Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese arrives in Colby, North Carolina, a tough kid harboring deep wounds. Sent to live with her aunt and uncle, Bertha and Gus, while her own family crumbles, Charlie clings to her wishes as her only source of hope. The story explores themes of The Meaning of Family and Wishing and Hope as Charlie navigates her new life.
Chapter 1: Getting to Know You
On her first day of fifth grade, Charlie defiantly renames herself on a "Getting to Know You" worksheet, a small act of rebellion against a life she didn't choose. Her answers are bleak, reflecting her father, Scrappy's, incarceration, her mother, Mama (Carla)'s, depression, and her sister, Jackie's, seemingly better life in Raleigh. Assigned Howard Odom as her "Backpack Buddy," Charlie is met with relentless friendliness despite her attempts to push him away. Howard's kindness and chatter about Gus and Bertha begin to subtly chip away at Charlie's tough exterior, revealing the worry and trauma she carries. The chapter ends with Charlie making her daily 11:11 wish, clinging to the hope of a reunited family.
Chapter 2: Cinderella Pillowcases
Arriving at Gus and Bertha's mountain home, Charlie feels like an unwanted castaway. Bertha's warm welcome and coffee cake are a stark contrast to the neglect she's used to. Charlie tests Bertha with a cruel lie, revealing prejudices she picked up in Raleigh, and refers to Howard as the "up-down boy." Bertha gently corrects her, introducing the theme of Friendship and Acceptance and explaining that others cruelly call him "Pogo," but he is "good as gold." Bertha's attempt to make Charlie's room welcoming with Cinderella pillowcases backfires, making Charlie feel misunderstood. A one-sided phone call with Jackie, filled with boasts about her new life, deepens Charlie's isolation. She makes a second wish on the first star, convinced her family has forgotten her.
Chapter 3: Pineapple
That evening, Charlie witnesses Gus and Bertha spontaneously holding hands, a simple act of love completely foreign to her. This provides a powerful contrast to her broken home, highlighting her journey toward Healing and Overcoming Trauma. At school, wearing Jackie's old majorette boots, Charlie is mocked, and her temper flares, leading her to kick a classmate, Audrey Mitchell. On the bus, Howard offers a quirky solution for her anger: saying "Pineapple" whenever she feels her temper rising. Charlie sees a skinny stray dog fighting before it runs into the woods, her first glimpse of Wishbone. Frustrated with herself, she whispers "Pineapple" for the first time.
Chapter 4: A Solemn Vow
Instead of a lecture, Bertha responds to the kicking incident with empathy, surprising Charlie. At dinner, Charlie performs another wishing ritual, saving the tip of her pie, worrying that Gus and Bertha secretly judge her. Watching Gus tend his garden, Charlie spots the stray dog from the day before. The skittish dog flees when she approaches. Gus explains that the "wild stray" has been around for months, too afraid to let anyone near. Charlie feels an instant connection to the animal, seeing a kindred spirit in the stray, and makes a "solemn vow" to catch him and make him hers.
Chapter 5: Bible Detective
Bertha takes Charlie to church, where Charlie feels self-conscious and out of place. She sees Howard's family, the Odoms, and feels like an outsider. Howard's mother invites Charlie to visit anytime. School remains a struggle; Charlie's homework is neglected, and she avoids other kids, with only Howard as a constant companion. She searches for the stray dog, who always runs away. Spotting a black horse, she performs another wishing ritual her father taught her, shaking her fist three times while making her wish.
Key Events
- Arrival in Colby: Charlie is forced to move in with her aunt and uncle.
- Meeting Howard: Charlie meets Howard, who is assigned to be her "Backpack Buddy."
- The Kicking Incident: Charlie kicks a classmate and is sent to the principal's office.
- First Sighting of Wishbone: Charlie sees a skinny stray dog fighting.
- The Vow: Charlie vows to catch the stray dog.
- Wishing Rituals: Charlie performs various wishing rituals as a way of coping.
Character Development
- Charlie Reese: Initially angry, defiant, and isolated, she begins to show vulnerability and forms a reluctant connection with Howard, finding purpose in taming the stray dog.
- Howard Odom: Kind, resilient, and accepting, Howard establishes himself as Charlie's first friend, offering a contrast to the rejection she expects.
- Bertha & Gus: Warm, patient, and loving, they provide a stable foundation, challenging Charlie's worldview through simple acts of kindness.
Themes & Symbols
- The Meaning of Family: The novel contrasts Charlie's dysfunctional family with the stability of Gus and Bertha and the chaotic warmth of the Odoms.
- Wishing and Hope: Charlie's rituals symbolize her hope for her family to be reunited.
- Healing and Overcoming Trauma: Charlie's placement in a nurturing environment marks the beginning of her healing process.
- Friendship and Acceptance: Howard's unconditional friendship lays the groundwork for Charlie to learn trust.
- Symbols:
The Stray Dog: Represents Charlie's emotional state, her desire to be cared for and find belonging.
Majorette Boots: Symbolize Charlie's connection to her sister and her feelings of being an outcast.
Key Quotes
"Been tossed out on the side of the road like a sack of unwanted kittens."
This quote encapsulates Charlie's feelings of abandonment and worthlessness upon being sent to live with Gus and Bertha. It highlights her sense of being discarded and unwanted by her own family.
"Tomorrow's a new day."
Bertha's gentle response to Charlie's kicking incident showcases her patience and understanding. It contrasts with the harsh reactions Charlie is used to and offers a glimmer of hope for a more supportive environment.
Significance
These chapters establish the novel's emotional core, introducing Charlie as a wounded child whose anger stems from her unstable home life. The key relationships with Howard, Gus and Bertha, and the stray dog, Wishbone, are set up, along with the theme of Wishing and Hope that will guide Charlie's journey.