Gail Carson Levine, author of Ella Enchanted, crafts another charming tale: The Wish. I’ve yet to read a book of Levine’s that I didn’t love and she delivers again. While this is a story of a fourteen-year-old, it’s funny and heart-warming in a way that older audiences will enjoy as well. Wilma, the protagonist, has a desperate wish that she imagines will make all her dreams come true and make her life so much happier. As with all wishes, there’s bound to be a catch or two and there’s no exception to that in this story. The “catches” add to the suspense and complexity of the story. Wilma is a great character, you can’t help but love her because she’s so down-to-earth and kind. We also get to see many of the characters around her from a few different perspectives, which adds depth to an otherwise shallow character. If you enjoyed Janette Rallison’s My Fair Godmother you need to check out The Wish.
Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence/Gore: A few (6) brief incidents including character jokes about wishing to be dead; character felt like a knife stuck in throat while sick; character jokes about a sculpture coming to life and killing people; reference to people dying; character pinches self; character falls and gets slightly hurt at skating rink.

Sex/Nudity:  Several (11) brief incidents including holding hands; kissing; male character offers to let female character sit on his lap; dog sniffs person’s crotch; character comments that another character is “sexy”.

Mature Subject Matter:

Loss of job/unemployment, cheating on school tests.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Character kicks beer bottle at the park.