CHARACTER
Wishby Barbara O'Connor

Charlie Reese

Charlie Reese

Quick Facts

Charlie (Charlemagne) Reese is the eleven-year-old protagonist and narrator of Wish. Sent to live with her aunt and uncle, Bertha and Gus, in Colby, North Carolina, while her father, Scrappy, is in jail and her mother, Mama (Carla), battles depression, Charlie's journey is one of healing and overcoming trauma as she learns to trust and redefine The Meaning of Family.

Who They Are

At her core, Charlie is a resilient but wounded child, masked by a tough exterior. Abandoned by her parents and burdened with adult-sized worries, she arrives in Colby guarded and angry, but beneath her defenses lies a deep longing for love, stability, and a place to belong. Her daily ritual of wishing is a testament to her enduring hope, even in the face of profound disappointment.

Personality & Traits

Charlie's personality is a complex mix of defensiveness and vulnerability, shaped by her unstable upbringing. She uses anger as a shield, but her capacity for empathy and love shines through in her connection with animals and her eventual acceptance of kindness from others.

  • Angry and Combative: Charlie admits she is "fond of fighting" (Chapter 1), using her temper to keep others at a distance and cope with her emotional pain. For example, she kicks a classmate for making fun of her boots.
  • Hopeful and Superstitious: Despite her cynicism, Charlie is a devoted wisher, with a long list of methods for wishing and hope, from seeing a clock at 11:11 to finding a penny or a four-leaf clover. This ritual gives her a sense of control and keeps her hope for a reunited family alive.
  • Wary and Guarded: Traumatized by her unstable home life, Charlie is initially untrusting of everyone in Colby, dismissing her new classmates as "hillbilly kids" (Chapter 1) and acting rudely toward her teacher and her kind aunt and uncle.
  • Vulnerable and Lonely: Beneath her tough exterior is a deeply lonely and hurt little girl who feels like she's "been tossed out on the side of the road like a sack of unwanted kittens" (Chapter 2). She misses her sister and yearns for the love and stability her parents cannot provide.
  • Compassionate: Charlie's capacity for love and empathy is most apparent in her connection with the stray dog she names Wishbone. She sees a kindred spirit in the lonely, fighting dog and is determined to give him the home and love she herself craves.

Character Journey

Charlie's journey is a gradual process of breaking down her defenses and learning to trust. Arriving in Colby as a "fortress of anger," she slowly begins to open up through her friendship and acceptance with Howard Odom and the unconditional love she receives from Bertha and Gus. Her relationship with Wishbone is a turning point, as caring for the dog allows her to give and receive love freely. By the end of the story, Charlie has learned to manage her temper, accepted her new life, and found a new, loving family, realizing that her deepest wish for a place to belong has already been granted.

Key Relationships

Howard Odom: Howard is Charlie's first friend in Colby, and his persistent, non-judgmental kindness eventually wins her over. He becomes her confidant, teaching her to see the good in her new life, and his "pineapple" trick helps her begin to manage her temper.

Bertha and Gus: As her guardians, Bertha and Gus provide the stable, loving environment Charlie has never had. Bertha's gentle persistence and Gus's quiet, steady presence offer a stark contrast to the chaos of her home in Raleigh, treating her with unconditional love and eventually becoming the family she had always wished for. They call her a "blessing" (Chapter 7), highlighting their immediate acceptance and love for her.

Wishbone: The stray dog is a mirror for Charlie's own feelings of being an unwanted "stray." Her determination to catch and care for him gives her a sense of purpose and allows her to nurture and be nurtured. Their bond is central to her healing process, providing the unconditional love she desperately needs.

Jackie: Charlie feels abandoned by her older sister, Jackie, who seems to have moved on with her life. Their relationship is complicated by jealousy and distance, but Jackie's visit helps Charlie see the positive aspects of her life in Colby and reminds her of the sisterly bond they still share.

Defining Moments

  • The "Getting to Know You" Paper (Chapter 1): Charlie's defiant and negative answers—describing her family as "Bad" and her favorite activities as "fighting"—immediately establish her angry and defensive state of mind upon arriving in Colby. This assignment highlights her initial resistance to her new environment and her unwillingness to engage with it positively.
  • Confiding in Howard (Chapter 6): After lashing out at Bertha, a distraught Charlie sits by the road crying. Howard finds her, and she spills all her "troubles" about her family. This is the first time she lets her guard down and is a major turning point in their friendship, marking the beginning of her emotional healing.
  • Catching Wishbone (Chapter 13): After weeks of trying, Charlie finally catches the stray dog in a trap. This moment represents a triumph for her, as she successfully cares for and claims something for herself, creating a bond that becomes essential to her healing.
  • The Final Wish (Chapter 31): After learning she can stay in Colby permanently, Bertha refers to their household as a "family." Later, when the first star appears, Charlie realizes she no longer needs to make her daily wish. Her true wish for a loving, unbroken family has come true in an unexpected way.

Essential Quotes

On the line beside Describe your family, I wrote, “Bad.” What is your favorite subject in school? “None.” List three of your favorite activities. “Soccer, ballet, and fighting.” Two of those favorite activities were lies but one of them was the truth. I am fond of fighting. (Chapter 1)

This quote encapsulates Charlie's initial anger and defensiveness, revealing her distrust of authority and her willingness to use aggression as a means of self-protection. The admission that she is "fond of fighting" highlights her internal turmoil and her need to assert control in a chaotic world.

I knew what it felt like to be a stray, not having a home where somebody wanted you. And he was a fighter. Like me. That dog and I had a lot in common. I was suddenly overwhelmed with love for that skinny dog. (Chapter 4)

This quote reveals Charlie's deep empathy and her ability to connect with others who are also struggling. Seeing herself in Wishbone, she recognizes their shared experience of being unwanted and alone, which sparks a powerful desire to care for him and provide him with the love and security they both crave.

“You are a blessing in this house, Charlie,” she said. (Chapter 7)

Bertha's words are a turning point for Charlie, as they represent the unconditional love and acceptance she has longed for. This simple statement validates her worth and signals the beginning of her healing process, as she starts to believe that she is worthy of love and belonging.

I couldn’t hardly wait till Sunday, when I could find my flower in the Garden of Blessings and write “My family” on it. Suddenly Bertha called out, “Star! First star! Everybody make a wish!” I looked up at that star twinkling over the mountains, but instead of wishing, I just closed my eyes and breathed in the piney air. My wish had finally come true. (Chapter 31)

This quote marks the culmination of Charlie's journey, as she realizes that her deepest wish for a loving family has already been fulfilled. Her decision not to make a wish on the first star signifies her acceptance of her new life and her gratitude for the love and stability she has found in Colby.