Children's Literature
Twelve-year-old Rebecca has the bad fortune of witnessing the break-up and separation of her parents. As if that's not bad enough, she also receives the ironic curse of having her wishes come true. In this realistic fantasy Rebecca discovers a bread box in her grandmother's attic which produces objects of her wishing—a book, one thousand dollars in crumbled bills, candy, french fries, a silver spoon, and much more. When it finally occurs to Rebecca where the items have come from, she is in deep trouble. She digs a deeper hole trying to escape all the wished for items that are no bigger than a bread box. Aside from the magical box, this story captures realistic emotions of children, estranged parents, and grandparents detailing with a shattered home. The author also gives insight into the social dynamics of a middle school girl who is a newcomer to a school and the stress of finding her identity. This book may be helpful to readers experiencing the traumas of a broken home. Reviewer: Krisan Murphy