Way way WAY creepier than the title or cover suggests, this book actually made me want to stop listening so I wouldn't have nightmares. Basically, these kids steal money from a well and are then given "powers" to help them grant the wishes of the people who threw the coins into the well. The main character, Josh, has eyeballs growing on his hands! How's that for a power? He can see the witch of the well with these hand-eyeballs and she is freaky as freak.

Probably better for older readers (say 11-14) or kids who like to be disturbed by what they read. It's very well written and kind of deep in its analysis of wishers and wishes. Did you ever think that under the superficial premise of a wish lies the real, deep down wish? And that the deep down wish can be something terrible that you really don't want to come true? This books gives a whole new jolt to the old adage "be careful what you wish for." We're talking death and destruction here. Srsly. ( )

It seems like a little thing: Ryan, Josh, and Chelle are where they're not supposed to be, and they don't have enough money for bus fare home. Josh, the daredevil of the group, steals a handful of coins from a wishing well, and they think no more of it until strange things start happening. Lights and electronics start to go wrong around Josh. Chelle starts spouting the thoughts of random strangers. Ryan gets weird warts on his hands that start to look more and more like eyes. Then, the creature that lives in the well makes herself known: Ryan, Chelle, and Josh must make the wishes come true for the coins they stole . . . or else.

I appear to have read this book before, over ten years ago, under a different title. At no point while I was reading did I get even the slightest hint of déjà vu, not even a twinge of a thought that the book seemed familiar to me. I had forgotten it entirely. That said, it wasn't a bad read this time around. (I gave it three stars last time; I'm bumping it up to 3.5.) It's a neat premise, with just enough suspense and tension for young readers to find it compelling, I would think. I didn't love any of the characters particularly, which may be part of the reason why I didn't remember it at all. I will probably not read it again, unless I manage to completely forget it and then come across it all over again in another ten years! ( )

Really enjoyed this! I don't like to compare authors but this reminded me a bit of Diana Wynne Jones. Complex and interesting plot, logical and very creepy magical elements, and well done characters and worldbuilding.

Alternate book synopsis; three children take a very expensive bus ride. ( )

Frances Hardinge does horror better than no other, because she understand the pain that comes with a wish, and the cruelties we keep hidden within us. ( )

A lovely juvenile book about some kids who take coins from an old well and get "cursed" with having to grant the wishes of others who have made wishes there. The magick was well done, with good internal logic, and based firmly in folklore. The characters were mostly appealing (except when they weren't supposed to be).I will probably look for more in this series. It played the trope of "be careful what you wish for" really well, even going as far as to explain it- comparing the wish you make with what it is you really want. It also has some good thoughts about motivation that I wouldn't have expected in a juvenile book. ( )