Wish by Barbara O’Connor

Description: Author Barbara O’Connor published her third novel, Wish, in 2016. Set in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, which the author calls home, this award-winning, New York Times bestselling middle grade novel follows 11-year-old protagonist Charlie Reese as she learns to adapt to a new home and redefine herself and her conception of family. The novel explores complex issues such as the incarceration of a parent, the complexities of the foster care system, bullying, and physical disabilities while simultaneously highlighting the joy of finding new friends and family in unexpected places.