I love "be careful what you wish for" stories. The plot is a little predictable for adults, but this was written for children, and is a five-star book for kids. Not only do the characters' wishes turn out EXACTLY as they wish, but they all end up with what they SHOULD have wished for at the end. A fun, quick read.

Still as good a I remembered.

My third grade teacher read this novel to the whole class. I was so appalled by what happened to Henry Piper that the story stuck with me forever. Good story to read with your family.

I wouldn't have chosen this book as a Newberry Award honoree, nor would I ever considering banning it (If I supported banning books, which I don't). The subject matter is wishes, not witchcraft or devil or occult anything as some may believe from the town name and early description of the town. The characters in the story all get what they wished for -with unintended consequences. These consequences are hammered home with a heavy moral. If anything, this is a moral tale for the young.

It was hard to tell whether this book was contemporary to the 1980s or set in an earlier time. If contemporary, it really reinforces gender stereotypes. At first I thought it was pushing gender norms (i.e. ladylike behavior) but the moral is loud and clear and not what I expected. Polly's story was my favorite, despite the annoying Nellie Olsen girls. Rowena was just plain dumb and silly and deserved what happened while Adam meant well. Adam was lazy and got what he wished for and then some. Oddly though the moral isn't about laziness so much as be careful what you wish for.

I didn't care for the folksy voice of the narrator, Stew Meat. I'm not from Maine but I am from New England and I have never heard anyone use the phrase "Consarn it!" or even the word "crick." It made me think of Little House on the Prairie.

I had a lot of fun revisiting this book from my childhood. I love the concept of the book and the stories. It lacks subtlety, which I don't think is always necessary in a children's book. And the regional dialect writing drives me a little nuts. That being said, it's a fun book!