The dreamy sunset cover, soft and inviting, spoke to me when I was just a fourth grader with my mom's money at the school's book fair. I read it, and of course, loved it. Now, many years later, on summer break, the same book had that air that invited you to read it. And even from a more matured point of view, the book still hit. The main character, Charlie Reese, kicks people and yells and says mean things. Yet, somehow she's still so lovable and you just want to wrap her in a hug. Her family is separated, perhaps being the root of her behavior, and life throws so many curveballs that her life is upside down. But, like a gift from heaven on four legs is Wishbone, an adorable stray to be by her side through it. And, of course, there's the always forgiving Howard. Because kids were so cruel to him that he became the kindest. And between losses, lessons, and endless love, there just is so much good spilling from this book.
Wish
By Barbara O'Connor
| Interest Level | Reading Level | Reading A-Z | ATOS | Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 4 - 8 | Grades 4 - 5 | n/a | 5 | 42116 |
A touching story about a girl and her dog, perfect for young animal lovers
Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish every day since fourth grade. She even has a list of all the ways there are to make the wish, such as cutting off the pointed end of a slice of pie and wishing on it as she takes the last bite. But when she is sent to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to live with family she barely knows, it seems unlikely that her wish will ever come true. That is until she meets
Wishbone, a skinny stray dog who captures her heart, and Howard, a neighbor boy who proves surprising in lots of ways. Suddenly Charlie is in serious danger of discovering that what she thought she wanted may not be what she needs at all.
From award-winning author Barbara O'Connor comes a middle-grade novel about a girl who, with the help of a true-blue friend, a big-hearted aunt and uncle, and the dog of her dreams, unexpectedly learns the true meaning of family in the least likely of places.
This title has Common Core connections.
Book Reviews (119)
I loved this book The end was not like many kids books I have read before there were good plot twists great showing of emotions and overall it had a good story
I absolutely LOVE this book soooooooooooooooo much!!!! It is all about a girl who can't find her way at anything but she meets a dog she calls wishbone and they bond incredibly fast. Every night before she goes to sleep she makes a wish. Will it come true? You'll have to read this amazing book to find out. It also has an incredibly strong lesson!
I feel so bad for her, and I somewhat relate to her. Super good story too!
This book is so sweet, and showcases the incredible personal change that Charlie goes through. I recommend to anyone who likes animal stories. This book was so good, and even though I read it as an e-book (I hate e-books) I still read it in two days!
For a long, long time, Charlie has wanted a regular family, and parents who loved her. But Charlie's mom doesn't even get out of bed anymore, and her dad is called Scrappy because he fights so much. When Scrappy is arrested because he fights so much, Charlie is sent to live in Colby, a little town a long way from her old home Raleigh, where her sister tells her are many hillbilly kids. Charlie is convinced that she will have a bad time until she meets Howard, a boy with an up-down walk. Also, she meets a dog named Wishbone. Will she Colby become her new home forever, or will she be sent back to Raleigh?
I want to read it! It sounds like it's a good book!
It was a great book to read it was a book about this girl who had to move in with people she didn't know them also she finds lost dog who was homeless and she took care of it
The book was about this girl who had to go to someone house that she didn't know and the end she finds a dog and called her wish
I love this book I only just started it but so far it is great I really recommend