Thank you to Random House Ballantine, Meg Shaffer, and Netgalley for an advance digital copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Meg Shaffer's debut novel The Wishing Game will make you feel like a kid again, in all the best ways possible. It tells the whimsical, lighthearted tale of a teacher's aide going on the adventure of a lifetime to meet her favorite childhood author.

Twenty-six year old Lucy Hart has one wish in the entire world - to be able to adopt Christopher, an orphaned boy, whom she tutors after school. Unfortunately, Lucy doesn't make a lot of money at her job, but she's reluctant to leave it because if she does, she won't see Christopher. To keep their spirits up until they can be together, they have the Clock Island book series written by Jack Masterson and the wishing game Lucy created based on the books.

Everything changes for Lucy when Jack announces that he's written a new book, the first in five years. There's only one copy and he's having a contest on his island to choose the winner. Lucy gets chosen to be one of the four contestants and if she wins it will change not just her future, but Christopher's also.

The Wishing Game was a joy to read. There's something for everyone here and it's appropriate for all age levels. There's adventure, mystery, romance, magic - it feels like a fairytale or children's story for grownups. The story has the characters competing to solve riddles and word puzzles that I found myself racing to solve before they did. The writing was imaginative and wholly inspired. Overall, this book will make you feel so much better about the world we live in today. You'll cry big, sloppy tears of joy. It's the ultimate heartwarming, feel-good book for children of all ages.

5 Stars
Recommended for fans of:
Contemporary Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery, Romance, Fairytales, Fantasy, Adventures

This was a cool book, it had a Willy Wonka kind of feel to it. It’s one of those books that draw you in and you can picture the scenes in your head as they are described. I kept thinking about how much I would have enjoyed listening to the audio version! Highly recommend!

Beautiful, deep, and a tad of magic. This was a fun read that drew me in from Chapter 2. I loved all the bolm details/nods and the character development especially for Lucy. The guardianship thread was woven beautifully throughout. Well done!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

I have to admit, when I started reading this book, I didn't think I would like it. It was so emotionally wrought and, I thought, a little silly. But I kept reading - and I got hooked!!

We all had books series that we loved as children, or at least everyone I know did. I LOVED Nancy Drew, and now my Granddaughter also enjoys them. So I could understand the lure of a series of books set on Clock Island, where wishes come true if you just keep wishing hard enough. But for some children, the Island was real - and they actually went there to get their wishes granted. But, it was not to be, and they all had to go back home.

But now, the reclusive writer, who has not written a new book in years, suddenly announces he has written a new book, and invites four children who previously visited him to come back and compete to have their wishes come true. This will happen in the form of winning the only copy of the new book, to do with as they please. So the four arrive and the games begin.

All four have very compelling reasons for wanting to win, and no story is as compelling as Lucy Hart's. But can she win? You will have to read the book to find out!!

Pub date: 5/30/23
Genre: mystery/fantasy
Quick summary: Lucy has a special relationship with the magical Clock Island series, and a chance to travel there to win a copy of the newest book may change her luck for good!

This book had such a wonderful magical atmosphere. I enjoyed the structure of the story - each part is headed by a section of the first Clock Island book. The characters were lovely - I enjoyed Lucy's budding relationship with Hugo, the illustrator of the books. Jack Masterson, the enigmatic writer, was really fun to get to know - he's sort of the Willy Wonka of the book world.

I enjoyed both the audio and text of this story, and read most of it in one day. If you love getting lost in a book, you might enjoy this one!

Thank you to Ballantine Books for the e-ARC and PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Lucy’s entire childhood was made up of neglect and loneliness. Her parents were more committed to her sick older sister than to paying attention to their youngest daughter. Lucy’s one solace was the Clock Island series written by Jack Masterson. Years later, Lucy is a teacher’s aide living in California, introducing a new generation to the joy of reading. One of those students is seven-year-old Christopher, whose parents died and who Lucy wants to foster to adopt. But that dream is out of reach since Lucy doesn’t have the money or means to pursue that dream. But things change when Jack Masterson comes out of retirement with the announcement that he has written a new book. Also, in that announcement, there will be a contest that will determine the winner. The contestants: Adults who had run away to the real Clock Island when they were children, and Lucy is one of them. Lucy is determined to win but must first dodge book collectors on the island illegally, opponents who will do whatever it takes to win, and handsome Hugo, the illustrator of Jack’s books. Will Lucy win? Will she be able to adopt Christopher and live happily ever after?

