Wish

My 10 year old granddaughter and I read this book together, I pick her up one day a week from school and take her home. I stay until her parents arrive home from work, during this time we have so much fun.

I ordered Wish for us to read aloud together, and what a hit! We both loved the book, a charming story of a young girl, about 10, that needs the love of a family is fulfilled in a nontraditional way, it's also funny! Highly recommend it

How did it take me this long to discover Barbara O'Connor's books? Wow, what a voice! Charlie is the kind of main character you just want to bundle up in your arms and bring home- sassy, flawed and ultimately lovable. Her adopted parents Gus and Bertha and her new friend Howard are just as lovable. And who can resist a dog named Wishbone? Everyhing about this book is a delight. Would be perfect for strong readers in 3rd; any readers in 4th and 5th.

Wish is just one of those books that you can not put down. The main character Charlie comes from a "broken" family; her dad is in jail, her mother won't get out of bed,and she has been sent to live with her aunt and uncle. She has a verh strong attitude, but the sweetest heart. Charlie meets a kid named Howard, who is the most caring and considerate boy ever. He is her Backpack Buddy in school and helps her out a lot wigh calmness. Though at the part I am at, Charlie has just apologized to Bertha (her aunt) and is more curious about catching Wishbone. Overall I could read this book for the rest of my life and never get tired of it.

(ps. I know this has nothing to do with Wish, but seriously, read Warriors by Erin Hunter and The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann)

It was good to see a main character facing the struggle of foster care, as far too many of my students do. It was also good to see that, while Charlie's family situation didn't turn out the way she wished it to originally, that her wish did, in fact, come true. This book is about taking really difficult situations and challenges and changing the way we view them; seeing them with different eyes. The characters are fantastic and so loveable, the lessons timeless, and the story empowering. The fact that Charlie's mom and dad didn't miraculously become the parents she needed, rang true. For so many kiddos that is the case, and this book shows them that if that is so, perhaps there is something else for them and that they are, in fact, worth loving and being cared for. My ten-year-old read this for Oregon Battle of the Books this year, and she loved it. Of course she also may have been swayed by the stray dog, Wishbone. :)

Wish paints a poignant and engaging portrait of Charlie, a kid whose troubled home life has put her on the fringes of society. At the same time, Barbara O'Connor surrounds Charlie with such a meticulously observed and depicted supporting cast that the action never gets dull, repetitive, or overly sentimental, and you’re left with a keen sense of the importance of friendship and community. If you’re a librarian, teacher, or parent looking for a book that will build empathy without setting off young readers’ hair-trigger sensitivity to the maudlin or overdramatic, Wish absolutely fits the bill. A rare accomplishment, and worth reading!

Yea! Another heart-warming, sad-happy to recommend to my 4th/5th grade library patrons! Charlie Reese is a girl with problems resulting in an unwelcome move to a small town with relatives she doesn't even know! And who is this Howard kid with the totally not normal family? And will her life long wish come true? Kids will see pieces of themselves in this book's characters and will be rooting for Charlie from beginning to end. Parents and teachers will love the themes of determination, true friendship, and seeing the good in life that flow throughout this winner.

Do you want to get inside the head of an 11 year-old troublemaker? Read The Wish by Barbara O’Connor. Eleven-year-old Charlie makes a wish every day. However, it doesn’t seem to be working. Her Daddy’s in jail because of his quick temper and her Mama’s in bed behind of wall of empty soda cans. When the state takes Charlie away, they place her with family she barely knows. Charlie pushes away friendship and love, but no one gives up on her. It’s a poignant story about love and hope, but it’s also hilarious! There’s lots of dry humor and plays on words. And, there’s the lady who dries her giant underpants by tying them to her car antenna and driving around town. Does Charlie get her wish? Of course! But I’ll bet you won’t have guessed what she wished for.

My 10 year old read this to me and (we both) absolutely loved it! The characters are beautiful and the story line real and compelling. It was nice that the chapters were kept short for those nights we didn't have a lot of time, but on nights we did we flew through them. Very enjoyable! I bought at a scholastic book fair and paid the 16.99, which I didn't mind since raising money for her school, but the price here on the store is almost half that DEFINITELY worth the price!

My nine year old and I read this out loud together. The star character is girl, but she makes the sweetest friend, Howard. I loved all the characters, except for the parents, but the book doesn't mention them too much. It's a good uplifting, inspirational story that can spark good character conversation with your child. This is one of my very favorites for my kid.

This is one of my favorite middle grade books of the year, or maybe ever. I highly recommend this for anyone, even adults as it gives an authentic look into a young girl's life as she tries to learn how to handle her anger issues stemming from a broken family. It's a story of friendship, learning what to be thankful for, recognizing the good in life, and shares the important bond between people and their pets.

A beautiful, real-life story. This author manages to tug at your heart without having to go dark and tragic the way Kate DiCamillo often does in her writing. If you enjoy DiCamillo but don't care for her darker moments (e.g., little sister spitting up blood and dying in Edward Tullane, and the alcoholic father not caring about it) then you will love Wish. This story has sadness, but it's written in such a way that it won't gut your 9-year-old and leave her sobbing. It masterfully kindles empathy.

