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The Seventh Wish
When Charlie Brennan goes ice fishing on her town's frozen lake, she's hoping the fish she reels in will help pay for her dream: a fancy Irish dancing dress for her upcoming competition. But when Charlie's first catch of the day happens to be a talking fish offering her a wish in exchange for its freedom, her world quickly turns upside down, as her wishes go terribly and hilariously wrong.
Just as Charlie is finally getting the hang of communicating with a magical wishing fish, a family crisis with her older sister brings reality into sharp focus. Charlie quickly learns that the real world doesn't always keep fairy-tale promises and life's toughest challenges can't be fixed by a simple wish . . .
Acclaimed author Kate Messner expertly weaves fantasy into the ordinary, in an important story of self-reliance and hope that will open readers' eyes to the wonders and challenges of their world.
Just as Charlie is finally getting the hang of communicating with a magical wishing fish, a family crisis with her older sister brings reality into sharp focus. Charlie quickly learns that the real world doesn't always keep fairy-tale promises and life's toughest challenges can't be fixed by a simple wish . . .
Acclaimed author Kate Messner expertly weaves fantasy into the ordinary, in an important story of self-reliance and hope that will open readers' eyes to the wonders and challenges of their world.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2016
164 people are currently reading
4090 people want to read
About the author
Kate Messner
132 books1,661 followersKate Messner is an award-winning author, TED 2012 speaker, and former middle school English teacher. Her books for kids include THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.,SUGAR AND ICE, and EYE OF THE STORM (Walker/Bloomsbury Dec. 2010) the MARTY MCGUIRE series (Scholastic), SEA MONSTER'S FIRST DAY, and OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW (Chronicle, Books). Kate also wrote SPITFIRE and CHAMPLAIN AND THE SILENT ONE, both Lake Champlain historical novels published by North Country Books.
Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com
Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner
...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner
Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com
Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner
...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 736 reviews
July 14, 2016
My 7th grade friends... I will purchase a copy for everyone on my team (and even take pictures to project the pages so students can read along while we read!) if we decide to read this aloud during homeroom next year. This would be so much more powerful than making posters with catchy phrases on them during Red Ribbon Week.
8th grade girl narrator, Irish dancing, ice fishing, magic, siblings, humor, science, and heroin addiction. Kate Messner pulled out all the punches in an easy-to-read book that will appeal to many (I'd think MOST) of our kids.
And THIS, my friends, is why I read children's literature. These books can be mirrors (our 7th graders will find many connections!). Many times they are windows into other worlds so that we don't have to learn just from our own mistakes.
8th grade girl narrator, Irish dancing, ice fishing, magic, siblings, humor, science, and heroin addiction. Kate Messner pulled out all the punches in an easy-to-read book that will appeal to many (I'd think MOST) of our kids.
And THIS, my friends, is why I read children's literature. These books can be mirrors (our 7th graders will find many connections!). Many times they are windows into other worlds so that we don't have to learn just from our own mistakes.
June 23, 2016
I want to give this book 10 stars
Charlie feels like she's always coming in last. From her Mom's new job to her sister's life at college, everything seems more important than Charlie. Then one day while ice fishing, Charlie makes a discovery that will change everything . . . in the form of a floppy fish offering to grant a wish in exchange for freedom. Charlie can't believe her luck but soon realizes that this fish has a very odd way of granting wishes as even her best intentions go awry. But when her family faces a challenge bigger than any they've ever experienced, Charlie wonders if some things might be too important to risk on a wish fish.
The description above is taken from the blurb of the book, and to be honest it doesn't make justice to this marvelous book. I tried to write my own description, as usual, but there are so many things I want to say about this book that I felt overwhelmed, and decided to put this task aside, at least for now.
The seventh wish took me by surprise. I liked Charlie from the very beginning. She is sweet, smart, loves Irish dance, and deeply misses her sister who is a freshman in college. She is doing ice fishing with her friend Drew and his grandma, to save money for a sparkling solo dress for her next Irish dance feis, when a green eyed fish grants her a wish in exchange for its freedom. This is the little pinch of fantasy in the book, and although the wish fish will do a few more appearances in the story, this book can't be labeled as a fantasy. It is pure realistic fiction.
The beginning of the book is light and amusing. Charlie has a beautiful family, and adorable friends. And funny things happen, such as although Charlie wishes for Roberto Sullivan to fall in love with her, Robert O'Sullivan is actually the one "affected". Or Charlie's friend Catherine taking care of a flour-bag-baby for a project, and forgetting it (actually her, she named the bag Meredith) everywhere. I remember thinking this was the kind of book that makes you want to be a kid again. But at some point Charlie's family discovers Abby, her older sister, has an addiction to heroin, and their world totally changes. She can't understand how her smart sister, always academically outstanding, skillful at sports, and socially successful is now in this situation. The story goes on as Abby is put under a drug addict program, but after a short time "clean" she relapses, and this time suffering an overdose.
Messner chose on a tough topic, and developed it in the best way possible. The explanation of what is happening is age appropriate and respectful. The way the family including Abby, but specially Charlie, suffers because of this addiction is displayed without lies, but full of hope too.
All this things Charlie has to go through makes her grow in some way, but at the same time she is a girl who would like to just make things right again by wishing it to a green eyed fish. I would give ten stars to this book if it were possible.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Find more children's book reviews in Reviews in Chalk
Charlie feels like she's always coming in last. From her Mom's new job to her sister's life at college, everything seems more important than Charlie. Then one day while ice fishing, Charlie makes a discovery that will change everything . . . in the form of a floppy fish offering to grant a wish in exchange for freedom. Charlie can't believe her luck but soon realizes that this fish has a very odd way of granting wishes as even her best intentions go awry. But when her family faces a challenge bigger than any they've ever experienced, Charlie wonders if some things might be too important to risk on a wish fish.
The description above is taken from the blurb of the book, and to be honest it doesn't make justice to this marvelous book. I tried to write my own description, as usual, but there are so many things I want to say about this book that I felt overwhelmed, and decided to put this task aside, at least for now.
The seventh wish took me by surprise. I liked Charlie from the very beginning. She is sweet, smart, loves Irish dance, and deeply misses her sister who is a freshman in college. She is doing ice fishing with her friend Drew and his grandma, to save money for a sparkling solo dress for her next Irish dance feis, when a green eyed fish grants her a wish in exchange for its freedom. This is the little pinch of fantasy in the book, and although the wish fish will do a few more appearances in the story, this book can't be labeled as a fantasy. It is pure realistic fiction.
The beginning of the book is light and amusing. Charlie has a beautiful family, and adorable friends. And funny things happen, such as although Charlie wishes for Roberto Sullivan to fall in love with her, Robert O'Sullivan is actually the one "affected". Or Charlie's friend Catherine taking care of a flour-bag-baby for a project, and forgetting it (actually her, she named the bag Meredith) everywhere. I remember thinking this was the kind of book that makes you want to be a kid again. But at some point Charlie's family discovers Abby, her older sister, has an addiction to heroin, and their world totally changes. She can't understand how her smart sister, always academically outstanding, skillful at sports, and socially successful is now in this situation. The story goes on as Abby is put under a drug addict program, but after a short time "clean" she relapses, and this time suffering an overdose.
Messner chose on a tough topic, and developed it in the best way possible. The explanation of what is happening is age appropriate and respectful. The way the family including Abby, but specially Charlie, suffers because of this addiction is displayed without lies, but full of hope too.
All this things Charlie has to go through makes her grow in some way, but at the same time she is a girl who would like to just make things right again by wishing it to a green eyed fish. I would give ten stars to this book if it were possible.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Find more children's book reviews in Reviews in Chalk
July 1, 2016
A modern day fairy tale about a young Irish dancer who, trying to make some money to buy herself a dance dress, catches a magic fish that grants wishes if she'll let it go. Her first few wishes are rather whimsical, but then real struggles affect her family: can Charlie just wish them away? Should she? At times funny, at other times heartbreaking, this book looks at family dynamics, addiction, middle school, and Irish dancing with keen eyes and a lot of heart. Despite the heaviness of some of the subject matter, I would not hesitate to give it to a pre-teen, and will be handing it off to my 11yo son next.
July 19, 2016
Sometimes I should just listen to my students more.
I read All the Answers last year and passed on my copy to students with my blessing: it’s a rock-solid book for upper middle grades readers, and the premise about a girl with a magical pencil that tells her all the answers, anything from who a celebrity is dating to the last problem on a math quiz, is engaging. What I didn’t tell them was that I thought that the book was kind of safe, there was plenty of moralizing to be had, and that the ending was so twee I thought we were going to cut to a commercial break for low-calorie fruity snacks.
Perhaps this became my curse: I read impassioned after impassioned reading reflection about All the Answers from sensitive readers who developed psychologically complex insights about its main character, Ava. I could trace the genesis of All the Answers enthusiasts among my students, because my copy was constantly in circulation. Friends kept recommending it to friends kept recommending it to friends. And it’s one of the books I lost in inventory this year. (Sigh!)
Kate, my students convinced me to give you another try, and I’m glad that they did. The Seventh Wish returns to some of the same motifs as All the Answers with a self-centered and impatient tweenage main character, a hint of magical realism, and some total whole grain oats moments about science fair planning and good-natured texting, but this book also encounters uncomfortable truths about the face of drug addiction. It’s unapologetic and doesn’t mince words in its depiction of addiction, and it doesn’t pretend everything can be all better in the end. However, at the same time, this book is totally family-friendly PG in its approach to drug addiction.
It’s also a bit smarmy and sarcastic. Considering that I always thought of Kate Messner as the afterschool special of contemporary upper middle grades authors, I was so proud of her for sort of dismantling and questioning some of the accepted truths from DARE and other programs about who does drugs and why.
Newbery material this is not, but I do hope it makes a lot of state reader lists this year. There are also some great parent characters and some important conversations to be had here. I’d put it forward as a terrific choice for any librarian that wants to run a family book club for readers grades 4+.
Teaching notes: If you teach the Notice and Note signposts, this book gives clear examples of Again and Again and Words of the Wiser. Students who track the repetition of the Serenity Prayer in the book will be lead to thinking about the importance of the title and the book's theme. I don't think the book excerpts well, but I do think its signpost-y qualities would lead to fruitful discussions in book clubs for readers grades 5-8.
I read All the Answers last year and passed on my copy to students with my blessing: it’s a rock-solid book for upper middle grades readers, and the premise about a girl with a magical pencil that tells her all the answers, anything from who a celebrity is dating to the last problem on a math quiz, is engaging. What I didn’t tell them was that I thought that the book was kind of safe, there was plenty of moralizing to be had, and that the ending was so twee I thought we were going to cut to a commercial break for low-calorie fruity snacks.
Perhaps this became my curse: I read impassioned after impassioned reading reflection about All the Answers from sensitive readers who developed psychologically complex insights about its main character, Ava. I could trace the genesis of All the Answers enthusiasts among my students, because my copy was constantly in circulation. Friends kept recommending it to friends kept recommending it to friends. And it’s one of the books I lost in inventory this year. (Sigh!)
Kate, my students convinced me to give you another try, and I’m glad that they did. The Seventh Wish returns to some of the same motifs as All the Answers with a self-centered and impatient tweenage main character, a hint of magical realism, and some total whole grain oats moments about science fair planning and good-natured texting, but this book also encounters uncomfortable truths about the face of drug addiction. It’s unapologetic and doesn’t mince words in its depiction of addiction, and it doesn’t pretend everything can be all better in the end. However, at the same time, this book is totally family-friendly PG in its approach to drug addiction.
It’s also a bit smarmy and sarcastic. Considering that I always thought of Kate Messner as the afterschool special of contemporary upper middle grades authors, I was so proud of her for sort of dismantling and questioning some of the accepted truths from DARE and other programs about who does drugs and why.
Newbery material this is not, but I do hope it makes a lot of state reader lists this year. There are also some great parent characters and some important conversations to be had here. I’d put it forward as a terrific choice for any librarian that wants to run a family book club for readers grades 4+.
Teaching notes: If you teach the Notice and Note signposts, this book gives clear examples of Again and Again and Words of the Wiser. Students who track the repetition of the Serenity Prayer in the book will be lead to thinking about the importance of the title and the book's theme. I don't think the book excerpts well, but I do think its signpost-y qualities would lead to fruitful discussions in book clubs for readers grades 5-8.
July 4, 2016
After there was so much controversy over this title being available in an elementary library, I had to read it to see what I thought. This is probably my favorite of Kate Messner's books so far. It's a powerful and age-appropriate story of a family member's drug addiction. It's no more graphic than what kids may already learn if they have a DARE program at their school and I'd have absolutely no problem in handing this to 5th graders (maybe even 4th graders) and up. This would be a great choice for kids who like SUNNY SIDE UP by Jenni and Matt Holm and who are looking for a more in-depth story of a sibling of addiction.
May 30, 2016
I totally wish no one ever needed a book like this to understand other families have experienced the same thing. But ... they do. And Kate Messner has written a very true and kid friendly version.
I shelved it in realistic because the kid who would need this one? Looking more for books about real life issues than wish-granting, magical fish. I shelved Crenshaw in realistic, too. Genres. They don't always fit neatly.
I shelved it in realistic because the kid who would need this one? Looking more for books about real life issues than wish-granting, magical fish. I shelved Crenshaw in realistic, too. Genres. They don't always fit neatly.
May 22, 2017
Absolutely beautiful. An essential, important read. I hope this book finds the kids who need it, because it deals with real struggles. Ugly struggles, but real, and ones that we do kids no favors by sweeping under the rug. This book is empathetic and fierce. Loved it so much.
November 16, 2015
This book reeled me in hook, line, and sinker. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...Kate Messner writes the perfect middle grade novel: accessible, captivating, realistic (even when there's magic), emotional, suspenseful, and honest. Twelve-year-old Charlie has a lot going on. She wants a very expensive, very beautiful solo dress for Irish dance (what an interesting sport for a main character to pursue - I've had a couple students involved in Irish dance, and I find it fascinating), a strained relationship with her college sister, fear of the ice (which in most places wouldn't be a big deal, but this is the Northeast and ice fishing is a popular activity), and a major crush on the cute boy at school. When an unusual fish in the shallow ice gives Charlie an opportunity to grant wishes, of course she takes him up on it. However, even Charlie knows you have to be careful what you wish for. Charlie's life is about to get even more complicated when her family finds out Abby, Charlie's sister, has a drug problem. What will she wish for then? Messner presents this real-life problem delicately but honestly. Perfect pairing with Jennifer and Matthew Holm's Sunny Side Up. I look forward to passing this ARC on to students.
July 8, 2016
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
I always enjoy Kate Messner's books. They make me laugh and cry. I always make it a priority when a new one comes out. I followed the controversy that accompanied the release of The Seventh Wish closely. I reference that, because as someone who read all of Kate's blog posts (and the comments on them) before reading the book, I found my reading affected by it. That in turn will affect this review. I'm going to attempt to do it in two parts. What you can expect if you go into the book with no knowledge of said controversy, and what you can expect if you do. Either way, you are getting another excellent heartfelt book from a talented thoughtful writer.
Charlie is a seventh grader with a passion for Irish dancing, great friends, and a plan to earn more money to buy the best solo dancing dress she possibly can. She often feels the least important in her family. Her older sister Abby has always gotten a lot of attention because of stomach issues. Then it was her senior year and now she's off at college. Between her parents worrying about college tuition and working more, Charlie can feel lost in the shuffle. But she knows she has a good life and her problems aren't all that great. When she catches a magical fish that offers a wish if she sets it free, Charlie makes two hasty wishes just for fun. She is flabbergasted when they actually come true. Soon she is returning regularly to the lake to catch her fish and get more wishes for her friends and family. Some of the wishes have funny results. Some are not so funny, and Charlie learns to be careful with her words. Then something happens with her sister that no amount of careful wishing can fix no matter how hard Charlie tries.
Charlie. One thing I always really appreciate about Messner's books is the authenticity in the voices of her middle school characters. Charlie is a girl with a lot of enthusiasm. She has good friends, and she is a good friend in return. She has moments of resentment and jealousy, but for the most part she loves life and all the people who are in her small beautiful world full of ice flowers, Irish dancing, zany science projects, and freezing cold fishing on the lake. Her parents are truly wonderful and active too. Even when Charlie is feeling resentful toward them for their priorities taking over her dancing, she knows she is loved and cared for. The way Messner introduces and deals with their family tragedy is incredibly well done. For savvy adults (who don't know anything about the book but what is on the jacket flap), what is coming may seem obvious. I think it will knock a good many kids over with shock, which I think is part of the importance in what Messner was doing here. Because it knocks Charlie over with shock. Those kind of things aren't supposed to happen in her world. Messner handled the fallout sensitively, and Charlie was able to mourn, grieve, feel anger, guilt, and shame and still be Charlie. She still wanted to dance her heart out. She still wanted a space with her friends that had nothing to do with the turmoil in her family. In the end, this is a book full of hope, humor, love, and life, but with the reality that life doesn't always go the way we plan.
If you are looking for a book with a lot of family, friendship, dancing, and just a touch of magic, The Seventh Wish is exactly the right book for you.
Okay, now if you want to know my thoughts on the spoilery part of this book that caused the controversy keep reading. If not, click away.
This,
Is
Your.
Final.
Warning.
Nearly halfway through the book Charlie's parents get a phone call from Abby's college. She is in the infirmary after being brought there by her roommates. She has admitted to them that the reason she can not breath properly is because she has been doing Heroin. That is what has caused people some upset. This is a very frank look at drug addiction and how it impacts a family, but it is handled appropriately for the target age audience. (Middle Grade-which in publisher speak means as young as 8 or 4th grade) Yes, I mean I firmly believe this is exactly a perfect book for 4th-6th graders. Abby's addiction is not explored in grotesque detail. What the reader sees is the impact that addiction has on her life and the lives of the people she loves. As I said above, a lot of kids will be floored because just like Charlie they don't think Heroin addiction is something a salutatorian, math and science whiz, athletic college girl is going to have a problem with. For other kids, this book is going to show them they are not alone. That there are other families out there suffering the same way their family does. BOTH of these groups are incredibly important and will benefit from picking this up.
As a former fifth grade public school teacher who watched her students go through D.A.R.E., I especially liked how Messner incorporated Charlie's feelings on that into this. Charlie reflects on how the people doing drugs in the videos and books in D.A.R.E. looked sketchy and hung out in sketchy places. You would know to avoid them if you saw them on the street. How do you know the dangers lurking in a pill someone just like you at school offers you to help you stay awake to study for exams? Because that's the start of Abby's addiction. Taking Adderal. Which, you know, is not unheard of for kids to be offered on a middle school (or possibly elementary) bus or school yard. It's commonly prescribed medicine after all. Medicine given to children who go to school. I think this is so important. Abby's dangerous friend is a sorority girl. It highlights how very real and very close substance abuse is to everyone.
The impact of this is exactly real enough to be felt without overwhelming the hope and magic of Charlie's full story. Abby is a huge part of Charlie's life and this has a major impact on her, but I can not stress enough how well Messner balanced harsh realities with the magic of Charlie's exuberant personality and rendered the whole thing important and serious in exactly the sort of way 9-12 year olds are developmentally ready to take it in.
It is a book I would not hesitate to put in my classroom library if I were still teaching. It would make a really great read aloud too. It will certainly be one I give regularly in recommendations.
I always enjoy Kate Messner's books. They make me laugh and cry. I always make it a priority when a new one comes out. I followed the controversy that accompanied the release of The Seventh Wish closely. I reference that, because as someone who read all of Kate's blog posts (and the comments on them) before reading the book, I found my reading affected by it. That in turn will affect this review. I'm going to attempt to do it in two parts. What you can expect if you go into the book with no knowledge of said controversy, and what you can expect if you do. Either way, you are getting another excellent heartfelt book from a talented thoughtful writer.
Charlie is a seventh grader with a passion for Irish dancing, great friends, and a plan to earn more money to buy the best solo dancing dress she possibly can. She often feels the least important in her family. Her older sister Abby has always gotten a lot of attention because of stomach issues. Then it was her senior year and now she's off at college. Between her parents worrying about college tuition and working more, Charlie can feel lost in the shuffle. But she knows she has a good life and her problems aren't all that great. When she catches a magical fish that offers a wish if she sets it free, Charlie makes two hasty wishes just for fun. She is flabbergasted when they actually come true. Soon she is returning regularly to the lake to catch her fish and get more wishes for her friends and family. Some of the wishes have funny results. Some are not so funny, and Charlie learns to be careful with her words. Then something happens with her sister that no amount of careful wishing can fix no matter how hard Charlie tries.
Charlie. One thing I always really appreciate about Messner's books is the authenticity in the voices of her middle school characters. Charlie is a girl with a lot of enthusiasm. She has good friends, and she is a good friend in return. She has moments of resentment and jealousy, but for the most part she loves life and all the people who are in her small beautiful world full of ice flowers, Irish dancing, zany science projects, and freezing cold fishing on the lake. Her parents are truly wonderful and active too. Even when Charlie is feeling resentful toward them for their priorities taking over her dancing, she knows she is loved and cared for. The way Messner introduces and deals with their family tragedy is incredibly well done. For savvy adults (who don't know anything about the book but what is on the jacket flap), what is coming may seem obvious. I think it will knock a good many kids over with shock, which I think is part of the importance in what Messner was doing here. Because it knocks Charlie over with shock. Those kind of things aren't supposed to happen in her world. Messner handled the fallout sensitively, and Charlie was able to mourn, grieve, feel anger, guilt, and shame and still be Charlie. She still wanted to dance her heart out. She still wanted a space with her friends that had nothing to do with the turmoil in her family. In the end, this is a book full of hope, humor, love, and life, but with the reality that life doesn't always go the way we plan.
