First published 1975
Tommy discovers his gift for spinning stories during a rainy afternoon in his grandmother's attic. When he tells his younger sister about a magical coin that grants wishes, she finds exactly such a coin in their backyard the next morning. Tommy tests his power again, crafting a tale about a lost dog returning home. Within hours, the Hendersons' missing terrier scratches at their front door. Each story Tommy tells becomes real, but he learns that controlling reality through fiction carries unexpected consequences. His tales attract the attention of others who want to use his ability for their own purposes. Tommy must decide whether to keep his gift secret or risk the chaos that comes when stories and reality become impossible to separate. At its heart, this is a story about the responsibility that comes with creative power and the boy who learns that some gifts change everything.
Genres: fiction, fantasy, magical-realism, young-adult
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
92 pages · Paperback · Macmillan