The story, the setting, the dialect, the imagery, all done perfectly. This middle grade novel written by Barbara O'Connor will grab your heart and hold on to it well until you're finished.

A book about family, friendship, learning how to cope with life situations handed to you and how to be a friend and so much more.

Published by Farrar Straus Giroux.

#MG #hope#wishes #MG

A beautiful story about a girl who finds acceptance and love in an unexpected place. Charlie, a girl with a temper and an urgent wish, grows out of her angry shell with the help of her loving aunt, a true friend and a stray dog. Young readers will connect to the well-drawn characters on many levels. WISH provides ample material for classroom discussion, while leaving kids with the assurance that, even if they feel alone, there is always hope. O'Connor's hallmark cadence and poignant description of the southern setting enhance the charm of this book. Teachers and parents: Add this wonderful novel to your read-aloud shelf.

Bought this book for my daughter at her schools book fair. It's a very good book but i wish i would have known there were religious elements to it. We are not a religious family and having to explain to my daughter about that mumbo jumbo is a headache so I had to skip over parts of the story where i could.

I was not super impressed with this book. I felt like some of the "broken home" content might be inappropriate for my 9 and 10 year old. I didn't care for the main character Charlie. In the end, this book left me with a lot of apprehension about letting my children read it.

This is by far one of my favorite books! Wish tells a beautiful friendship of a girl and her dog. Has one of the best beginnings. I usually get bored halfway through, if there is nothing to grab me, but I read the whole book in one sitting- that's how good this book is!

Heartbreaking and beautiful!! Barbara O'Connor has created some amazingly authentic, flawed, and wonderful characters in Wish. A great middle grade novel that tackles tough subjects with sensitivity and humor. Totally recommend!!

Kids picked this from the book fair most likely because it has a dog on the cover. I was ASTONISHED to find that it is AMAZING. It is a WORK OF ART amongst the typical crud being manufactured for kids. A poignant tale about 5th grade girl with a temper that finds the true meaning of family where she least expects it. I looked forward to story time because I was just as invested in the story as my kids. I almost prayed that Charlie's wish would come true. Can't wait to read more by this author.

After working in an elementary school library for five years, this became my favorite children’s book! After I read it I gave it to all of our reading teachers and they all felt the same way I did. The story is sweet and you will be rooting for Charlie until the very end!

Charlie and Howard are two of the best characters I've fallen in love with in a while. Barbara O'Connor has long been one of my favorite authors, but this one really made me emotional. The dog, the situation, the friendships with the Odom family, and the love shown to Charlie by her aunt and uncle are rang true. This is a great example of a book teaching empathy.
As a children's librarian, I can't wait to share this with the kids that come into my library. I think I'll order some extra copies.

Eleven year old Charlie has an anger management problem and a fervent belief in the power of wishes which buoys her through an undesired foster care placement with her aunt and uncle in rural North Carolina. O'Connor's skill in developing rich characters, evident in previous works such as "The Small Adventures of Popeye and Elvis" (Squarefish, 2011) is on full display. Although the cast features little diversity, this can be attributed largely to the segregated low income area in which the story is set. The detailed descriptions of the settings transport the reader to the fictitious town. The plot moves quickly and it's refreshing to see a boy/girl friendship of eleven year olds without romantic undertones. 'Wish" is quintessential well executed contemporary middle grade fiction.

Wish is about a 11 year old girl who is going through fostercard with a dog she caught. Wish is a great book for anybody going through a rough time oin their life. I read this book in a day! I hope everyone can read this beautiful story

I am telling you one of the best books on the shelf. I love this book. I can't say how good this book is. i have rate 5 stars because i just can't believe how good it is. i think god made it is so good. if you rated 3 or below you are crazy.

The moment I opened the book, Wish, Charlie, a girl abandoned by her family, grabbed my heart and put me right in her shoes. Barbara’s southern dialogue, setting, interesting characters, and realistic behavior, kept me turning the pages. Impatient to see if Charlie's wish would come true, I set a limit on the number of chapters I’d read in one sitting. I didn’t want the story to end. A must read!

My 10yr old daughter and I really enjoyed this book! It was inspiring and thought-provoking. We loved that it taught life lessons through the eyes of a relatable character. Everyone should have a friend like Howard Odom to whisper "pineapple" when you feel like Scrappy! Read it and enjoy!

We listened to this book on audible and LOVED it. My 9yo son and I listened to it together and we could not get enough. The main character is sassy, smart, lovable and relatable. I loved this from a parenting perspective and my son loved it from a kid perspective. Just magic. Highly recommend.

I am 9 years old. This is the best book I ever read. The author does a great job at describing things and you can really picture things. When you read this book you feel a lot of emotion. I suggest buying this book.

We listened to this book on audible and LOVED it. My 9yo son and I listened to it together and we could not get enough. The main character is sassy, smart, lovable and relatable. I loved this from a parenting perspective and my son loved it from a kid perspective. Just magic. Highly recommend.

I am 9 years old. This is the best book I ever read. The author does a great job at describing things and you can really picture things. When you read this book you feel a lot of emotion. I suggest buying this book.