named Ridge and an obligation to save the world from a zombie pet apocalypse!

He begins his quest, learning that he has unlimited wishes at his disposal, but each one comes with an unpleasant consequence. He meets Tina, another wishmaker, and together they race Thackary Anderthon in a search for the Undiscovered Genie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tyler Whitesides has a knack for writing unexpected twists and keeping readers hooked throughout. Written for a juvenile audience, "The Wishmakers" is quick-paced and exciting. The plot (and the piled up consequences) is fairly complex, but everything is explained/wrapped up nicely by the end. The last few pages definitely lead up to the sequel, though ("The Wishbreaker"), so add that one to your reading list too!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OVERALL
Audience: Juvenile. We read this to our 7-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son at bedtime, and they never wanted to stop reading! Both loved it!

Content: Ultra clean. Only mildly emotional in a few spots.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers in grades 4-6 looking for a hilarious new series will be thrilled to find The Wishmakers! Ace is a relatable, everyday kid pulled into an amazing quest that takes him on action-packed adventures, from fighting off rock-men at Mt. Rushmore to using his genie as an air shark to move across a speeding train. The consequences Ace suffers as a result of his wishes can often be funny, such as sneezing grapes or having wet socks. There is some heart to the novel, however, as both Ace and Tina are grappling with questions and fears about their family members, which motivate them to strive for the wish without a consequence, granted by the Undiscovered Genie. Although the tale will be continued in a series, the plotlines from the first book are resolved. A wide variety of readers will find something to enjoy in Whitesides’ newest offering.

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

After opening a peanut butter jar and releasing a genie named Ridge, Ace finds himself in the middle of the Universe's plan. And by opening the jar, and not reading the fine print, he has agreed to be part of the plan. The Universe gives him 7 days to complete a seemingly impossible quest, and if Ace doesn't complete the task than all the dogs and cats in the world will turn into zombies. But Ace has a genie to grant his wishes, so it should be easier. But with every wish comes a consequence, the bigger the wish the harsher the consequences are. Along the way he runs into Tina, a fellow wish-maker and they team up to complete the Universe's quest.

This is exactly my cup of tea, hence the 3 stars, but I think it's a 5 star book for juvenile readers. It's funny and silly, and the plot builds as it goes. A good recommendation for those who like adventure stories.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wishmakers is a twist on the genie-in-the-bottle story. Bottles (jars in this case) are not sought out but usually happened upon by accident. Opening a genie jar ties the opener to a quest impossible without magic. Luckily, wishes are unlimited, but they not free. Every wish comes with a consequence, sometimes silly, sometimes obnoxious and sometimes downright unmanageable. The Wishmakers is a fast-paced, funny, charming and sometimes downright ridiculous, but engaging take on this age-old story of wishing and granting. I enjoyed reading it to my kids, though I admit I found it a bit tiring about 2/3 of the way through and found myself wanting it to wrap-up. Unfortunately, I didn't realize this was one of those books where the ending is incredibly unsatisfying, necessitating a read of the sequel, The Wishbreakers, so have that handy if you decide to pick this up!

[6thbreed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age Range: 10 and up.
Swearing: It does say characters "said a bad word" or cussed sometimes, but they never actually write it, I don't think.
Sexual Content: One of the female characters has to hold the main character's hand for five minutes, and it's awkward for them.
Personal Opinion: The Wishmakers was a fun, clean romp through nonsensicalness! However, I had a hard time getting into the book at first, and I felt like it was a little young for me sometimes, (and the girl in this book grated a bit on me), but I still enjoyed the premise. I had completely forgotten that it was part of a series, so when it ended on that cliffhanger, I had to check to make sure I wasn't missing a few pages! I'll probably be getting the next book out. :) I highly recommend for those looking for a clean read for younger kids.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

After Ace unexpectedly release a genie from a peanut butter jar, all of his wishes can be granted, but he must also save the world from complete destruction. All of Ace's wishes result in a consequence, the good with the bad, so he must decide what wishes he is willing to make to complete his quest. Along the way, Ace meets other wishmakers, but has trouble knowing who to trust.

This book was quirky and fun. I thought the exploration of wishes and the plot were interesting. I found myself laughing. While some of the situations seemed a bit disjointed, I thought the rocks and stuffed animals that came to life were fun and unique.

