Wish by Barbara O’Conner
Hi! My name is Aadhya. I love to read, bike, make crafts, and draw.
“Wish” by Barbara O’Conner is a heartening book about Charlie, a girl who is facing many challenges in her life. She has to live with her aunt, Bertha and uncle, Gus because her father is in jail for his fiery temper and her mother can’t get up to care for her. Since Charlie has never met Gus and Bertha, she is not liking her time there.
Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish since fourth grade. When she moves in with Gus and Bertha, a family she barely knows, it seems very unlikely her wish will ever come true, until she meets Howard, a welcoming neighbor who is surprising in lots of different ways. She also meets Wishbone, the dog of her dreams. Suddenly, Charlie realizes that what she thought she wanted, may not be at all what she needs.
While Charlie thinks about everything negatively, Howard does the opposite. When Charlie thinks her life is going completely wrong, Howard points out the good parts in her life, like how she has Gus and Bertha, who care for her and love her like their own. She also has Wishbone, who loves her no matter what. Most especially, Howard, Charlie couldn’t have gotten through all of this without him, who tells her the good parts of her life when she doesn’t realize it.
I think that “Wish” is a truly heartfelt book about Charlie realizing the real meaning of family. “Wish” is one of the best books I’ve ever read and I love Charlie’s story. I would suggest this book to anyone over nine years old.
