Interview + GIVEAWAY with Tracy Trivas!

I have with me today the lovely Tracy Trivas, whose debut middle grade novel, The Wish Stealers, came out in January from Simon & Schuster (see my review here). It's a sweet little novel with a touch of magic and a great message for young readers everywhere. Tracy was extremely gracious to answer my questions about her book and her thoughts on wishes. Welcome, Tracy, to Steph Su Reads!

1. Hi Tracy! Can you tell us how you become fascinated by wishes and their potential consequences?

Wishing is really an act of optimism and belief in possibility. I try to always be open to new ideas and possibilities. I think anyone with an open mind, heart, or spirit is charmed by wishing. When I was doing research for The Wish Stealers, I found that in almost every culture, people wish--it is the first whisper of hope. In Africa members of the Zula tribe wish if they spot a striped weasel; this little creature is believed to have the stamina to carry a wish until it comes true. In America, people often wish blowing out their birthday candles, witnessing a shooting star, finding a four-leaf clover, or losing an eyelash…

A striped weasel--make a wish, he'll carry it to fruition!

2. That's so beautiful. I never realized that wishing is part of an international culture and took so many different forms. Where did the idea for The Wish Stealers come from?

When I first moved to Los Angeles in my early 20's filled with vague dreams of a fulfilling creative career, I slammed head first into something awful--WISH STEALERS--strangers, acquaintances, even friends who were thrilled to spout out how many people fail at creative careers. They stated what the odds are for failure, why back up plans should come first, and how being realistic was more important than dreaming.

I scrawled on a Post-it note, after one particularly negative conversation: “Mr. Wunderkiller! Wish Stealer!” I underlined the words three times and threw the Post-it in a drawer. The idea of physically stealing coins out of a fountain, and the larger metaphor of people who shoot down a dream fascinated me. The idea for THE WISH STEAELRS was born.

3. How were you similar to Griffin when you were in 6th grade? How were you different?

In 6th grade I was similar to Griffin in that I was excited for the first day of school, had long hair (brown not red), and loved English--especially reading and writing in my journal. Unlike Griffin, I did not rock out on the bass guitar, but played the piano and hated practicing!

4. In The Wish Stealers, Griffin "returns" an old lady's stolen wish for a puppy. What stolen wish do you think it'd be fun to return?

I think if I could return a wish I like to return a wish that would set things right for someone or reverse a great sorrow. Returning the “puppy wish” in my book would be a delight and joy-- to see someone so instantly satisfied and happy, but I'd love to return a wish that would bring about someone finding deep love, or for a child to stop being scared and be protected, or for something unfair to be corrected.

5. *sigh* If only that could be done! What message, if any, do you hope readers will take out of reading your book?

Hope and empowerment to never let anyone steal their dreams or knock the inspiration out of them before they even attempt to reach their goal. Griffin gets knocked down, but she gets right back up, faces setbacks with steady courage, and creates her own happy ending.

6. Now for a fun fact! What is your favorite food?

I have too many favorites to pick one! But a favorite meal would be spinach gnocchi, a fresh salad, and some kind of crazy chocolate dessert.

7. Can you tell readers what's next for you in terms of writing?

I just finished writing a YA book and am working on a middle-grade book--I'm really excited for both of them...

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Thanks for the great answers, Tracy! Your answers were beautiful and helped me understand the self-empowerment that you hope readers will get out of reading this book. The Wish Stealers really is a great read for late elementary/early middle school kids.

And would you look at that! Here's your chance to read this book! Thanks to the generosity of Simon & Schuster, I have FIVE (5) finished copies of The Wish Stealers to give away to 5 lucky winners!

To enter: fill out the form here, making sure to answer the question!

This giveaway is open to US only (no PO boxes), and ends Friday, March 26, 2010. Good luck!

Review: The Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas

Tags: juvenile fiction, middle grade, magic, wishes, witches

Rating: 3.5 out of 5


Summary

When an old woman presents young Griffin Penshine with a box full of eleven shiny 1897 Indian Head pennies, Griffin’s life is turned upside down when she discovers that the pennies are actually stolen wishes! Griffin must return the stolen wishes, or else her own wishes still never come true ever again. But how will she return the wishes when many of those original wish-makers are no longer alive?

Review

THE WISH STEALERS is a quick and interesting read with important lessons about individual strength buried within an entertaining tale.

I found most remarkable the way with which Tracy Trivas infuses this admittedly far-fetched tales with the universal morals of taking responsibility and action for your own happiness, instead of relying on wishful thinking. The late elementary/early middle schoolers that are the target audience for this book might miss that, but the subconscious implications are clear and make this a great tale to share with parent and child.

Several elements of THE WISH STEALERS unfortunately didn’t quite ring true for me. Nearly all of the school scenes—hateful teachers, impossibly difficult workloads, quizzes in the first week of school—felt faked. Certain magical elements (such as the Macbeth witches) popped in and out of the story with seemingly no better reason than to add to the creepiness factor, while coincidences that help Griffin out with her task happen too serendipitously to be truly believable.

Nevertheless, young readers will be able to enjoy the seemingly challenging yet actually quite smooth way in which Griffin goes about righting other people’s wrongs. THE WISH STEALERS is ultimately a charming story with a great message about the importance of believing in yourself and taking charge of your own happiness.

Similar Authors
Gail Carson Levine
Julianna Baggott (The Ever Breath)

Writing: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Plot: 4/5

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5


Cover discussion: 4 out of 5 - I think it's gorgeous. It was what attracted me to the book in the first place. Brilliant, colorful, fantastical... it even has a bit to do with the story!

Simon & Schuster / Jan. 26, 2010 / Hardcover / 288pp. / $16.99

Review copy provided by publisher. Thanks, V!

Check back soon for an author interview and giveaway!

Waiting on Wednesday (45)

The Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas

Griffin Penshine is always making wishes. But when a sinister old woman tricks her into accepting a box of eleven shiny Indian Head pennies from 1897, Griffin soon learns these are no ordinary pennies, but stolen wishes.


This box of labeled pennies comes with a horrible curse: People in possession of the stolen coins are Wish Stealers, who will never have their wishes granted.... In fact, the opposite of what they've wished for will happen. Griffin must find a way to return these stolen wishes and undo the curse if her own wishes are to come true.


But how can Griffin return wishes to strangers who might not even be alive? Her journey leads her to ancient alchemists, Macbeth's witches, and a chance to help people in ways she never imagined, but the temptation of the Wish Stealers' dark and compelling power is growing stronger. Can Griffin reverse the curse in time to save herself and the people she loves?


Tracy Trivas's rich and imaginative début novel introduces a talent as bright and sparkling as Griffin's pennies. [summary from Goodreads]

It just sounds soooo cool. Stolen wishes? A curse? The hint of historical adventure and fantasy? Plus that beautiful cover? This is one middle-grade fantasy I'd love to get my hands on!

The Wish Stealers will be published in hardcover by Aladdin, a division of Simon & Schuster, on January 26, 2010.