Wish Girl
By Darienne Stewart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Magical, heartrending story of loss, change, and hope.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Peter Stone, 12, feels like the weirdo in his family: He's the quiet one in a bunch of loud, outgoing people. The family has moved from San Antonio to the hill country of Texas, hoping to put Peter's troubles behind them. But they're fractured and fighting, and Peter seeks solace in a quiet valley. There he meets Annie Blythe, who says she's a "wish girl." Peter soon realizes she means she's a Make-a-Wish girl: She has cancer, and she faces a treatment she fears is worse than dying. In their magical valley, Peter and Annie imagine creating a new life for themselves, without bullies and well-intentioned relatives. But the valley can't shield them from hard reality, and Peter and Annie are challenged to find a way to hold on to their spark.
Is It Any Good?
WISH GIRL mines difficult emotional terrain -- bullies, dysfunctional families, mortality, identity -- with lyrical grace. Nikki Loftin's thoughtfully written story of two souls undergoing painful but powerful transformation is full of magical realism, yet grounded with harsh truths with which many children are all too familiar. Peter's bullies are shockingly scary, but even they are treated with some compassion: Their home lives, it's made clear, is making them into monsters.
Annie and Peter are likable, relatable kids struggling with unfair burdens they can't simply shrug off. The fantastical moments they share in the valley will have readers wishing they too could run off and join them, playing in the dirt and grass and creating a world for themselves.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Peter deals with his bullies. What might you do if you were in his shoes?
Do you have a safe place to go for comfort when you're upset?
Real art changes you, Annie says. What do you consider "real art"?
Book Details
- Author: Nikki Loftin
- Genre: Friendship
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Razorbill
- Publication date: February 24, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 256
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate