Review: Return to Sender

By Vera Brosgol

New York: Roaring Brook, 2025. Fiction. 320 pages.

Oliver Bakh and his mother have finally found a place to call home. After the unexpected death of his father, Oliver's mother fell into a deep depression, leaving Oliver to pick up the pieces and the pair moving from home to home. Now, things seem to be looking up, when Oliver's 96-year-old great-aunt Barb dies and bequeaths her Manhattan apartment to Oliver and his mother. Oliver starts attending an elite prep school filled with wealthy (often snobby) classmates who make Oliver feel embarrassed that he doesn't have the same expensive clothes and shoes as them. But then, a solution appears in an unlikely place -- Oliver discovers a magical mail slot in his apartment that grants his wishes. As Oliver and his new (also only) friend Collette begin to use the mail slot to grant their own wishes, they notice that every wish granted also has a adverse consequence. Can Oliver and Collette undo the damage and close the mail slot forever?

Vera Brosgol's first prose novel is an engaging and enticing read. Oliver is a likable protagonist, and readers who have experienced the unexpected death of a loved one will really identify with his yearning for his father. Despite the central theme of moving on after a loss, this book manages to avoid feeling too heavy thanks to a healthy dose of dark humor, a cartoonishly evil villain, and a touch of whimsy. Readers who might miss Brosgol's signature illustrations will enjoy spot illustrations to enhance the story. Add this sci-fi, magical realism, ethical adventure to a list of great stories about kids living in New York City.

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