Review:
Imagine being nine. The only family you had is gone. Your foster
dad’s a grouch. And the school bully is all over you. What would you
wish for?
Edward, the quiet protagonist of the novel A Boy Named Wish, worries. A
lot. But he’s hopeful too. There’s nothing Edward would love more in
the world than to be adopted by the Lawrences.
The book follows Edward through his first year or so with “Mom” and
Mister Lawrence, who slowly becomes “Joe” and then “Dad.” But will
they really become Mom and Dad? Do they even want to? This is the question
that’s on Edward’s mind as the new family members adjust to one
another over the months.
Edward’s
character
is well drawn; to this reader, he is a real nine-year-old, with all the
hopes and insecurities and confusions to prove it. Much of the boy’s
angst stems not just from his status as a “foster child” but as a
typical pre-teen. This is particularly well illustrated when Edward is off
fishing and hiking with his “foster dad.” Edward fears the man
doesn’t love him and worries that he cannot possibly live up to Joe’s
expectations. Meanwhile, he can’t help but tell you—and Joe—what’s
on his mind. What preadolescent can?
The dialogue
and Edward’s voice are natural sounding, though at times the prose can
be a bit wordy as to slow the book down unnecessarily. According to the
authors, A Boy Called Wish was written with seven- to ten-year-olds in
mind. I suspect that the younger or less capable readers might benefit
from the presence of an adult either reading to or with them. This could
also engender good conversation. I fear that today’s older readers (ten
and above) might not have the patience to “go the distance” with
Edward. My own daughter would have bogged down in the first pages,
wondering why Edward doesn’t play with his Nintendo more.
Nature adds
its color and figures prominently in Edward’s world. There are
excursions to the beach and the woods. The lessons learned—perseverance,
standing up to one’s fears, self-reliance—underscore the boy’s
story. Clearly, the Provenchers are fans of the idea that children benefit
from being in the out-of-doors. Hurray for them! If only more children
could know what they’re missing while they stare at their LCD screens.
Interestingly,
the Provenchers employ a bit of fantasy during the earlier parts of the
novel. They’re well integrated into the story and disappear as Edward
becomes more comfortable in his new surroundings. I must say, though, that
I did rather miss them then. My favorite is the passage detailing how
Edward deals with his grandfather’s death:
“As the
plane climbed towards the stars, he felt a thrill. Edward was flying all
by himself. He began his journey to look for Grandpa. He’s out there
somewhere. He has to be.”
A Boy Called
Wish is really about a child discovering relationships and how to make
them work. Richard and Esther Provencher are particularly well suited to
tell this tale, themselves being the parents of four children, one of them
adopted. If you are willing to slow down and live Edward’s adventures,
you will most certainly be rewarded.
Laura
Salamy
