Wish

Wish tells the story of Charlie, a spirited but deeply insecure eleven-year-old girl who finds herself unexpectedly placed in the care of her aunt and uncle in the mountains of North Carolina. This sudden upheaval occurs after her mother, who had been her sole caregiver, leaves her behind, sending Charlie into a tailspin of confusion and abandonment. Charlie carries the heavy weight of believing she's not good enough, fearing that no one truly wants her, and desperately clings to the hope that her mother will eventually return. She feels like an outsider in her new, unfamiliar environment, struggling to connect with her aunt and uncle and grappling with the deep-seated belief that she is fundamentally unlovable. As Charlie navigates this challenging transition, her journey is marked by her efforts to understand the complex realities of family and belonging. She finds unexpected solace and companionship through a stray dog she names Sputnik and forms a tentative bond with a wise, compassionate neighbor. Through these relationships and her own quiet resilience, Charlie slowly begins to chip away at her walls of distrust and opens herself up to the possibility of finding love and acceptance not just from her biological family, but from the people who choose to care for her. The novel is compelling due to its raw and honest depiction of childhood trauma, the profound impact of parental abandonment, and the enduring human need for connection and a place to call home, all seen through the eyes of a young girl learning to find her own voice and inner strength.

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