When I first read the blurb for The Wishing Game, I immediately compared it to Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The only difference is that Jack is an author, not a candy maker, and the contestants are adults, not children. I figured I wouldn’t get it if I requested it from NetGalley, so I left it alone. Imagine my surprise when I got an invite from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine asking if I wanted to read the book. I couldn’t say yes fast enough.

The Wishing Game is a medium-paced book in California and Maine. The pacing of this book suited the plotline. I didn’t have to backtrack to the beginning of a chapter to figure out what was going on. I also loved that it took place in Maine. I am familiar with coastal Maine and thought it was a perfect setting for The Wishing Game.

The main storyline of The Wishing Game centers around Lucy and Hugo. Lucy is a teacher’s aide who wants no more than to adopt seven-year-old Christopher. The first couple of chapters of The Wishing Game laid the foundation for that. The other part of the storyline centers around Hugo. Like Lucy, his past shaped him into who he was. Both parts of the storyline were well-written and kept my attention.

Several secondary storylines fleshed out the main storyline. The one that stood out the most to me was Lucy’s early childhood. That storyline explains why Lucy came across as almost needy when it came to Jack’s attention. It also explained why she made some bad mistakes when she was younger. The resolution to that storyline was heartbreaking. Another secondary storyline that stood out to me was Hugo and his relationship with his younger brother. It sheds new light on Hugo, why he was on the island with Jack, and why Hugo felt responsible for Jack. While reading it, my heart shattered several times, but it also made me happy.

Lucy went through significant growth during The Wishing Game. At the beginning of the book, she is bitter about her past, about not being able to adopt or even foster Christopher, about her life—-bitter about everything. She was allowed to be upset. What I liked was that she didn’t wallow in it. Instead, she turned that bitterness into action when she found out she was in the contest. She was determined to win. I liked how she immediately clicked with Jack. For her, it was like she was finally coming home. By the end of the book, she had discarded that bitterness (a huge scene detailed it), and she became the person she was meant to be.

Hugo wasn’t my favorite character when I started the book. He was rude and abrasive. Hugo was rude to Jack. But as the book went on, it was explained why he was so prickly. The author took her time explaining everything but dropped enough hints that I figured out most of what happened. It still didn’t take away from me getting emotional when it was revealed. Hugo didn’t exactly do a 180 by the time the book ended. Instead, it was more like an onion being peeled, with more depth underneath than initially hinted at.

I enjoyed Jack’s character. Again, he was another character who had so much depth to him. When Jack was introduced, he came across as a kindly children’s author who suffered a tragedy that kept him on his island. But, as the story went on, the more in-depth the author got into Jack’s character. I will not drop spoilers and tell you guys what his backstory is. I will only say this: Jack overcame his upbringing to become what he was. He also couldn’t be himself because of what he thought society would think (and that got me so angry). The author also included the entire 100 books that Jack wrote. I know they are fictional, but I hope the author decides to write them. From the excerpts that the author wrote, I was very interested in them. I also liked the riddles and puzzles that he came up with. He had me guessing the answers along with the contestants.

The end of The Wishing Game surprised me. Remember how I said this book initially reminded me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Up until the end of the contest, I kept seeing the similarities. Then the author did a quick 180, and any resemblance ended. I won’t say what happened, but I was shocked. I will also say that Jack is a very good man who tortured himself over things he had no control over.

I would recommend The Wishing Game to anyone over 16. This is a clean book with no sex or sexual situations. There is mild violence and language.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books, NetGalley, and Meg Shaffer for allowing me to read and review The Wishing Game. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

The Wishing Game is a novel about a young woman who enters a contest to win a famous children’s author’s new manuscript. It has elements of romance and mystery.

