Wish by Barbara O’Connor
MG Contemporary. 240 Pages. 5 Stars
Synopsis:
Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish every day since fourth grade. She even has a list of all the ways there are to make the wish, such as cutting off the pointed end of a slice of pie and wishing on it as she takes the last bite. But when she is sent to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to live with family she barely knows, it seems unlikely that her wish will ever come true. That is until she meets Wishbone, a skinny stray dog who captures her heart, and Howard, a neighbor boy who proves surprising in lots of ways. Suddenly Charlie is in serious danger of discovering that what she thought she wanted may not be what she needs at all.
My Review:
Guys. I know it’s January, but this may be my favorite read of the year. At least it is so far.
After seeing this cover around in all the spaces for a while, I happened across this one in a used book store. As a MG aficionado – and as someone who works in the MG space – I figured I should see what all the buzz has been about, even if dog stories aren’t usually my go to. And that’s an important note: going into this, I thought it was going to be a cute, light dog story. You see that cover? Magical sunset colors, summer fireflies, a girl and her dog.
Some of you are laughing at me right now. Since when have MG stories ever just been sweet little dog stories? And let me put your fears to rest, no, this was not an Old Yeller or Where the Red Fern Grows kind of sob story. But it definitely was not what I was expecting either. The book sat on my shelf for months until my mood-reading impulsive self decided it was time for a quick, easy, light MG read with a charming little firefly, sunset, magical setting.
Let me begin by saying that the setting was actually pretty charming. The cover looks like a Magic Tree House kind of vibe, but this is more of a Bridge to Terabithia kind of setting: rustic, Appalachian, beautiful in a forgotten kind of way. Personally, having lived in NC – and in Appalachia most of my life – the setting was delightfully spot on. I don’t know where the author grew up, but it feels like she grew up in the heart of Carolina country. This story felt so much like home. A perfect rural summer with those beloved fireflies, the twang of a banjo somewhere in the distance, and the nostalgia of bike rides on dirt roads.
Shoutout to the narrator who absolutely nailed the voices and tone that really brought this setting to life. Also, the absolute talent it takes to simultaneously pull off the thick southern accent while the MC is ironically convinced she’s not one of the hillbilly kids herself. *chef’s kiss*
These characters were just as rich as the setting. Charlie. My sweet Charlie. That little girl stole my heart. It was the strangest thing because, as I’ve said, I was so unprepared for the story I walked into. Turns out Charlie was me. In sooo many ways. That beautiful, angry little girl who was torn from her home and couldn’t understand. She spends the whole story trying to get back to the dysfunctional family she believes she was so wrongfully taken from and resisting all the unimaginable good she’s been brought to. Oh, many, the juxtapositions and ironies in this story are not only brilliantly done, but they hit so close to home. I’ve been that little girl, taken from her parents, convinced the new place was terrible and the old was the idealistic home, unwilling to understand how it was tainted by nostalgia and the haze of memory that robs you of the evils and reality.
But Charlie, though I understood and sympathized with her on a level deep in my soul, was not the only star of the show here.
We often talk about the loss of childhood innocence and wonder, but this story rebuilds that innocence and wonder for a girl who lost it all too soon. There’s a charm in the world she’s plopped into and a twang of her learning that she needs to feel and hurt and heal. It amazed me to see how Charlie moved from pure devotion and assurance in what her world once was to processing the dysfunction she’d been living in and then the hurt of losing it all because there were still things to be loved – and things that should have been cherished and loved that weren’t. The rough edges and those around her who managed an angelic level of patience long enough for her to begin to soften.
Bertha is the talkative country auntie who gets it wrong even though she tries with the purest of hearts, but that woman showed a power and depth of truth that made me cry. Gus quite possibly may be my favorite of the bunch with his unshakable calm and few words – a real quality man right there. Mama and Scrappy and Jackie played their roles perfectly. And though I am the older rather than the younger sister, the relationship between Jackie and Charlie hit yet another chord. I felt Jackie’s helplessness and broken heart at not being able to be what Charlie wanted and I felt Charlie’s deep hurt at being abandoned, forgotten, and seemingly unloved. And of course, Howard and the Odoms. Howard’s heart, courage, and unshakable kindness made him such a steadfast, compelling character, the kind of friend we all wish we had and perhaps we should all strive to be. I loved his family and how they folded Charlie in, in spite of her temper and prejudices.
The wish kept me intrigued and I loved seeing all the different ways the wishes were made throughout the story. While I did suspect the wish and resolution for the wish, it was delightful all the same. This story covers deep and meaningful themes – such as dysfunctional families, the worth of a child and family, foster care, and the nuance of processing deep emotions – but it balances that with a cozy, real setting, and the simplicity of what a childhood summer could and should be.
I was completely drawn in and surprised in the best way. This is a touching story with a great heart, a lot of well-handled nuance, and yes, even a dog.
While this started as what I thought would be a “read and purge to make room for other books” read, this one has earned it’s place on the shelves and will be staying. It’s certainly one I’d recommend.
Content: a MG story suitable for middle grade ages. There’s a sweet romance with the aunt and uncle that is just part of who they are, not a central part of the story. No foul language, though some prejudice from the perspective of a child with a temper. And some playground level violence. Though the themes do touch on Charlie’s situation and parents, it’s all done in retrospect, without graphic details, and in a kid-friendly way. This would be a great story to have conversations with your kids.
On GraceBought
If you liked this book, you may also like:
The Girl Who Drank the Moon, The Giver, Please Return to the Lands of Luxury, The Memory Spinner, or The Star that Always Stays
or try this YA fantasy with similar Apalachain family strife feels: