Wish is a stand-alone children's novel by Barbara O'Connor. It's meant for the Middle Grades (4th-6th) and is wonderful, poignant, and is just all-around delightful.

I'm pretty fond of children's literature, but I have to say, this is one of the best children's books I've read in a long time! The story line is so realistic and believable, as are the characters in this book. It's wonderful.

All her life Charlie's made a wish every day. She has a whole list of ways that one can make wishes, 11:11 on the clock, first star, crossing the state line (clapping 3 times), bird singing at night, etc. We never know what this wish is until the very end of the book because after all, if you tell someone what your wish is for, it won't come true. In the end, Charlie gets her wish even though it's a little different looking than what she thought it would be.

Charlie goes through a lot of character growth throughout the book. When we meet her, her world has just been turned upside down. Her father's been sent to jail, her mother's too sick to get out of bed and take care of her, and she's being sent to live with an aunt and uncle she's never met before. She's scared. She's mad at the world for changing. She's mad that her sister, Jackie, isn't coming with her. She's not really a very nice little girl to be around. She gets into fights at school and at Vacation Bible School, she says mean things in the heat of the moment, etc.. Bertha and Gus, her aunt and uncle seem to take it all in stride. They don't yell at her, they don't punish her, they simply love her. Little by little that's all it takes for her to start changing.

The supporting characters in this story - Bertha, Gus, Howard, his brothers, his parents, and Charlie's sister, Jackie are just wonderful. They all teach Charlie something about life and love and family. Jackie's afraid that Charlie will hate her because she can't take care of her, but Charlie doesn't hate her. She maybe doesn't completely understand, but by that point in the book she's starting to settle in and get comfortable at Bertha & Gus's place. She's feeling a little more secure so she takes it in stride.

The settings, the story line, everything about this book is just delightful and fantastic. It's seriously one of the best children's Middle Grade books I've ever read. I can see I'll probably be enjoying it more than once!

All in all this is a WONDERFUL book for Middle Grade kids and I HIGHLY recommend it!

** I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review. All opinions and conclusions expressed are my own. ** ( )

Independent Reading Level - 4-5
Awards: New York Times Bestseller
Junior Library Guild Selection
American Booksellers Association Best Books of the Year;
Parents Choice Gold Award
Nerdy Book Club Award
SCBWI Crystal Kite Award
Arkansas Charlie May Simon Book Award
Florida Sunshine Book Award
Illinois Bluestem Children's Book Award
Iowa Children's Choice Award Nominee
Louisiana Young Readers Choice Award
Minnesota Maud Hart Lovelace Award
North Carolina Children's Book Award
Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Book Award
Rhode Island Children's Book Award
Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher Childrens' Book Award
Virginia Young Readers Award

The book reads a little like a small southern town based Nancy Drew, but I would highly recommend it for any kid in a foster home or displaced situation. Its central theme is managing your feelings, love and hope. ( )

What a very enduring book. Charlie (Charlemagne) comes from a very dysfunctional family. Mother is depressed and can not take care of daughters and father is in jail. Sister lives with a friend while Charlie is sent to live with her Mother's sister and husband. (Bertha and Gus) Charlie has a temper and doesn't get along with most people. One of her classmates, Howard, befriends her. He teaches her to say the word pineapple when she is angered. Charlie likes to *wish* upon different objects and has to have a wish each and every day. She wishes for the same thing over and over.
This is a poignant story of a little girl who learns to love and to be loved. ( )

One of my favorite children's book ever! Wish is best for ages 8-11 and is about Charlie Reese, an 11 year old girl. Charlie has many wishes and dreams, but those come to a halt when she is moved to North Carolina to live with family that she does not know well. A stray dog, Wishbone, and Charlie's neighborhood friend, Howard, become her 2 best friends. This book is about learning life lessons that sometimes just the simple things in life are amazing! ( )