The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

A Five-Star Book Review

I loved watching reruns of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)as a child. Gene Wilder’s slightly unhinged chocolatier was not just delight, but also a little unsettling, in his magical candy factory. The other contestants were gregarious and gluttonous as they tore through the scenes. And then there was Charlie and good old Grandpa Joe, who were in awe of everything, soaking up the joyful experience. Block out the tunnel scene, and it was a perfect movie for my childhood.

This is partly why I loved The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer so much. This magical novel is in part an homage to the Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, but with something even better: books.

Summary of The Wishing Game (No Spoilers)

Lucy Hart is desperate to adopt little Christopher, a traumatized orphan she she’s grown attached to as an elementary teacher’s aide. But she needs a miracle because, with little savings, a house full of roommates, and no car, Lucy isn’t eligible to adopt.

That miracle arrives in an invitation to join a game on Clock Island, where beloved, reclusive children’s author Jack Masterson has written a new manuscript for the series everyone loves after a long, silent six years. Lucy loves those books and knows Clock Island, having run away to the mysterious place as a neglected girl, where she once met Jack. And now, she gathers the courage to visit again so she can compete in the game that would give her the rights to Jack’s last book and fill her savings with the money she needs to adopt Christopher.

What follows is Lucy’s journey of meeting four other contestants along with the infamous, much-lauded illustrator of the Clock Island children’s series, Hugo Reese. As they solve the riddles and puzzles set out in the game, Lucy must face her fears, find vulnerability, and address her own past of being a neglected child.

What I Enjoyed about The Wishing Game

• Found Families: Without giving away spoilers, The Wishing Game’s core is about found families. I’m a devotee of this type of story, so it hooked me right away.
• The Clock Island book series: As a lifelong reader, I connected with the contestants’ stories of how the Clock Island book series impacted their childhoods. I still think about stand-alone books and series that gave me solace when I felt lonely or needed an escape: The Babysitters Club, Sweet Valley High, Janette Oke novels, even Jude Devereaux books.
• Jack Masterson: Lucy Hart may be the main contestant in the game, but Jack Masterson is the one to watch. Like Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka character, Jack is whimsical and quirky. With his crow named Thurl and constant riddles, Jack appears aloof, but he cares deeply, using his storytelling skills to create real magic.

My Final Thoughts About The Wishing Game

The Wishing Game suspends belief and takes you on a journey once you cross the ferry landing onto Clock Island. It’s a book about wishes and found family and ultimately, how love can tell the greatest story of all.