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A review by abookishmagpie
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I had heard some really wonderful things about this, and then when I read the synopsis myself, I kinda fell for the whimsical nature of it and then knew I had to give it a go. Lucy is a kindergarten aid with a special bond with a young boy named Christopher who has had a rough time since his parents died and he has been in the foster care system. Her biggest wish is to be able to adopt him and become his mother, but with a minimum wage job and debt that feels insurmountable, she needs a miracle to make that wish a reality. Enter Jack Masterson, author of the beloved 'Clock Island' children's book series, who has been MIA for years but makes a sudden reappearance with the announcement of a competition for some lucky people to win the newest manuscript in the series and do with it whatever they want.
The Willy Wonka like character with his own Clock Island where he hosts the contest and talks in riddles was a lovely aspect to the book that I particularly enjoyed. I don't know that this book needed as many layers to Lucy's past, it got a bit convoluted at times with all the little parts we had to revisit and address that we could have spent on more world and game building. However, I liked the pace and the way there was a depth to the emotions of the story, getting to know the characters and their motivations and stories unraveled this really beautiful story. Yes, it had a cheesy and overly happy ending that was triple sugar coated, but it felt earned and deserved after we spent this time with these characters. I'm really glad I picked this up and would be curious to read more from this author in the future.
The Willy Wonka like character with his own Clock Island where he hosts the contest and talks in riddles was a lovely aspect to the book that I particularly enjoyed. I don't know that this book needed as many layers to Lucy's past, it got a bit convoluted at times with all the little parts we had to revisit and address that we could have spent on more world and game building. However, I liked the pace and the way there was a depth to the emotions of the story, getting to know the characters and their motivations and stories unraveled this really beautiful story. Yes, it had a cheesy and overly happy ending that was triple sugar coated, but it felt earned and deserved after we spent this time with these characters. I'm really glad I picked this up and would be curious to read more from this author in the future.