Wish
📘 About This Book
Don't miss Barbara O'Connor's other middle-grade work—like Wonderland; How to Steal a Dog; Greetings from Nowhere; Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia; The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester; and more! A touching, New York Times–bestselling story about a girl and her dog, perfect for young animal lovers. 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. From award-winning author Barbara O'Connor comes a middle-grade novel about a girl who, with the help of a true-blue friend, a big-hearted aunt and uncle, and the dog of her dreams, unexpectedly learns the true meaning of family in the least likely of places. This title has Common Core connections.
📖 Summary
Wish by Barbara O'Connor, published in 2016 and spanning 236 pages, is a touching New York Times bestselling juvenile fiction novel that explores themes of family, belonging, and unexpected friendship. Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese carries a heavy heart and a singular, steadfast ambition. Every single day since the fourth grade, she has been making the exact same secret wish. Her dedication to this wish is so intense that she maintains a mental list of all the creative ways there are to make it come true. Among her quirky rituals is cutting off the pointed end of a slice of pie and wishing upon it as she takes the very last bite, hoping against hope that the universe will finally grant her deepest desire. However, life takes an unexpected and unwelcome turn for Charlie when she is sent away from her familiar surroundings to live with family members in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. These are relatives she barely knows, and being thrust into a completely new environment makes her dream feel further away than ever. Surrounded by unfamiliar faces, rolling green mountains, and a slower pace of life, Charlie feels displaced, resentful, and utterly convinced that her time in the mountains will be nothing short of miserable. Everything begins to shift, however, when she crosses paths with Wishbone, a skinny stray dog who immediately captures her heart. This scruffy canine enters her life when she needs companionship the most, forging an instant and powerful bond with the guarded girl. Through her growing relationship with the stray dog, Charlie starts to experience a softening of her tough exterior. She also begins to navigate the complicated dynamics of her new household, slowly realizing that family and home can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places. Barbara O'Connor crafts a heartfelt middle-grade narrative that resonates deeply with young animal lovers and anyone who has ever yearned for a place to truly belong.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Heartwarming and emotional storytelling that resonates with middle-grade readers
Engaging and relatable protagonist dealing with realistic family changes
Wonderful portrayal of the bond between a child and a rescue dog
Atmospheric setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains
⚠️ Cons
Some readers may find the initial plot pacing a bit slow
The emotional themes can be slightly heavy for very young children
✍️ About the Author
❓ FAQ
Who is the author of Wish? +
The book was written by Barbara O'Connor.
When was Wish published? +
It was published in 2016.
How many pages long is Wish? +
The novel is 236 pages long.
Where does Charlie get sent to live? +
She is sent to live with family in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
What is the name of the stray dog in the story? +
The stray dog is named Wishbone.