If you are looking for a book with a lot of family, friendship, dancing, and just a touch of magic, The Seventh Wish is exactly the right book for you.
Okay, now if you want to know my thoughts on the spoilery part of this book that caused the controversy keep reading. If not, click away.
This,
Is
Your.
Final.
Warning.
Nearly halfway through the book Charlie's parents get a phone call from Abby's college. She is in the infirmary after being brought there by her roommates. She has admitted to them that the reason she can not breath properly is because she has been doing Heroin. That is what has caused people some upset. This is a very frank look at drug addiction and how it impacts a family, but it is handled appropriately for the target age audience. (Middle Grade-which in publisher speak means as young as 8 or 4th grade) Yes, I mean I firmly believe this is exactly a perfect book for 4th-6th graders. Abby's addiction is not explored in grotesque detail. What the reader sees is the impact that addiction has on her life and the lives of the people she loves. As I said above, a lot of kids will be floored because just like Charlie they don't think Heroin addiction is something a salutatorian, math and science whiz, athletic college girl is going to have a problem with. For other kids, this book is going to show them they are not alone. That there are other families out there suffering the same way their family does. BOTH of these groups are incredibly important and will benefit from picking this up.
As a former fifth grade public school teacher who watched her students go through D.A.R.E., I especially liked how Messner incorporated Charlie's feelings on that into this. Charlie reflects on how the people doing drugs in the videos and books in D.A.R.E. looked sketchy and hung out in sketchy places. You would know to avoid them if you saw them on the street. How do you know the dangers lurking in a pill someone just like you at school offers you to help you stay awake to study for exams? Because that's the start of Abby's addiction. Taking Adderal. Which, you know, is not unheard of for kids to be offered on a middle school (or possibly elementary) bus or school yard. It's commonly prescribed medicine after all. Medicine given to children who go to school. I think this is so important. Abby's dangerous friend is a sorority girl. It highlights how very real and very close substance abuse is to everyone.
The impact of this is exactly real enough to be felt without overwhelming the hope and magic of Charlie's full story. Abby is a huge part of Charlie's life and this has a major impact on her, but I can not stress enough how well Messner balanced harsh realities with the magic of Charlie's exuberant personality and rendered the whole thing important and serious in exactly the sort of way 9-12 year olds are developmentally ready to take it in.
It is a book I would not hesitate to put in my classroom library if I were still teaching. It would make a really great read aloud too. It will certainly be one I give regularly in recommendations.
July 26, 2016
Twelve-year-old Charlie (Charlotte) Brennan loves Irish step dancing, and for Christmas, her parents had given her a $300. promise towards a dress in which to compete at a Feis or Irish dancing competition. Charlie and her friend Dasha both are hoping to move up to advance in the next Feis. Charlie decides to do some ice fishing with her friend Drew and his Nana, Mrs. McNeil, to earn some extra dress money by selling the fish she catches.
The only problem is that Charlie is actually afraid of the ice and decides not to go too far out her first day fishing. Her first fish is a little small, but it tells Charlie she can have a wish if she releases it back into the water. Not taking it seriously, she wishes that Roberto Sullivan will like her, but even though it is Robert O'Sullivan who is suddenly infatuated with her, Charlie goes back for more from the wish-granting fish. She wishes that she would not be afraid of the ice, and sure enough, her fear vanishes and Charlie is able to catch a fair amount of perch and her dress money steadily grows.
Soon, more wishes follow: friend Drew makes the basketball team, to his father's delight and his chagrin, friend Dasha passes her ESL test but discovers she is in over her head in classes where the English words just whiz by her; and Charlie's mom gets a new, better job, but it means that she can't drive Charlie and Dasha to their next Feis. But when Charlie wishes her beloved older sister home from college so she can drive them to the Feis, no one is prepared for the phone call from the Student Health Center that Abby is quite sick and needs to be picked up. Charlie not only misses her Feis, but she begins to realize that she needs to be careful about how she phrases her wishes.
Recovered, Abby returns to school, but not for long. Another phone call from the Student Health Center brings the truth about Abby - she is addicted to heroin and needs help. Charlie's life soon becomes one of hiding the truth from her friends because she must go to visit her sister in rehab every Sunday instead of working on a group science fair project. But more importantly is Charlie's struggle to understand how her smart, funny, athletic sister could turn into a liar and a heroin addict even before her first year of college is over. Abby just doesn't fit the picture of the drug addicts she saw in the D.A.R.E video at school, and who even signed the pledge not to do drugs. But there is support for Charlie while her sister is in rehab in the form of Mrs. McNeil and even the 8th grade, prizewinner Irish dancer Leah, both of whom have dealt with a family member's alcohol addiction, and their relapses.
This is a very readable novel. I was pulled in from page one and really couldn't put it down until I finished, even though I already knew what the novel is about. I thought Kate Messner created a main character who is very nicely fully realized and relatable, in a setting that is also believable - January in upstate New York is mighty cold, just as it is in the novel. And, despite the use of magical realism, in this novel, it is a very realistic story.
I liked how Messner introduces the reader to Charlie's life, depicting it as just ordinary but so wonderfully middle class and middle grade - dancing, friends, crushes, school projects - and how she decides to work for a dress nicer than what $300. would buy because Irish dancing is that important to her. And I thought Messner did a spot on job showing readers that when Abby's addiction becomes part of the Brennan family's life, everything suddenly centers on her and her needs, and everyone else's needs, including Charlie's, simply become secondary or are just forgotten about. That is one of the sad truths about addiction. And yet, Messner cleverly never lets the story turn preachy or didactic, and always manages to keep it Charlie's story from start to finish, never letting Abby's story take over, even as it takes over Charlie's life.
But, don't be put too off by the wish-granting fish in the midst of a realistic novel, that bit of magical realism that is really a means to an end with a bit of a moral about being careful about what you wish for. But more importantly, it demonstrates, as Charlie learns, that even magic is useless in that face of life's serious issues.
Kudos to Kate Messner for taking on the difficult topic of drug addiction head on, for coming right out and using the word heroin and not skirting around it with some opaque word for it, and writing a book that is so needed right now. Heroin addiction is really on the increase among middle class kids eighteen to twenty-five, so be sure to read her author's note about this and places where families can learn more and find treatment help.
By now, most of you know that Messner was disinvited from a school visit by a principal who felt the novel's theme showing the impact of drug addiction on families would generate questions they would "not be able to adequately answer and discuss." You might read Messner's own thoughts about this sad occurrence HERE, rather than my second-hand recounting of it.
I should add that I also learned quite a bit about ice fishing and Irish step dancing competitions, two things I will never do, but for which I now definitely have a new appreciation.
