Dickens & Rumi
Cover of WISH

book

WISH

Barbara O'Connor

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for WISH by Barbara O'Connor. This book is recommended for ages 9+; content notes include Frightening scenes, Death of a character, Romance; positive qualities include Kindness & empathy, Positive messages.

Ages 9+Source checked

Why this age? Accessible middle-grade prose with themes of parental absence, foster care, poverty, loneliness, and family strain; emotionally sensitive readers may benefit from support. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age9+

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes2/5
  • Death of a character1/5
  • Romance1/5

Strongest positives

  • Kindness & empathy4/5
  • Positive messages4/5
  • Courage & resilience3/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character1/5
Why this rating?

Death is not a central theme or plot point.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Occasional mild name-calling typical of school environments.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Childhood friendship is the focus, with minor, innocent crush elements.

Frightening scenes2/5
Why this rating?

Mild anxiety regarding the protagonist's unstable living situation.

Violence1/5
Why this rating?

Some brief instances of schoolyard bullying or verbal aggression.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Shows emotional courage in letting go of anger and accepting new relationships.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist's imaginative wishing, storytelling, and problem-solving support emotional growth and engagement with the world.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Includes varied family structures, foster-care experiences, economic circumstances, and rural perspectives, though cultural and identity diversity is limited.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

Teaches social-emotional skills, specifically conflict resolution and empathy.

Kindness & empathy4/5
Why this rating?

Kindness is the primary engine of the plot.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

Strong positive messages about found family, kindness, and personal growth.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist learns to accept help and demonstrate growth; the aunt/uncle are supportive figures.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. Where did a character show kindness or empathy, and what changed because of it?
  2. Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
  3. Which choice in WISH would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in WISH, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community reactions

What families noticed

Add your perspective

Sign in from the homepage to rate this title.

Where to get it

Find in a libraryBuy on Bookshop.orgBuy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop.org affiliate, Dickens & Rumi may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

If you liked this

Try something nearby

Related by age fit, format, and catalogue context.

You’re hereWISH
The Violet Fairy Book (Large Print)Andrew Lang · 1901Ages 12+The Brown Fairy BookAndrew Lang · 1904Ages 10+The Crimson Fairy BookAndrew Lang · 1903Ages 12+The Lilac Fairy BookAndrew Lang · 1910Ages 12+

These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

Report an incorrect rating