A review by kithenrietta
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

2.0

If Willy Wonka spread the wealth.
I had a major issue with this book. The main character, a kindergarten teacher assistant, is trying to foster to adopt one of her former students. She’s convinced that she is the only mother fit for him. The way she acts is totally inappropriate. She promises him things she can’t deliver on. She refuses to build a support network to ensure the child has community. She literally promises the kid she will adopt him. All that is going to mess the kid up so bad. The first thing you learn NOT to do when working with foster youth- don’t promise them anything. Don’t give them false hope no matter how good your intentions are.
Their relationship was creepy, honestly. Teachers aren’t supposed to be overly touchy with students, but the main character was hugging and cuddling the child (this was written before the brief explanation near the end of the book that MC was temporary foster hold). 
The whole time, their relationship seemed entirely codependent.
“Can you, a 7 year old, keep a secret? Ok here’s all my childhood trauma and something that seems implausible at best.” There’s a difference between having childlike wonder and indulging in it and just being immature.

MC was begging for this child, like “Please give me this kid. I haven’t shown any initiative to do anything to show that I can responsibly take care of them, I have no money and no support system, i’m too scared to ask for help. I’m definitely using this kid as an emotional crutch because I was never loved as a child, but I love this kid (just don’t google parentification) so give him to me I deserve it.” Like a whole temper tantrum the whole dang book.

Even in the end when she is financially stable, you’re still not capable of purchasing a loving support system for a kid.

Also, basically the rules are made up and the points don’t matter because everyone wins. So what was the point?