Orphan Wish Island - Perma-Bound Books

Orphan Wish Island

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CASEMATE PUBLISHERS

Annotation: Twelve year old Miriam discovers a tropical island where fairies tell her and other orphans that they have been granted yearly wishes, but the magic only works if the child is willing to work for the wish. Along the way, she learns lessons about hard work, friendship, trust and loyalty.

Genre: [Realistic fiction] [Fantasy fiction]

Reviews: 1

Catalog Number: #287464

Format: Publisher's Hardcover

Publisher: CASEMATE PUBLISHERS

Edition Date: 2021 Release Date: 02/01/21

Pages: 207 pages

ISBN: 1-592-11085-1

ISBN 13: 978-1-592-11085-8

Dewey: Fic

LCCN: 2020949877

Dimensions: 25 cm.

Subject Heading:
Orphans. Juvenile fiction.
Wishes. Juvenile fiction.
Imaginary places. Juvenile fiction.
Grief. Juvenile fiction.
Friendship. Juvenile fiction.
Trust. Juvenile fiction.
Loyalty. Juvenile fiction.
Orphans. Fiction.
Wishes. Fiction.
Imaginary places. Fiction.
Grief. Fiction.
Friendship. Fiction.
Trust. Fiction.
Loyalty. Fiction.

Language: English

Reviews:

Kirkus Reviews (Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

An orphan's trip through a magic door to a tropical island brings wishes from her dead parents.On Miriam's 12th birthday, four years after her parents' deaths, glowing words on the attic door beckon her to Orphan Wish Island. Only orphans are invited annually to the tropical paradise where they hear a message from their parents, receive one of the six wishes their parents left for them, and get to make a wish of their own. Readers follow Miriam from seventh grade through senior year. Unfortunately, the story is at the mercy of the timeline: trying to cover growing pains from middle school through high school leaves her life lightly sketched, not fully embodying her character at any age; the supporting cast is also not deeply developed. There is a saccharine, moralistic quality to the writing, and seemingly insignificant elements are mentioned in great detail while larger events are puzzlingly skimmed over. The most emotionally authentic voice is found when Miriam's grandmother ends up in the hospital-at this point the tension is palpable and the writing is tighter. Miriam lives in a seemingly all-White community in which receiving a car at age 16 is the norm along with tutoring when grades slip and private music lessons. The interplay between this existence and the magical island falls flat as a device for exploring parental loss. However, the love between Miriam and her grandmother is quite sweet.A poorly developed premise struggles to become a compelling story. (Fiction. 10-14)

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Kirkus Reviews (Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Reading Level: 5.8

Interest Level: 3-6

Miriam's parents died in a car crash when she was almost 8 years old. Just as she settles into a new life with her aunt and uncle, they decide to leave to work at an orphanage in Kenya and Miriam has to move in with her Grandma. The night after her 12th birthday, she sees something that can't be real - glowing writing on the attic door in her room. The message encourages her to open the door and behind it she finds a tropical island where some fairies tell her and some other orphans that they have been granted yearly wishes. She can listen to a message from her parents, make a wish and then come back each year to make another one. She will hear a final message from her parents if she comes back every year for six years. Her first wish is to have a lead part in the school musical so she can make friends. The magic only works for the wish if the child is also willing to work for the wish. Each year, Miriam wishes for something to help her. Along the way, she learns lessons about hard work, friendship, trust and loyalty. Her parents also get to make a wish for her each year, but she won't know what they wished until she comes to the island for the final time. Sarah Anne Carter is a journalist by trade and has written numerous articles. She has also worked in the public relations and marketing fields. She grew up as an Air Force brat and has lived in many states and countries. Currently residing in Ohio, she spends her time enjoying her family, reading and writing. She is a lover of travel and cats.

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