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A review by repunzee
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
I loved Clock Island as a setting and wish we'd gotten to explore the island more, but I didn't click with any of the characters since everyone made me uncomfortable. Our main character Lucy is a kindergarten teacher's aide who is determined to adopt Christopher, one of her former students. She tutors him at school and gives him many hugs, kisses, and false promises of being his mother. She lives with three roommates, no car, and has credit card debt, so she has been told that she is unable to foster and likely never will be able to. Lucy is also very whiney, both about the situation with Christopher and that it's her parents gave all their attention to Lucy's extremely ill older sister.
Then, there's the issue of Lucy's relationship with Hugo. While they don't start their romance until both are adults, Lucy was thirteen when they first met and Hugo was in his mid twenties.
Jack, a beloved children's author, also left me feeling weird and uncomfortable. The book briefly addresses that he lures kids to his island, though they claim that is not what's happening. However, he writes back to every kid who writes him and encourages them to come to Clock Island, wishing they could be his kid. Five of these children do run away to Clock Island, though one drowns in the process. The book takes place much later to take part in a contest to win the only copy of his final book. There is hardly any time spent actually participating in the games, rather most of it is just mentioned in passing.
If any of the issues this book attempts to address had been explored with any level of depth or nuance I probably would have liked this much better.
Then, there's the issue of Lucy's relationship with Hugo. While they don't start their romance until both are adults, Lucy was thirteen when they first met and Hugo was in his mid twenties.
Jack, a beloved children's author, also left me feeling weird and uncomfortable. The book briefly addresses that he lures kids to his island, though they claim that is not what's happening. However, he writes back to every kid who writes him and encourages them to come to Clock Island, wishing they could be his kid. Five of these children do run away to Clock Island, though one drowns in the process. The book takes place much later to take part in a contest to win the only copy of his final book. There is hardly any time spent actually participating in the games, rather most of it is just mentioned in passing.
If any of the issues this book attempts to address had been explored with any level of depth or nuance I probably would have liked this much better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Miscarriage