Wished

Ed and his sister Roo are forced to stay with their elderly neighbour Miss Filey, whilst their parents are at work. Miss Filey lives in a home almost untouched by time, she knows little of the modern world. She also has a cat called Attlee, who is ancient in cat years and smells. Willard is the boy next door who has just moved in and he inserts himself into the situation as well.

What would you wish for if you had wishes? As the children find out, wishes are hard to control, particularly if they are someone else's. The children find out about themselves and each other on this journey as well as finding out that older ladies have pretty spectacular wishes. Attlee is a marvellous character - he turns out to be both smelly and sarcastic - but with a good heart.

It is rare to have a character in a wheelchair as a leading protagonist, as Ed is, where the focus is not on the wheelchair use, but is just part of the story. Some research just out shows that siblings of a child with a disability are often more sympathetic and kinder to others and this story amply illustrates that. The relationship between Ed and Roo rings very true and I think many children will recognise that in their own relationships with siblings.

There is something very joyful about the whole book, something hopeful and optimistic. It urges you to seize the day and not wait to do things - a message for adults as well as children.

272 pages / Reviewed by Jacqueline Harris, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+