The Wishing Game

Meg Shaffer

Magical Realism

Make a wish. . . .

Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability.

But be careful what you wish for. . . .

Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy.

For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.

. . . You might just get it.

-Excerpt taken from Goodreads.

Check Goodreads to see the book’s ratings.

My Opinion

(4 / 5) Lucy grew up in the shadow of a chronically ill sister feeling like her parents didn’t love her. She took her experiences and uses them to be a great kindergarten teacher. While teaching, she found a boy who lost his parents who she wants to adopt. It seems impossible to achieve and now she is given a possible chance to win the money she needs. Jack Masterson is the author that Lucy read growing up that kept her company in her darkest hours. He is now offering a contest to win his last book written that has only one copy.

This magical story grabbed me right away. Lucy’s trials and her determination to find a way to adopt Christopher were heart warming. Jack added such a great element of magic and fun. He brought out the magic and adventure in stories but also in most childhoods. He embodied imagination and the thrill of letting it run free.

If you loved House in the Cerulean Sea or you love beautiful stories of love and pain along with hope, you’ll love this one!

AUDIO REVIEW: I struggled a bit with the voices on this one. Rachel L. Jacobs and Paul Boehmer had the challenging task of making child voices realistic but to also add emotion. Some voices were done well and some were just ok.

General content summary: F words= 3

Young boy has nightmares of seeing his parents dead (overdose, referenced multiple times)

Foster care and adoption 

LGBTQ man

Drugs (previous then rehab)

Mention of previous child sexual abuse 

Child drowning death (previous)

Pregnancy (previous, talk of abortion, miscarriage)

Illness with short term life expectancy 

Intimacy (m/f kiss)

**Any quotes that have been taken for the review is based on an uncorrected text as the advanced copy and may or may not be in the final, published copy.

Thank you to PRH Audio for the copy!

**As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.