Tag: Meg Shaffer

My Rating: 🍪🍪🍪🍪
Genre: Magical Realism
Similar to: T.J. Klune

The Wishing Game is kind of a literary spin on Willie Wonka. Jack Masterson, author of the children’s Clock Island series, invites four contestants to his home on Clock Island to compete for the single copy of his new manuscript. As a child, each contestant ran away to Clock Island in an attempt to meet one of the series’ main characters, who they believed could grant their wishes and help them escape from hardships in their lives.

Lucy, our main character, fell in love with the Clock Island series as a child and has shared that love with the children she teaches as an adult. In particular, she has shared their magic with Christopher, an orphan who she wants nothing more than to foster. Her financial circumstances make this an impossibility, but if she’s able to win Jack’s contest, it could change everything.

I loved how whimsical this book was. Jack is so eccentric and fun and I loved the way he was balanced out by the grumpy illustrator living on the island with him. The premise of the contest added an element of thrill to the story, as the contestants had no idea what to expect next. I loved that despite the fact that they were competing, the four of them were supportive of one another and understanding of the paths that led them each there.

Overall, this was such a heartwarming, feel-good story. Despite the heavy topics it delves into surrounding each character’s past, it ended on a high note and leaves everyone in the story believing that wishes can come true.

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