This book is recommended for readers age 8+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
The only problem is that Charlie is actually afraid of the ice and decides not to go too far out her first day fishing. Her first fish is a little small, but it tells Charlie she can have a wish if she releases it back into the water. Not taking it seriously, she wishes that Roberto Sullivan will like her, but even though it is Robert O'Sullivan who is suddenly infatuated with her, Charlie goes back for more from the wish-granting fish. She wishes that she would not be afraid of the ice, and sure enough, her fear vanishes and Charlie is able to catch a fair amount of perch and her dress money steadily grows.
Soon, more wishes follow: friend Drew makes the basketball team, to his father's delight and his chagrin, friend Dasha passes her ESL test but discovers she is in over her head in classes where the English words just whiz by her; and Charlie's mom gets a new, better job, but it means that she can't drive Charlie and Dasha to their next Feis. But when Charlie wishes her beloved older sister home from college so she can drive them to the Feis, no one is prepared for the phone call from the Student Health Center that Abby is quite sick and needs to be picked up. Charlie not only misses her Feis, but she begins to realize that she needs to be careful about how she phrases her wishes.
Recovered, Abby returns to school, but not for long. Another phone call from the Student Health Center brings the truth about Abby - she is addicted to heroin and needs help. Charlie's life soon becomes one of hiding the truth from her friends because she must go to visit her sister in rehab every Sunday instead of working on a group science fair project. But more importantly is Charlie's struggle to understand how her smart, funny, athletic sister could turn into a liar and a heroin addict even before her first year of college is over. Abby just doesn't fit the picture of the drug addicts she saw in the D.A.R.E video at school, and who even signed the pledge not to do drugs. But there is support for Charlie while her sister is in rehab in the form of Mrs. McNeil and even the 8th grade, prizewinner Irish dancer Leah, both of whom have dealt with a family member's alcohol addiction, and their relapses.
This is a very readable novel. I was pulled in from page one and really couldn't put it down until I finished, even though I already knew what the novel is about. I thought Kate Messner created a main character who is very nicely fully realized and relatable, in a setting that is also believable - January in upstate New York is mighty cold, just as it is in the novel. And, despite the use of magical realism, in this novel, it is a very realistic story.
I liked how Messner introduces the reader to Charlie's life, depicting it as just ordinary but so wonderfully middle class and middle grade - dancing, friends, crushes, school projects - and how she decides to work for a dress nicer than what $300. would buy because Irish dancing is that important to her. And I thought Messner did a spot on job showing readers that when Abby's addiction becomes part of the Brennan family's life, everything suddenly centers on her and her needs, and everyone else's needs, including Charlie's, simply become secondary or are just forgotten about. That is one of the sad truths about addiction. And yet, Messner cleverly never lets the story turn preachy or didactic, and always manages to keep it Charlie's story from start to finish, never letting Abby's story take over, even as it takes over Charlie's life.
But, don't be put too off by the wish-granting fish in the midst of a realistic novel, that bit of magical realism that is really a means to an end with a bit of a moral about being careful about what you wish for. But more importantly, it demonstrates, as Charlie learns, that even magic is useless in that face of life's serious issues.
Kudos to Kate Messner for taking on the difficult topic of drug addiction head on, for coming right out and using the word heroin and not skirting around it with some opaque word for it, and writing a book that is so needed right now. Heroin addiction is really on the increase among middle class kids eighteen to twenty-five, so be sure to read her author's note about this and places where families can learn more and find treatment help.
By now, most of you know that Messner was disinvited from a school visit by a principal who felt the novel's theme showing the impact of drug addiction on families would generate questions they would "not be able to adequately answer and discuss." You might read Messner's own thoughts about this sad occurrence HERE, rather than my second-hand recounting of it.
I should add that I also learned quite a bit about ice fishing and Irish step dancing competitions, two things I will never do, but for which I now definitely have a new appreciation.
This book is recommended for readers age 8+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
January 31, 2018
Charlie is a normal middle class girl who loves Irish Dancing, has some good friends, two working parents, a sister starting college, fear of deep water and some upcoming issues that are pretty tough to deal with. She would like to move up to higher levels of competition, but doing so requires a lot of dedication and resources. She finds out that she can make money by going fishing and selling her catch to the local bar owner. When she is out fishing with her neighbor, Drew, and his grandmother, Mrs. O'Neill, Charlie hears a fish whom she has caught speaking to her, saying that it will grant her a wish if she releases him. What Charlie finds out though is that wishes do not always turn out the way she wants them to. One thing she does wish for is that the fear of deep water will disappear and that seems to happen. She wishes for things to happen to her friends, her mother and her sister. Things get more serious, however, when her sister's heroin addiction is discovered. The parents manage to get her into a program, and Charlie has to spend her Saturdays visiting Abby at the facility-- and lying to her friends about it. She wants to be supportive of her sister, but also wants to keep advancing with her dancing. Will wishes make everything right or is the issue her sister is dealing with beyond wishing away. This is a modern day fairy tale with a message. Some things take hard work and support to happen. There are some difficult issues in this book but I would not hesitate to recommend it to teachers of older students (gr. 6 to 9). The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
November 5, 2016
The Seventh Wish is so much more than I expected. I started reading, and immediately I was captivated by the characters. I thought it was a fun, magical middle grade story, so I went back and restarted it with my 9-year-old daughter. Soon we were both pulled into the fun, still thinking this was a light, magical story. We were inspired to watch a slew of Irish dance videos on You Tube.
And then it gets deep. And heavy. And suddenly my daughter and I were having long discussions about
I loved the writing, I loved the characters, and the plot was amazing. (At one point I actually cried).
So clever, so captivating, and so much deeper than I expected.
I received a copy of this book from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
And then it gets deep. And heavy. And suddenly my daughter and I were having long discussions about
I loved the writing, I loved the characters, and the plot was amazing. (At one point I actually cried).
So clever, so captivating, and so much deeper than I expected.
I received a copy of this book from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2017
I picked up this book at the library because of the cute cover and promise of a funny fantasy about a talking fish granting wishes. I wanted something cute to read during Spring Break. Boy, this book is far from that!
Charlie, a younger sister needing some extra money for a dance contest dress takes up ice fishing for the winter. After catching a fish that grants wishes if you throw it back, Charlie finds a way to start messing up other people's lives with her wishes - quite by accident. On the day of her dance contest, a tragedy occurs with her oldest sister that begins to put life into perspective for Charlie.
The author finds a way to deal with some hard topics for middle grade students in this fantasy/real-life novel. I loved this book like I loved Lost in the Sun, The Seventh Most Important Thing, Just My Luck, and Umbrella Summer. This is a quick read that will make a strong impact on middle grade readers and will show that even "normal" people with everything going for them can make very bad decisions that will affect everyone around them and their own futures.
Charlie, a younger sister needing some extra money for a dance contest dress takes up ice fishing for the winter. After catching a fish that grants wishes if you throw it back, Charlie finds a way to start messing up other people's lives with her wishes - quite by accident. On the day of her dance contest, a tragedy occurs with her oldest sister that begins to put life into perspective for Charlie.
