The Wish Giver: Three Tales of Coven Tree - Hardcover

Brittain, Bill

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060206861 ISBN 13: 9780060206864

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1983

Synopsis

The people of Coven Tree are no strangers to magic. In fact, the town's very name comes from a gnarled old tree where covens of witches used to gather. Even now, imps and fiends continue to appear, frightening the townfolk with their devilish pranks. Usually these creatures are easy to spot. They have a particular smell, or sound, or way of moving, that betrays their dark nature. But Thaddeus Blinn showed none of these signs when he came to Coven Tree. He was just a funny little man who drifted into town with a strange tale about being able to give people whatever they wished - for only fifty cents. There was nothing scary about him. At least, not until the wishing began...

About this title

Review:

"In this account of sinister doings in Coven Tree, Stew Meat [of Devil's Donkey] relates the King Midas luck that came to three young people, each of whom had a wish fulfilled, and each of whom rued that fulfillment. [A] literary folk story at its best'folksy, fascinating and fun." -- "SLJ.""An eerie delight."-- "NYT.""This delightfully spooky tale should send shivers up and down the love-to-be-scared circuit.And with good reason. When 14-year-old Dan'lPitt's hard-boiled Yankee skepticism runsheadlong into some of New England's eerie, inexplicable superstitions, who could predicthe'd be transformed into a donkey by a vengefulwitch?" -- The New York Times"The fast-paced events conclude suspensefully in a rope-pulling contest that has Dan'l struggling for his very soul. Brittain seasons his tale with generous amounts of tension, merriment, and magic." (Starred Review) -- ALA Booklist"The plot unfolds in short, suspensefulchapters ... the brisk pace of the action makesthis a pleasing addition to American folklore, and the nine excellent illustrations are shadowy, misty, spooky, yet full of humor." (Starred Review)-- School Library Journal"A highly original fantasy The wonder and humor of the story are finely evoked by animated charcoal drawings conveying atmosphere and a sense of mystery"-- The Horn Book"A good old-fashioned tale of witchcraft andtransformation."-- The Kirkus Reviews

About the Author:

Bill Brittain's tales of the rural New England village of Coven Tree are well loved by children of all ages. The Wish Giver was a Newbery Honor Book; it and Devil's Donkey were both named ALA Notabled Children's Books as well as School Library Journal Best Books. Dr. Dredd's Wagon of Wonders was a 1988 Children's Editors' Choice (ALA Booklist), and Professor Popkin's Prodigious Polish was named a "Pick of the Lists" by American Bookseller.

Mr. Brittain has written many other delightful books, which have also received high acclaim. Among these are All the Money in the World, which won the 1982-1983 Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award and which has been adapted for an ABC-TV Saturday Special; and The Fantastic Freshman, which was named an ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.

Bill Brittain lives with his wife, Ginny, in Asheville, North Carolina.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 1983
• ISBN 10: 0060206861
• ISBN 13: 9780060206864
• Binding: Hardcover