If wishes were horses…no, wait. If wishes came true for Max, he’d have King, the perfect dog. Lonely, living with his mother and sister in a new home after his parents’ divorce and in a new third grade where he’s repeatedly bullied, Max yearns for this trusty companion. His imagination in constant overdrive, one night Max conjures up a magical emporium called Wishworks, Inc., a place where wish fulfillment is guaranteed. Naturally, Max wishes for a “real, live dog.” One hitch—King doesn’t materialize, but, several days later, Max’s mom takes in an ugly, misbehaving mutt. As the tale proceeds, this dog worms her way into everyone’s heart, and even Max comes to realize that imaginary King was too predictable in his perfection. The novel is fairly predictable too. Still, Max is a protagonist readers will root for and whose imaginary adventures they’ll enjoy. In the end, not too surprisingly, Max’s other wishes also come true in sweet and satisfying ways. (Fantasy. 8-12)