The author finds a way to deal with some hard topics for middle grade students in this fantasy/real-life novel. I loved this book like I loved Lost in the Sun, The Seventh Most Important Thing, Just My Luck, and Umbrella Summer. This is a quick read that will make a strong impact on middle grade readers and will show that even "normal" people with everything going for them can make very bad decisions that will affect everyone around them and their own futures.
April 19, 2017
I started out absolutely LOVING this book. I don't enjoy regular fishing (I find it boring) and I've never gone ice fishing, so it was interesting to learn about something new. I was VERY intrigued by the fresh take on the trouble that wishes can bring. I REALLY enjoyed learning about Irish dancing; I took dance classes when I was younger (traditional ballet and pointe) and I think I would have enjoyed this as well. :)
This novel takes a very serious turn. As always, I avoid spoilers (because people who spoil books are ass-hats. There, I said it.), but that does make it harder to review...
When I was about 50 pages or so into this book, I began wondering if it would be a 5-star (and I am pretty stingy about giving those out) because I was learning a lot about various topics, it was gripping, and I was just thoroughly enjoying myself. I'm not saying that the serious turn is what made me drop down from 5 stars, to 4, to the eventual 3 (probably more like 3 1/2); well-written stories allow you to encounter serious, even hellacious, experiences in a safe way. (Some people might ask, why would you want to read about something you wouldn't want to go through? I can't answer that question--I think it's just part of the "What if?" that comes with the human condition.)
I think the problem I had was that even though Kate Messner, whom I find very talented, worked very hard to mesh together ice fishing, Irish dancing, middle-grade angst, magic and wishes, and something serious that many people and families have to deal with...that meshing just didn't work FOR ME. And that's OK. I think kids who have to deal with the particular issue that's fleshed out in the latter part of the book would find comfort in Charlie's experiences (I'm a firm believer in the tenet that one of the reasons we read is to know we are not ALONE).
Even though several sources say that this book is for grades 4-6, I disagree; I think 6-8 is a better fit (even though, sadly, I'm quite sure that there are younger readers out there who would connect with Charlie). Bottom line--did I like the book? Yes. Am I glad I read it? Absolutely. Would I ever let my daughter read it--you bet. I think we could have great discussions about it. Would I read something else by Kate Messner? I've already read one picture book, one book in her "Ranger in Time" series, and have two other novels in my "future-reads" list... ;)
This novel takes a very serious turn. As always, I avoid spoilers (because people who spoil books are ass-hats. There, I said it.), but that does make it harder to review...
When I was about 50 pages or so into this book, I began wondering if it would be a 5-star (and I am pretty stingy about giving those out) because I was learning a lot about various topics, it was gripping, and I was just thoroughly enjoying myself. I'm not saying that the serious turn is what made me drop down from 5 stars, to 4, to the eventual 3 (probably more like 3 1/2); well-written stories allow you to encounter serious, even hellacious, experiences in a safe way. (Some people might ask, why would you want to read about something you wouldn't want to go through? I can't answer that question--I think it's just part of the "What if?" that comes with the human condition.)
I think the problem I had was that even though Kate Messner, whom I find very talented, worked very hard to mesh together ice fishing, Irish dancing, middle-grade angst, magic and wishes, and something serious that many people and families have to deal with...that meshing just didn't work FOR ME. And that's OK. I think kids who have to deal with the particular issue that's fleshed out in the latter part of the book would find comfort in Charlie's experiences (I'm a firm believer in the tenet that one of the reasons we read is to know we are not ALONE).
Even though several sources say that this book is for grades 4-6, I disagree; I think 6-8 is a better fit (even though, sadly, I'm quite sure that there are younger readers out there who would connect with Charlie). Bottom line--did I like the book? Yes. Am I glad I read it? Absolutely. Would I ever let my daughter read it--you bet. I think we could have great discussions about it. Would I read something else by Kate Messner? I've already read one picture book, one book in her "Ranger in Time" series, and have two other novels in my "future-reads" list... ;)
July 21, 2016
This is an important book. Kate Messner addresses the fear and powerlessness that a child faces while watching a loved one struggle with addiction. Messner introduces her reader to the ideas that addiction does not just happen to "those people", that addiction affects a whole family, and that there is hope. Through the story of Charlie and Abby, Messner addresses a difficult topic in a manner that is safe and honest for intermediate readers.
I know that Kate was recently booked to speak at a school. At the very last minute the school cancelled, claiming that they did not want students to read a book that involved drugs. Kate's book does not glorify drug use, and is in fact very honest about how devastating addiction can be to the family of an addict and to the addict herself. The big message is that we are not alone and that there is help and hope. Kate also tried to make it clear that addiction can happen to anyone. It was interesting to me that the character Abby, the protagonist in the book, said exactly what the administrator needed to hear.
"Instead of showing those videos with the greasy-haired people in D.A.R.E. classes, they should show kids like Abby. Soccer forwards and calculus students, student council presidents and homecoming queens and big sisters. They should show those people lying to their families and sitting ashamed in the hospital, tugging on their sleeves to hide the marks on their arms, struggling to breathe, crying when they have to tell the truth" (p. 218).
I know that Kate was recently booked to speak at a school. At the very last minute the school cancelled, claiming that they did not want students to read a book that involved drugs. Kate's book does not glorify drug use, and is in fact very honest about how devastating addiction can be to the family of an addict and to the addict herself. The big message is that we are not alone and that there is help and hope. Kate also tried to make it clear that addiction can happen to anyone. It was interesting to me that the character Abby, the protagonist in the book, said exactly what the administrator needed to hear.
"Instead of showing those videos with the greasy-haired people in D.A.R.E. classes, they should show kids like Abby. Soccer forwards and calculus students, student council presidents and homecoming queens and big sisters. They should show those people lying to their families and sitting ashamed in the hospital, tugging on their sleeves to hide the marks on their arms, struggling to breathe, crying when they have to tell the truth" (p. 218).
January 21, 2016
The Seventh Wish is a meaningful exploration of family, addiction, and the little touches of magic that bring hope to every day life. Charlie is a 12yo girl with ambitions--she's determined to rise in the ranks of Irish dance, a challenge that requires both time and money.
Unfortunately, Charlie's family doesn't have much of either, so Charlie comes up with a plan to raise funds for a new dance outfit by catching fish and selling them to the local fish guy. This plan starts off strangely, though, when Charlie catches a fish that SPEAKS TO HER. That's right! It's a wishing fish who begs for his life in exchange for a wish. Messner writes this element with such a light touch that it's easy to believe in, especially the outcome of Charlie's wishes, which aren't always what she has envisioned.
But while Charlie makes progress earning fish money and making wishing to fix some of the problems in her life, a much bigger problem arises: her older sister Abby has a drug problem. And it's not a sure thing that Abby can kick it. Can a wish fix this problem, too? Or will Charlie'ss family have to find new ways to address their problems?
Recommended for fans of Sunny Side Up and One for the Murphys.
Unfortunately, Charlie's family doesn't have much of either, so Charlie comes up with a plan to raise funds for a new dance outfit by catching fish and selling them to the local fish guy. This plan starts off strangely, though, when Charlie catches a fish that SPEAKS TO HER. That's right! It's a wishing fish who begs for his life in exchange for a wish. Messner writes this element with such a light touch that it's easy to believe in, especially the outcome of Charlie's wishes, which aren't always what she has envisioned.
