If you’re looking for a book to leave you with a smile, look no further. Wishes and Wellingtons is a quirky and magical tale that one can’t help but enjoy. The main character, Maeve Merritt, is bursting with personality. She might remind you of Ramona Quimby: feisty, dramatic and quick to throw decorum and caution to the wind. Luckily for her, she has a few loyal friends to offer her assistance when it matter most. That’s not to say that she doesn’t still find herself in plenty of predicaments but if not, that would make for quite a dull story. The author, Julie Berry, keeps things lively as she takes us on escapades and even puts us in a few dangerous situations that may frighten the little ones. As she wraps things up, one can’t help but feel satisfied at the unexpected yet splendid conclusion. Berry easily secures five stars with Wishes and Wellingtons!

Review of a Digital Advance Reading Copy

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Sourcebooks, Inc.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  1 character referred to as a “hellion”.

Violence/Gore:  Many (92) brief incidents including child imagining or wondering if a character would get hurt; figurative language used comparing a little pain to intense pain; many threats mostly by young girl; several references to children fighting; reference to war and raising army from the dead; adults thinking another should be tortured to death; character wondering if another is hiding a dead body; references to children getting hit by teachers or other adults as punishment; references to humans getting attacked by animals; reference to smallpox; second-hand reports of death; second-hand report of characters going mad and killing each other; reference to cancer; reference to animal getting hurt; second-hand reports of young character’s parents dying and becoming orphans; reference to criminal awaiting execution; second-hand report of characters starving to death; second-hand report of child’s room being ransacked and something being stolen; reference to story about a young boy getting abused; second-hand report of young lady getting hit by employer; girl tripped by other girls and received minor injuries as a result; girl fainted; boy getting whipped, dragged and thrown down; child twisting ankle; young characters getting attacked by animals sustaining little injuries; girl punching a boy; young girl keeps hitting into by another; young person robbing an adult and twisting ankle while attempting escape; character rising from the dead and threatening young girl; rats fighting and causing each other to bleed; young character killing a rat and later seeing animal eating it; man breaking into young girls’ room and getting attacked by girls.

Sex/Nudity:  Few (3) brief incidents including young character wondering if her teacher writes romance novels; second-hand report of boy trying to kiss girl; young girl accusing young boy of trying to look up her skirt (he says he didn’t).

Mature Subject Matter:

Slavery; mental illness; poor working conditions causing sickness; theft; child neglect; children becoming orphans.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Reference to an adult being drunk most nights; reference to a flask that holds liquor; adult possibly being drunk; characters hoping an adult had a lot of wine for dinner.