Wish by Barbara O'Connor explores the complex emotional journey of a young girl named Charlie Reese as she navigates themes of family, hope, and healing. Through her experiences, the novel examines the true meaning of home and the transformative power of kindness and acceptance. These themes intertwine to create a heartwarming narrative about finding belonging in unexpected places.
Major Themes
The Meaning of Family
The Meaning of Family is a central theme, contrasting Charlie's dysfunctional biological family with the stability and love she finds with her new caregivers and community. The novel challenges traditional definitions of family, suggesting that love, support, and presence are more important than blood relations. Charlie's journey highlights the importance of "found families" and the idea that family is where you are loved and accepted.
Wishing and Hope
Wishing and Hope drives Charlie's emotional journey, with her daily rituals acting as a coping mechanism to exert control over her chaotic life. Her unwavering belief in the power of wishes reflects her deep-seated hope for a better future and her struggle to understand what that future truly looks like. The evolution of her wish mirrors her personal growth, as she learns to redefine what she truly desires.
Healing and Overcoming Trauma
The theme of Healing and Overcoming Trauma traces Charlie's slow and difficult journey toward emotional health, facilitated by a safe environment and caring relationships. The novel explores how Charlie learns to process her anger, lower her defenses, and trust those offering genuine care. It emphasizes the resilience of a child healing from the wounds of a difficult upbringing.
Friendship and Acceptance
Initially isolated, Charlie's transformation is made possible through Friendship and Acceptance. The unconditional friendship offered by Howard and the Odom family gradually breaks through her tough exterior. This theme highlights the power of true friends and a welcoming community to provide a sense of belonging for someone who feels like an outcast, emphasizing that acceptance means being loved for who you are.
Minor Themes
Anger and Temper
Charlie's "fiery red temper," inherited from her father, acts as a defense mechanism against her feelings of sadness and abandonment. Her journey involves learning to control her anger, understanding it as a reaction to pain rather than an unchangeable part of her identity. This connects to Healing and Overcoming Trauma, as managing her temper is crucial for her emotional growth.
Belonging and Identity
Charlie struggles with her sense of Belonging and Identity, feeling like a "stray" unwanted by her family and out of place in her new surroundings. The novel follows her search for identity, as she realizes that belonging comes not from where she came from, but from where she is loved. This theme is closely tied to The Meaning of Family, as she ultimately finds her true family in Colby.
Judgment vs. Empathy
Charlie initially judges others based on preconceived notions, but she is met with Judgment vs. Empathy from the people of Colby, who refuse to judge her for her "inappropriate behavior" or broken family. This contrast teaches Charlie—and the reader—the importance of looking past surface-level differences. This theme supports Friendship and Acceptance, as empathy allows for genuine connections to form.
Theme Interactions
The themes in Wish are deeply interconnected, driving and reinforcing one another to create a rich emotional tapestry.
- The Meaning of Family → reinforces → Healing and Overcoming Trauma: Finding a stable, loving family in Gus, Bertha, and the Odoms is the primary mechanism through which Charlie begins to heal from the trauma of her biological family.
- Wishing and Hope ↔ contrasts with ↔ Friendship and Acceptance: Charlie initially wishes for an abstract, distant goal (fixing her old family), while the real source of her future happiness—friendship with Howard and acceptance from her new community—is right in front of her.
- Healing and Overcoming Trauma → enables → Friendship and Acceptance: As Charlie begins to heal and manage her anger, she becomes capable of accepting the friendship offered by Howard and the love from Gus and Bertha.
Character Embodiment
- Charlie Reese: Embodies the themes of Healing and Overcoming Trauma, Wishing and Hope, and Belonging and Identity. Her journey is a testament to the power of resilience and the search for a place to call home.
- Howard Odom: Represents Friendship and Acceptance, offering unwavering support and kindness to Charlie, helping her break down her walls and find a sense of belonging.
- Gus and Bertha: Embody The Meaning of Family, providing a stable, loving environment that allows Charlie to heal and grow. Their quiet, consistent care demonstrates that family is built on love and presence.
- Wishbone: Symbolizes Wishing and Hope, as Charlie's desire to care for him mirrors her own need for a permanent, loving home. He also represents Healing and Overcoming Trauma, as their shared experiences create a bond of mutual support.