But while Charlie makes progress earning fish money and making wishing to fix some of the problems in her life, a much bigger problem arises: her older sister Abby has a drug problem. And it's not a sure thing that Abby can kick it. Can a wish fix this problem, too? Or will Charlie'ss family have to find new ways to address their problems?
Recommended for fans of Sunny Side Up and One for the Murphys.
May 26, 2017
This will be a very good discussion book for my kids at the library this summer. I have heard that a lot of people do not want this book in their child's library, but I did not see anything that would indicate that this book is above a 4th or 5th grade student's understanding. I think that it is great that this book is out there. So many kids are being affected by drug addiction, and I think this book addresses that issue very well, and I also like that it isn't tied up with a pretty bow...life isn't like that most of the time. I didn't leave the book feeling down or hopeless either, so Kate Messner did a wonderful job of writing about a sensitive subject. It is done with a little bit of humor and a lot of heart. We are going to have an awesome discussion!!!
July 22, 2016
The Seventh Wish and Lily & Dunkin might be the most important books of 2016. Charlie's voice is reflective of middle grades kids, it's accessible, it questions things that real kids question and it still has a bit of that egocentrism that we know kids have at her age.
The bit of fantasy mixed in with the important themes is perhaps, my favorite part. The little dose of magic that all children (and a lot of adults) are seeking in life. Learning that the true magic lies within us and our relationships with others is a hard realization.
This book should be in middle schools across America. Read it, share it, and then hope that the next person will do the same.
The bit of fantasy mixed in with the important themes is perhaps, my favorite part. The little dose of magic that all children (and a lot of adults) are seeking in life. Learning that the true magic lies within us and our relationships with others is a hard realization.
This book should be in middle schools across America. Read it, share it, and then hope that the next person will do the same.
September 6, 2016
This book. Amazing. Every middle school student should read this book. Yes, it deals with the topic of heroine use, but in a realistic (yet age-sensitive) "it's-horrible-what-heroin-will-do-to-you-so-don't-ever-try-it" sort of way. It's hard to describe the book so that kids will want to read it, but I will make it my goal to put this book into students' hands and hopefully word will spread. Very highly recommended for 6th-10th graders.
March 10, 2017
"We can wish on clovers and shooting stars and ice flowers all we want. But in the end, the only real magic is what's inside us and the people we love. Some things are even beyond that magic."
This is a wonderful story about a real issue that faces our society but Messner somehow managed to write it humorously. You grow to love the main character, Charlie. The twist of fantasy gives this story a unique spin. I will be recommending this book to my students!
This is a wonderful story about a real issue that faces our society but Messner somehow managed to write it humorously. You grow to love the main character, Charlie. The twist of fantasy gives this story a unique spin. I will be recommending this book to my students!
November 28, 2019
Absolutely loved this quirky combo of ice fishing, a magical fish, Irish dancing and addiction. Kate Messner weaves all of those elements into a cohesive and engaging narrative. Most importantly she addresses opioid addiction in a way that is accessible to middle grade kids. Readers will fall in love with Charlie and roots for her as she navigates some rough seas for a twelve-year-old. Would make a great classroom read aloud for 5th grade and up.
Read
June 20, 2016THE SEVENTH WISH and author Kate Messner have been receiving criticism recently. After hearing complaints about the subject of heroine abuse appearing in this book for younger readers, I headed to the book store to pick up a copy and judge it for myself.
My opinion: THIS IS A FABULOUS BOOK!
Charlotte "Charlie" Brennan has two new passions - Irish dancing and ice fishing. She and her friend Dasha have been taking Irish dancing lessons for about a year. Their goal is to earn medals in an upcoming contest so they can advance to the next level and dance with girls closer to their own age.
The opportunity to go ice fishing came along at just the right time. Charlie gets invited to fish with her neighbor and his grandmother. Usually the thought of going out onto the ice is terrifying for Charlie, but the chance to catch fish and sell them to a local restaurant catches her attention. She needs to purchase an Irish dance dress for her solo performance so the extra money would come in handy.
On her first fishing outing, Charlie stays close to shore. She knows she probably won't catch the larger fish her friend and his grandmother will farther out onto the lake, but her fear takes over. She's surprised when she feels a nimble and tug on her line. When she pulls it up, she sees she has hooked a beautiful little fish with emerald eyes. The other surprise comes when the little fish speaks to her in a gravelly voice. "Release me ... and I will grant you a wish." Why not? Charlie gives it a try. She wishes to not be afraid of the ice and also that Roberto Sullivan will fall in love with her. Charlie finds her wishes coming true in some unusual ways, and she decides to return to the lake in hopes of catching the wishing fish again.
Although her wishes seem to be answered, Charlie finds out life doesn't always go the way she hopes. When the day of the dance competition arrives, Charlie's family is dealing with a crisis that robs her of the opportunity to attend the long awaited event. Unknown to the family, her older sister Abby has become involved with drugs while away at college and is being sent to a rehab facility. Dealing with the disappointment of her own canceled plans and the confusion of learning that her sister is addicted to heroine are two devastating blows that threaten Charlie's normally peaceful world.
Author Kate Messner uses the old tale of "The Fisherman and His Wife" as a vehicle to introduce the pain and suffering of having a family member addicted to heroine. The story addresses the topic in a thoughtful and understanding way which is perfect for younger readers dealing with this very confusing issue or readers wanting to understand an issue that effects more and more of those around us every day. Please consider reading THE SEVENTH WISH and passing it along to a young person in need of a story that will help them feel less alone about their circumstances. This is the type of story that begs to be shared so thank you to Kate Messner for giving it to the world.
My opinion: THIS IS A FABULOUS BOOK!
Charlotte "Charlie" Brennan has two new passions - Irish dancing and ice fishing. She and her friend Dasha have been taking Irish dancing lessons for about a year. Their goal is to earn medals in an upcoming contest so they can advance to the next level and dance with girls closer to their own age.
The opportunity to go ice fishing came along at just the right time. Charlie gets invited to fish with her neighbor and his grandmother. Usually the thought of going out onto the ice is terrifying for Charlie, but the chance to catch fish and sell them to a local restaurant catches her attention. She needs to purchase an Irish dance dress for her solo performance so the extra money would come in handy.
On her first fishing outing, Charlie stays close to shore. She knows she probably won't catch the larger fish her friend and his grandmother will farther out onto the lake, but her fear takes over. She's surprised when she feels a nimble and tug on her line. When she pulls it up, she sees she has hooked a beautiful little fish with emerald eyes. The other surprise comes when the little fish speaks to her in a gravelly voice. "Release me ... and I will grant you a wish." Why not? Charlie gives it a try. She wishes to not be afraid of the ice and also that Roberto Sullivan will fall in love with her. Charlie finds her wishes coming true in some unusual ways, and she decides to return to the lake in hopes of catching the wishing fish again.
Although her wishes seem to be answered, Charlie finds out life doesn't always go the way she hopes. When the day of the dance competition arrives, Charlie's family is dealing with a crisis that robs her of the opportunity to attend the long awaited event. Unknown to the family, her older sister Abby has become involved with drugs while away at college and is being sent to a rehab facility. Dealing with the disappointment of her own canceled plans and the confusion of learning that her sister is addicted to heroine are two devastating blows that threaten Charlie's normally peaceful world.
