The Collectors
Even the smallest wish can be dangerous.
Look closely.
Do you see that marble in the grass? The tiny astronaut with one arm raised? The old-fashioned key in the gutter?
Van sees them. Van notices all sorts of things. But usually no one notices Van. He’s small, and always the new kid, easy to overlook. But one day he watches a mysterious girl and a silver squirrel dive into a fountain to steal a coin.
And—even more strange—they notice Van.
Suddenly, the world changes for Van. It becomes a place where wishes are real. A place where wishes can be collected, just like his little treasures. A place where wishes can come true.
But that’s not always a good thing.
Not all wishes are good, you see, and even good wishes can have unintended consequences.
And Van is about to find out just how big those consequences can be.
Schneider Family Honor Book
Minnesota Book Awards finalist
Nominated for the 2020-2021 Land of Enchantment Book Award (NM)
Selected for the 2020-2021 Great Texas Mosquito List
“A fast-paced and engrossing tale... Readers may not wish to leave this magical world.”
- Kirkus“A brilliant fantasy adventure exploring the consequences of getting what you wish for.”
- Booklist“West has created a captivating mythology around wishes...as well as thoughtful explorations of power and the unexpected, sometimes negative, consequences of good intentions. West’s magical adventure offers humor and warmhearted adventure.”
- Publishers Weekly“The Collectors casts a spell...”
- Star Tribune“Great characters, interesting world-building, tons of suspense, and leaves readers wanting more. A great addition to any collection.”
- School Library Journal, Teen Librarian Toolbox“From the very first page — scratch that: from the very first sentence — the story gets its hooks in you, and tugs you along until the very end.”
- MG Book Village“In “The Collectors,” West combines humor, mystery and magic in an intricate plot... Anyone who reads Van’s first adventure will eagerly await the second part of his story.”
- St. Paul Pioneer Press
The Collectors: A Storm of Wishes
In the spellbinding sequel to New York Times–bestselling author Jacqueline West's The Collectors, eleven-year-old Van Markson embarks on a quest full of magic and adventure to rescue his best friend from a dangerous wish collector.
This contemporary fantasy is just right for fans of Trenton Lee Stewart’s The Secret Keepers and Jonathan Auxier’s The Night Gardener.
It’s been only a few weeks since Van uncovered a magical secret—that wishes really can come true, and that a mysterious society called the Collectors protects us from the dire consequences even the smallest wish can have. Van knows only too well how wishing can go awry: his mother is recovering from a broken leg, his friend Pebble has been stolen away by the evil wish collector Mr. Falborg, dozens of dangerous creatures called Wish Eaters have escaped into the world, and Van himself has almost died—twice—all because of wishes.
When Van's mother is offered a position at the renowned Fox Den Opera, located in the quiet, beautiful forest a few hours north of the city, she whisks Van away with her, hoping this will be a safer home for their family of two. But Fox Den is home to an ancient Wish Eater—a powerful creature with the ability to grant wishes that have catastrophic consequences; a Wish Eater Mr. Falborg would love to get his hands on. Van must team up with the Collectors and find a way to stop him before he makes a wish that leaves the world in chaos.
New York Times–bestselling author Jacqueline West takes readers on an adventure with magic woven through every page. Fans of Cassie Beasley's Circus Mirandus and Robert Beatty's Serafina and the Black Cloak will love the thrilling conclusion to the magical journey begun in The Collectors.
...Van and readers both must question right and wrong in a fairy tale in which the good guys use questionable methods and the monsters might not be so monstrous after all. A warm and enchanting read."
- Kirkus"West's second Collectors novel crackles with magic and action."
- Star Tribune"West delivers a satisfying and thrilling sequel...with her well-written characters, expanding mythology, action-packed moments, breathtaking magic, and heartwarming friendships."
- Booklist