Our Wishprint

In Eve McDonnell’s latest novel, The Last Boy (Everything with Words), Brewster – a small ‘climbing boy’ chimney sweep – is sold to a cruel Master Sweep. But Brewster has a secret – he has predicted a terrifying meteor storm so he can cast his wish upon each shooting star to be the last climbing boy, ever. Sometimes truth is even stranger than fiction, so let’s explore Brewster’s harrowing world (would you fit through a chimney? Let’s try!), find out how important Brewster’s wish was to our lives today, and hear more about the majestic meteor storm of 1866 that filled the night sky with more white than black! Wishes, like Brewster’s, create ambition and dreams of better things, they bring smiles and delicious anticipation! Would you wish for fish that sing and rainbows at night? Or perhaps a big change to our world? Let’s get prepared for November’s Leonids meteor shower by creating our giant festival WISHPRINT together! Will all our wishes come true? 

Age guideline: 7+ yrs

Supported by Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland (formerly Science Foundation Ireland) as part of Science Week 2024.

Eve McDonnell is a children’s author, artist and Wonderlarker who lives halfway up a hill in Co Wexford. She is an author of middle-grade historical fantasy novels including the award winning Elsetime, the Carnegie nominated The Chestnut Roaster, and her latest novel, The Last Boy. The best part of Eve’s job is facilitating creative writing and crafting workshops in libraries, schools, writing clubs and festivals.