The Wishing Game

The Wishing Game is a 2023 novel by Meg Shaffer that details a young woman’s trepidatious journey to adopt a boy. Impeded by her financial situation, she invests all her hope in contest borne of the whimsical machinations of the world’s most famous children’s author. The story dwells at the intersection of magical realism and romance, touching on The Requirements of Being a Good Parent, The Value of Stories, and The Power of Wishes and the Need for Hard Work. The Wishing Game is Shaffer’s debut novel.

This study guide refers to Penguin ebook edition published in 2023.

Content Warning: The study guide and source text discuss statutory rape, child abuse, neglect, and trauma.

Plot Summary

One night on Clock Island, the illustrious children’s author Jack Masterson picks up his pen for the first time in six years. A year later in California, Lucy Hart works hard to save every penny toward her goal: adopting Christopher, a child at her school who lost both his parents and now resides in foster care.

Just as Lucy learns the adoption is likely impossible, the world receives surprising news.