Author Kate Messner uses the old tale of "The Fisherman and His Wife" as a vehicle to introduce the pain and suffering of having a family member addicted to heroine. The story addresses the topic in a thoughtful and understanding way which is perfect for younger readers dealing with this very confusing issue or readers wanting to understand an issue that effects more and more of those around us every day. Please consider reading THE SEVENTH WISH and passing it along to a young person in need of a story that will help them feel less alone about their circumstances. This is the type of story that begs to be shared so thank you to Kate Messner for giving it to the world.
April 27, 2016
What starts out as a fun book about a magical talking fish turns into a powerful story about family, adversity, and hope. Charlie is excited about the upcoming feis (Irish Dance competition) where she hopes to be able to move up to the Novice class. Her parents have given her $300 towards a dress for it, but she decides to go ice fishing with her friend Drew to earn even more. Their first time out, she catches a small fish that pleads with her to release it in exchange for a wish. When that wish immediately comes true, Charlie realizes that she has something special on her hands. She knows what happens to people in books who make wishes, how they can be twisted in unexpected ways, so she tries to be as careful as she can with the wording of her wishes. Each time she catches the wish fish, she makes sure to use it to help someone else. Still, they don't come true in the exact ways that she had hoped for. When her older sister has to withdraw from college and enter a drug rehab facility due to heroin addiction, Charlie's world begins to fall apart. She doesn't think that even the fish is up to fixing this one. With heroin use nearing epidemic proportions in middle class communities, this is an important book to have on hand. We see through Charlie's eyes how addiction can happen to anyone and how it affects the rest of the family as well. Highly recommended for grades 5 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley
eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley
April 28, 2018
I’m a junior in highschool, and I absolutely adore Kate Messner’s middle-grade books. Why? Because they are so quirky and down to earth, and I always finish them 1) knowing a bunch of random cool facts on just about any topic, 2) laughing over the minute details that add everything to the story (flour bag babies and mascot costumes and dried insects for instance), and 3) with an amazing message and depth that the author so giftedly weaves into all the hecticness. (I also love how supportive she typically portrays the families in her books, something I see missing in a lot of literature being written for this age group.)
The Seventh Wish did not disappoint, and I appreciate the author’s honest portrayal of the harder subjects handled in this book. I never put down one of her books without getting emotionally involved in the main character’s life (normally from the very beginning), and I’d highly recommend them to not only middle graders, but a wide range of ages, and also especially siblings and family of middle grace kids as these are great to discuss together and enjoyable to read.
The Seventh Wish did not disappoint, and I appreciate the author’s honest portrayal of the harder subjects handled in this book. I never put down one of her books without getting emotionally involved in the main character’s life (normally from the very beginning), and I’d highly recommend them to not only middle graders, but a wide range of ages, and also especially siblings and family of middle grace kids as these are great to discuss together and enjoyable to read.
June 16, 2016
Read this at work in a single sitting. Irish dancing and science are unique and adorable hooks, but the premise of this book focuses on the talking fish (hilarious) and her sister's heroin addiction.
Maybe it's my family history, maybe it's just fantastic writing, but I connected to this book in a way I don't most MG novels. Before reading this book I didn't think you could fit heroine addiction into a middle grade plot without twisting something crucial, but Messner not only pulled it off realistically, she made it a page-turner that didn't walk on eggshells. Sweet, funny, grounded, THE SEVENTH WISH is full of relationship dynamics that kids will recognize--if not in themselves, then in families they know.
One in 10 adults claim to be in recovery for addiction. Reading this book will not only help kids understand adults who struggle, but the children who are struggling with them.
Maybe it's my family history, maybe it's just fantastic writing, but I connected to this book in a way I don't most MG novels. Before reading this book I didn't think you could fit heroine addiction into a middle grade plot without twisting something crucial, but Messner not only pulled it off realistically, she made it a page-turner that didn't walk on eggshells. Sweet, funny, grounded, THE SEVENTH WISH is full of relationship dynamics that kids will recognize--if not in themselves, then in families they know.
One in 10 adults claim to be in recovery for addiction. Reading this book will not only help kids understand adults who struggle, but the children who are struggling with them.
June 14, 2016
Kate Messner's did a fabulous job of showing a family going through a very difficult time. I don't want to spoil the book, so I'm being careful on how I'm talking about it. There is a bit of magic in this one, but that doesn't distract from the very serious issues that come up.
Unfortunately, far too many children will have family members who are going through these challenges, but this book will say to them that they are not alone. It will also show other readers what it might be like to go through a tough situation like this. Books like this can teach readers empathy.
Some people may worry that realistic fiction can sometimes highlight things that might upset young readers, but books that tackle difficult situations are so helpful to young readers.
Unfortunately, far too many children will have family members who are going through these challenges, but this book will say to them that they are not alone. It will also show other readers what it might be like to go through a tough situation like this. Books like this can teach readers empathy.
Some people may worry that realistic fiction can sometimes highlight things that might upset young readers, but books that tackle difficult situations are so helpful to young readers.
December 20, 2018
It's inconceivable to me that any school or library would ban or decline this book. It is a well-researched, well-written story layering somewhat routine/everyday issues with more substantial concerns, including family/sibling conflicts and addiction. The magical realism of being granted "wishes" is nicely pursued within the reflections of the main character. I particularly appreciated the DARE program references and Charlie's eventual realization that a "promise" easily given is one easily broken. Also, her fear-of-ice wish/resolution was woven throughout the story to the point that it nearly disappeared, to be revived just in the nick of time to allow her to recognize that fear can actually serve us well if we are aware and reasoned in our decisions.
October 23, 2016
I gotta say, I was not altogether enthusiastic about the premise of this book: a 7th grade girl catches a fish that grants wishes... but this was a lovely read. Charlie has a pretty good life; she likes school, has lots of friends, and is well loved by her family. Her biggest concern is raising money to buy a dress to wear to Irish step dancing competitions. Then her family discovers that her older sister, a college freshman, has become addicted to heroin. Messner handles this difficult topic with a deft hand, keeping this story both age appropriate and genuine. I am grateful that this book exists and delighted to have a copy in my library. It is an important book to get into the hands of students.
June 5, 2016
I've been on a good reading streak lately. Charlie is scared of the ice and really into Irish step dancing. She misses her big sister Abby who has started college. When her friend Drew convinces her to try ice fishing, she catches a fish that says he can grant wishes. But wishes are tricky things. They don't always turn out the way you want.
This book also deals with addiction, which is one of my favorite aspects. I think it would be an excellent bibliotherapy choice for siblings of addicted children and teens.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.
This book also deals with addiction, which is one of my favorite aspects. I think it would be an excellent bibliotherapy choice for siblings of addicted children and teens.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.
July 2, 2016
A must read by all ages, Middle School and up. This is the story of Charlie, who is trying to save enough money to buy her first Irish Dance solo dress, but who suddenly finds out her older sister is a heroin addict. This discovery throws the family into chaos, and Charlie must decide if she can ever trust her sister again. Through her journey, Charlie learns that her friends will always stand beside her, and that wishing doesn't solve anything.
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