THE WISHCATCHERS

Familiar plot elements of the new girl in town, the girl bully and the girl with imagination and belief in magic characterize this friendship/magical-realism story from a Scottish publisher.

When Ant (short for Antonia) finds a shell necklace in a cave by the sea, she’s certain that it’s connected to the Wishcatchers. Only the villagers know that if you place a written wish in a fishing creel and drop it into the water at Wishcatchers’ Point, your wish could come true. When Ant wishes that Rosie the school bully would "pick on" the new girl in the class instead of her, it’s a case of "be careful what you wish for," as Ant and Clarissa, the new girl, quickly become friends. This slight story has many holes. The Wishcatchers, whom Ant sees one misty night, are never sufficiently explained to readers. Adults are incidental here; the events revolve around Ant and Clarissa and their effort to help Rosie the bully (whom they discover is being verbally abused by her brother). British terms sometimes clog the action: "trainers" (sneakers); "chock-a-block"; "draught"; "chocolate-spread sandwiches"; and so on. Ant’s naiveté makes her seem younger than the apparent intended audience.

Readers probably won't wish for a sequel.