12-year-old Charlie feels like she's always coming in last. From her Mom's new job to her sister's life away at college, everything else always seems to be more important than Charlie's upcoming dance competition or science project. Unsure of how to get her family's attention, Charlie comes across the surprise of her life one day while ice-fishing... in the form of a floppy, scaly fish offering to grant her a wish in exchange for its freedom.
Charlie can't believe her luck until she realizes that this fish has a funny way of granting wishes, despite her best intentions. And when her family faces the painful realities of her older sister's heroin addiction, Charlie wonders if some things might be too important to risk on a wish. With the same warmth and fun that readers loved in All the Answers, Kate Messner weaves fantasy into the ordinary, giving every reader the opportunity to experience a little magic."The plot covers a lot of ground, ranging from Charlie struggling to save enough money to buy a dress for her Irish dancing performance to helping one of her classmates learn English. The most serious subplot involves the discovery of her older sister's heroin addiction and her subsequent treatment....Though somewhat sanitized, the gentle portrayal of heroin addiction may serve as a good way to introduce this serious issue and engender discussion. A charming fantasy story with threads of several deep themes that could serve as the basis for thoughtful discussion." — Eliza Langhans, School Library Journal
Recommended Age | 9 - 13 |
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Author | Kate Messner |
ISBN | 1619633760 |
Publication Date | Jun 7, 2016 |
Publisher | Bloomsbury USA |
Language | English |