The Wishing Game

Title: The Wishing Game

by

Author: Meg Shaffer

Publication date: May 30, 2023

Publisher: Ballantine

Genre: Women’s Fiction

What the story of “The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer” about

Lucy has a chance to win the only copy of the next book in a favorite kids’ series. She hopes this will help her and an orphan boy she wants to adopt fulfill their dreams.

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer is a gentle and enchanting tale, much like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets a reality show, minus the filming.

The story begins with Lucy, who helps teachers and longs to adopt an orphaned boy who’s grown close to her. Everyone supports her except the boy’s social worker, who doubts Lucy’s financial ability to adopt.

Before Lucy’s tale unfolds, we meet Hugo, the loyal illustrator of a children’s book series. The series ended when the author, Jack Masterson, isolated himself on Clock Island, named after a place in his books. Hugo lives with Jack, caring for him and enduring his love for puzzles.

The plot thickens with Jack, who mysteriously revives and finishes his next book. He conceals it, promising it to one of five groups through a series of challenges.

Four adults, each with a painful past and a childhood encounter with Jack, are invited to Clock Island. They compete in Jack’s games for the book. If they fail, the publisher wins the rights.

But the prize is more than just a book.

The novel is nostalgic, especially for those with cherished childhood reads. It’s touching and made me emotional. The book’s beauty and charm are indescribable, and any flaws are invisible to me.

At the story’s core is Clock Island, the setting of the book series and a place the characters, once children, dreamed of living. They return for a remarkable contest, reliving fond memories.

Clock Island is magical, with areas named like clock numbers. It’s playful yet meaningful for adults.

Jack’s only rule is to maintain the magic, which he does. Reading the book feels like entering a spellbinding realm.

The characters are the life of the island. Lucy, Hugo, Jack, and young Christopher are all wounded but find wholeness together. Lucy is kind-hearted, Hugo is guarded with a softening heart, Jack is eccentric yet tender, and Christopher is a boy with a tragic past. Their journey is moving.

The Wishing Game is more than a story of an island and its characters. It’s about healing, forming a family, and the joy of the journey. It’s filled with puzzles and games, some for the characters, some for the readers. The book’s resemblance to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is noticeable but doesn’t overshadow its unique charm.

The book is a non-magical yet enchanting story about recovery, connection, and inner peace. It’s a tale that has deeply touched me, making me cry and keeping me captivated from start to finish.

FAQs

What genre does “The Wishing Game” belong to?

“The Wishing Game” falls into several genres, including fiction, fantasy, romance, contemporary, magical realism, and mystery.

Who is the author, Meg Shaffer?

Meg Shaffer is a film student specializing in TV and screenwriting at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. “The Wishing Game” is her debut novel.

What makes this novel unique?

“The Wishing Game” has been described as part Willy Wonka and part magical realism. It weaves a heartwarming tale of hope, dreams, and unexpected twists.

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