A review by turrean
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

hopeful mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

 The runaway children theme was more than a little alarming. The idea of a TA at a public school breezily coming in late to work because since she knew there was a parent volunteer in the room was so absurd I snorted out loud. I was impatient at the single-mindedness of Lucy’s drive toward her vision of the future, and aghast at the way a child’s hopes were raised in such an unrealistic way. 

…And since their happy ending literally (little pun there) needed the intervention of an eccentric multimillionaire philanthropist, and the just-in-time resolution of a child’s  phobia,, I think “unrealistic” is putting it mildly. This actually read quite like a kid’s book with some sad scenes and some swear words added in. 


The happy ending is clearly on its way from page one, and the honey-sweet story will make a great movie. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings