The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

 Is this actually a thriller?  No, more like fantasy, but I guess I let one slip :)

The book is endearing and lovely, though, so it is fun to take a break from the murder and mayhem everyone once and a while.

The love interest is a bit weird for me, maybe it is the extreme age difference and that feelings began when the girl was just a young girl (13 years old).  However, that may not be true for the male counterpart.  You decide.

There are a lot of different psychological elements in this book either way.  Attachment, depression, loneliness, isolation, trust issues, etc.  So, we will definitely have a lot to talk about during our BOOK CLUB!

My favorite character is definitely Christopher.  He represents innocence, hope, love and excitement all in one.  He also has the element of tragedy and loss in his character, which makes him appealing and endearing.  He could be the glue that keeps this story going.  What do you think?

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Discussion Questions

Taken from: 

Book club questions for The Wishing Game | Bookclubs

1. The Wishing Game revolves around the Clock Island books that so many children loved when they were growing up. Did reading this book remind you of when you fell in love with reading? What was your favorite book (or book series!) as a child?
2. The themes of “family” and “parenthood” are woven throughout the novel. Discuss each character’s experiences with family and how this impacts their decisions and motivations.
3. Lucy, Hugo, Christopher, and Jack all struggle with deeply rooted fears. How does each character face and overcome these?
4. Why do you think Jack Masterson recreated Clock Island in the real world? Why do you think it wasn’t finished before the game?
5. The author sometimes pairs scenes from the Clock Island books with chapters of The Wishing Game. Discuss how these two stories connect and why the author made this stylistic choice to help tell her story.
6. So much of the novel deals with family, especially the idea of “found family.” What do you think of the idea of “found families”? What do you think defines what “family” really is? Who is in your family of choice?
7. Were you surprised by the outcome of the contest?
8. What do you make of Hugo’s comment to Jack that he “can’t save the world”? How does Jack try to save everyone around him?
9. If you could travel to any fictional world, what would it be?
10. Who would you cast as each character in a movie adaption of The Wishing Game?