🤷‍♂️Return to Sender (2025)

Written and illustrated by Vera Brosgol

4Rbooks                                       3/6                   grades          5-8

Amazon                                        4.6/5              grade level   4-6

Goodreads                                    3.92/5          

Common Sense Media               5/5                  ages 8+

311 pages

Synopsis

            It’s been a tough couple of years for Oliver and his mother.  Oliver’s father passed away and they lost their home. After living at other people’s homes for a while, they finally have a new home of their own, an apartment they inherited from their aunt who recently passed.  Oliver’s mom also has a new job working as a custodian for an elite, fancy private school. Because of her job, Oliver has been admitted to the school for fifth grade.

            He doesn’t have an easy beginning. He doesn’t have nice clothes and equipment like the other students and he’s picked on by the biggest school bully. He makes one friend, a fourth grader named Colette, who doesn’t have any friends either, except for her “nannyguard” Jimmy. Oliver is having trouble seeing any hope for the future until he finds a hidden mail slot in the wall at his home.

            Oliver soon learns that the mail slot is magical and if you place a wish inside, out will come directions that will make the wish come true.  Oliver starts small but becomes more and more excited about making wishes and having them come true.  He doesn’t realize that other people are affected by his wishes, usually in negative and harmful ways.

               Their neighbor knows about the mail slot and wants the apartment for herself. She and Oliver end up in a struggle for control of the slot, and the wishes, in another dimension where the events are arranged to make the wishes come true. Oliver knows he can’t let Eliza, the neighbor, gain control and must win the battle.

Parental Guidelines:    medium-high

Oliver’s father has passed and he and his mother have been staying with a variety of relatives. There was a period when Oliver’s mother was so depressed she was unable to function and Oliver had to take care of them both.

There are bullies at Oliver’s new school and one challenges him to a fight. They also put a child into a trashcan.

Oliver is teased for his long hair, clothes, and being poor.

In the other dimension a giant snake attacks someone and a dragon eats “people” and destroys the area.

Oliver’s mom is reported to the Department of Child Services for neglect by a mean neighbor.

The granting of wishes causes chain reactions and other people are harmed as a result.

Gender stereotypes are bent. Oliver has long hair and likes to cook.  Colette has short hair and is very aggressive and physical.  The illustrations of Oliver seem to be of a girl, and Colette looks like a boy, until you notice the uniform skirt.

Colette is basically abandoned by her very rich parents and is taken care of by servants and a “nannyguard.”

Oliver is very jealous of his new rich classmates and whines about the unfairness of life.  This causes him to become bitter and fuels his desires to use the magical mail slot for bigger and more outlandish things.

Recommendation

              This story was a tale of two halves.  The first half about Oliver, his wishes, and their consequences. The second half about Oliver and Eliza and their battle in the other dimension. While connected in the plot, they seemed so completely different that there was an uncomfortable and sudden shift in tone and actions.

            Looking at the two halves separately, the first half had good moments of Oliver dealing with his grief, staying true to his family and his goals, and navigating the world of privilege from a poorer perspective. I didn’t like his attitude toward the rich kids. I understand his feelings, but it felt like a condemnation of capitalism and wealth. I was also concerned with the way the characters were drawn.  In this day and age, when you draw the boy to look like a girl and the girl to look like a boy, I’m worried, wondering where the story is going to go. It didn’t, but it made me wonder what the author's point was meant to be.

            The second half of the story was action and adventure with a defined villain and lots of magic. It had exciting moments but a less than thrilling conclusion. Also, there were no resolutions to the ultimate fate of the other dimension and the wish makers.

            This is a classic “meh” book.  There are moments that are great, moments that are uncomfortable, and not enough of either one to overcome the other. I finished with more of a glad that’s over than feeling happy I read the book.