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Book Review of The Wish and the Peacock by Wendy S. Swore

Change is always hard, especially when you’re a kid. When you think life will always go as planned, think again. I feel for Paige. Her life is changing rapidly, and she’s not handling it well. I can relate. When we moved into the home we’re currently in, my oldest son had a very difficult time with the change. He wouldn’t get out of the car to look at houses, and he was furious when we moved. Thankfully, he’s come around. It took him awhile, but now he’s 18 and is glad we’re here. Paige finds herself in a similar situation, and she promises to do whatever it takes to stop the changes. She tries her best, but does it work? I really liked this book; I hope you enjoy my book review of The Wish and the Peacock by Wendy S. Swore.

Blurb:

“Paige’s favorite family tradition on the farm is the annual bonfire where everyone tosses in a stone and makes a wish. This time, Paige’s specific wish is one she’s not sure can come true: Don’t let Mom and Grandpa sell the farm.

When Paige’s younger brother finds a wounded peacock in the barn, Paige is sure it’s a sign that if she can keep the bird safe, she’ll keep the farm safe too. Peacocks, after all, are known to be fierce protectors of territory and family.

With determination and hard work, Paige tries to prove she can save the farm on her own, but when a real estate agent stakes a “For Sale” sign at the end of the driveway and threatens everything Paige loves, she calls on her younger brother and her best friends, Mateo and Kimana, to help battle this new menace. They may not have street smarts, but they have plenty of farm smarts, and some city lady who’s scared of spiders should be easy enough to drive away.

But even as the peacock gets healthier, the strain of holding all the pieces of Paige’s world together gets harder. Faced with a choice between home and family, she risks everything to make her wish come true, including the one thing that scares her the most: letting the farm go.”

My Book Review:

I really enjoyed this book. Paige is quite the character! She’s strong, strong-willed, stubborn, set in her ways, and thinks she’s a grown-up. She knows what she wants and will do pretty much anything to get it. I like these characteristics, but she may sometimes take things a little too far. Unfortunately, Paige doesn’t see that some of her actions cause more harm than good. She may think she’s helping, but she’s actually making things worse. I do love her effort, though. Paige’s brother Scotty isn’t quite like her. He’s easier to persuade, he is much quieter, and not quite as independent as Paige is. Of course, he is younger. I love the dynamics between the two of them. For the most part, they have a good relationship and work well together. They do have some sibling issues, which is normal.

I love the way Ms. Swore developed these characters! Along with Paige and Scotty there is also their mom and grandpa, and their friends Mateo and Kimana. Kimana is Native American, and I loved learning more about her culture. Each character brings an important aspect to the story. I found all the characters to be developed well, realistic, flawed, and unique. Each has a unique voice and presence, and each shows growth and learning throughout the book.

The writing style that Ms. Swore uses grabbed me from the beginning. Although some difficult topics are weaved throughout the book, the writing doesn’t make it feel somber or heavy. I found it engaging, full of personality, and upbeat. It’s easy to read and understand, flows well, and has an interesting plot. There are some heavy moments, for sure, but those moments are counteracted by a few humorous times. Paige’s voice makes the story!

I love the lessons that this book teaches (You know me; I’m a sucker for lessons taught in books!). A few of the important lessons that this book focuses on are the importance of family, friendship, embracing change, dealing with the death of a loved one, knowing when you need to ask for help—and asking for it, and humility. These are just a few of them!

I really enjoyed this book. It’s such a cute story, it’s packed with important lessons, and it’s well written. I know my middle-grader will enjoy it for sure, and I think my 14 year-old daughter will also enjoy it. The cover art is beautiful!