[Warren Ayen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Good Series

Like his other series, the Janitors, this takes place in a somewhat silly and whimsical version of our world, with pre-teens as protagonists. Ace is a kid who opens a peanut butter jar to find it’s actually a genie’s jar, and is granted unlimited wishes - with consequences - for a week in order to fulfill a quest. These consequences range from the serious (killing people) to the silly (having to scream every time you sit down), but Ace & Co take on these consequences in their attempt to save the world!

Great, silly, and funny read for people who don’t want to take everything seriously in life. Good characters and plot kept the action moving. Worth a read!

[Austin]

Over the summer I decided I wanted to read the book Wishmakers by Tyler whitesides. This book is about a kid named Ace who loves peanut butter sandwiches. But one day when he is opening a jar of peanut butter a genie comes out of the jar. the genie´s name was Ridge. and that is where the story takes off. He has to travel to many different places to try to collect the genie with no rules and infinite wishes before the protagonist can and take over the world. In the end, you are left on a cliffhanger to read the second book, WishBreakers. Overall I feel like this book was very enjoyable and not complex. I am not the best reader myself but I was able to keep up with this book and actually enjoy it.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this out loud to my 8-year old son and we loved it! This is a fantastic story about a boy who suddenly finds himself in possession of a genie with the responsibility to save the world or else dire consequences will follow. My son is at the age where we have been talking a lot about what it means to make choices and accept consequences and I couldn't think of a more perfect story to illustrate and teach this concept in a really fun way. Every time the boy in the story makes a wish, he has a consequence that he has to consider and either accept as part of the wish or deny the wish. It was brilliant conversation material as well as providing lots of laughs.

[Justinepow · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was torture for me to read. I also think it was over the head of my 5 and 7 year old but they would not let me quit reading it. They loved the idea of a genie granting wishes and silly consequences but lots of the story was lost on them. I also thought this book could have been cut in half as there is a lot of rambling the characters do- one of the gifts of reading aloud is the ability to skip some of that but it was still painfully long for me. And turns out there is a sequel so the book ends on a cliff hanger. I am going to try to get out of reading it. I think a grade 3 or 4 student would enjoy reading this to themselves. It’s not a great read aloud.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genies, wishes and peanut butter jars combine to great effect in this adventure tale for middle-graders. In this version of the make-a-wish with a genie story, there are consequences for every wish, the universe demands balance. And with that new caveat, our protagonist-in-a-hurry stumbles into a quest that is fast and engaging. The tale ends with a mild set-up for the next book in the series, but not in a disappointing fashion. This book is a delight to read. I received my copy from the publisher through edelweiss.

[Christy Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engaging, laugh-filled, fantasy adventure right from the first page. The main characters Ace and Tina are relatable and fun to read. As they made wishes to complete their goals, it was entertaining and suspenseful to see how their consequences piled up for some unexpected twists. The author takes great care to keep track of all the consequences that pile up. I really like how the book is operating under the quests the children must complete within the timeline and has a larger frame of Ace's own personal quest he's seeking answers for. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book!

[Jessica Atwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Top marks for creativity and child-like humor. This book could be just your average middle grade humor/fantasy, if it were not for the clever use of the wishes/consequences idea. The funny consequences are the backdrop for real, thought provoking issues about what you are willing to do to get what you want. This book is worth a read.

(And I love the names Thackery and Jathon Anderthon. I couldn't help smiling every time I read them.)

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about consequences. Wishes can be made but each has a consequence. Most of the book is fairly ridiculous but it does make the point that wisheshave consequences. It ends on a cliff hanger. Most the time when I am as unimpressed with a book as I was with this one I won’t finish it. I pushed through and finished but I do think know that I’ll put the effort into reading Wishbreakers, which has recently published.
But really who ever heard of a genie in a peanut butter jar?

[Katienemeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book to read with my 9yo. We laughed so hard at times. He would ask me...did it really say that?!?!? Now when we eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches- I say "hey you have a smug of peanut butter on your check"....so the laughter continues and I can't tell you more than that or it will be a spoiler. It is much more light hearted than Harry Potter, but the same type of fantasy. His 6yo brother could have carried less- even through he tried.

[Jena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is extremely funny even though I didn't love it overall. The funny definitely builds over the course of the book and it's fun to see how consequences unfold - and how they pile up.
There's more to the characters than it seems at face value but it's also hard to get beneath the fluff to see that.
All in all, the book had everyone in my family laughing at multiple points which is always appreciated.