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Description
Van has spent his life overlooked by others, but the hearing-impaired boy notices what most people miss. When he discovers a secret underground world where wishes are stolen by mysterious Collectors, he finds himself caught up in a dangerous magical conspiracy. This fast-paced fantasy adventure follows Van as he navigates a realm where dreams have a price and nothing is quite what it seems.
Quick Summary
If you know a kid who loves stories where ordinary things turn out to hide extraordinary secrets, this one's for them. The main character is a hearing-impaired boy named Finch who spends his time collecting little lost and forgotten objects buttons, coins, bottle caps and the fact that he's not like other kids is part of what makes him such a compelling narrator. What starts as a quiet hobby turns into something much bigger when he stumbles into an underground world where wishes have been stolen and hoarded by a shadowy group of collectors, and suddenly his knack for noticing overlooked things becomes the only thing that can save the day. It has that wonderful middle-grade balance of being genuinely creepy and suspenseful in parts (there's a villain whose power comes from stolen hopes, which is honestly a little haunting) while also being warm and funny, especially in the friendships Finch builds along the way. The story doesn't dumb down the fact that Finch is hearing-impaired it just treats it as one part of who he is, which feels refreshing and normal rather than preachy. Fans of books like "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place" or anything by Lemony Snicket will likely gravitate toward this one, since it has that same slightly quirky, atmospheric vibe with a mystery that pulls you deeper. There's enough action and wonder to keep reluctant readers turning pages, but also real emotional stakes that make it a satisfying read for kids who like their stories with a little more depth.