When Lucy was thirteen she ran away from home to visit her favorite author (Jack Masterson) on his island off the coast of Maine. Lucy was going through a tough time and was ignored by her parents while they cared for her sister who was sick for her entire childhood. Finally, after forgetting about her in the hospital waiting room Lucy was shuffled off to live with her grandparents. Although Jack was kind during Lucy’s unexpected visit he had no choice but to call the police so she could be escorted home. Now, thirteen years later Lucy and three other fans are invited back to the island to compete for the only existing copy of Jack’s next book. The value of the book would be enough to put Lucy on a path to adopt one of the children at her school (Christopher) who is in currently in foster care and needing a permanent home. Lucy will have to solve several puzzles over the next few days if she wants to win.

The Wishing Game is a sweet novel about still having big dreams even as an adult and not being afraid to go for it. The contest is fairly low stress and the island is charming and fun. There is also a possibility of romance with Jack’s caretaker slash illustrator Hugo. As a former foster parent who adopted a child Christopher’s age I appreciate the author’s inclusion of the dilemma of having the heart to provide a home for a child but not being financially set up to be considered.

I prefer a little more grit and tension in my reads but audiences that want a slightly mysterious book without any violence or intimate scenes will enjoy this one.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Megan Whalen at Random House-Ballantine, and Meg Shaffer for an ARC of this book!**

Hold your breath. Make a wish. Count to three...

Charming, whimsical, and heartfelt, this magical journey will take you out of the real world and deep into a land of Pure Imagination...and I'm not sure I've returned home just yet!

All teachers feel a certain amount of love for their students, but 26 year old Kindergarten teacher Lucy Hart is on another level with one special child, Christopher Lamb. Christopher lost his parents tragically, and Lucy briefly got the chance to step in as his mom...and her heart never left. Living with two roommates and a strained financial situation, however, is holding her back from being able to adopt Christopher officially and wear the title of Mom for good. Despite this, the two share a magical bond, brought together by their love of wishes and magic, and also one special set of books: The Clock Island series, written by Jack Masterson.

One day, Lucy shares a secret with Christopher; many years ago, she wrote a letter to Masterson, begging to be his sidekick (after her own parents left her unseen and unheard for too long) and Lucy actually VISITED Clock Island and knows that it is indeed real. More surprising still, Masterson has chosen THIS time to come out of reclusive retirement and hold a contest: the winner will receive the one and ONLY copy of the newest installment of the Clock Island series...worth SIX FIGURES, easily.

Lucy knows that this book is her one and only shot at having the money to make her dream of motherhood come true, and she is determined to win. But when she arrives at Clock Island, her competitors possess equal resolve. Another familiar face also greets Lucy: that of Jack Masterson's Clock Island illustrator, Hugo, a slightly gruff but shockingly handsome Brit who has Lucy swooning (to herself, of course). With the stakes ever higher and Masterson's riddles becoming maddening, will Lucy's wish FINALLY come true? Or will all her future plans vanish like the rabbit in the magician's hat?

With homages, things can go one of two ways: the result can feel like a rip off of the source material....OR, in the case of The Wishing Game, they can serve as a springboard for an equally iconic, memorable, and magical experience in storytelling. Shaffer lovingly dedicates this book to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (and the world Dahl created, by extension) and at first glance, this might seem like a series of repeated plot points. Eccentric genius of his craft disappears, and after a long hiatus runs a contest to let others into his personal sanctum, winner receives glory and of course, the BEST prize imaginable. And sure, this framework is present here, and Shaffer doesn't necessarily shy from it.

What she does is even better. Shaffer leans into the parallel, but at the same time, forges her own unique path, rife with gentle nods to some of fiction's most beloved and timeless childhood tales. There is a certain indescribable magic in childhood: the world is big and endless, and ANYTHING can happen. As we grow, our worldview tends to get smaller, and we lose so much of this focus to the forced structure of society and the pressure to 'get things done.' But in this story, all of our adult characters (and ALL of them are adults, save for Christopher!) are the ones examining and overcoming the same fears first born in childhood.

There are HEAVY topics explored in this one: everything from child abandonment, allegations of kidnapping, and the foster care system...and yet, as deep as this one goes, it has a certain buoyancy and whimsy that keeps even the darkest moments from feeling like a shadow. Part of this is due to the complex and LOVABLE characters Shaffer has created. Everyone from our MC Lucy to the mysterious Jack Masterson to the sensitive and multilayered illustrator Hugo shines, and as a reader, you can't help but be drawn to them. Though Masterson strays from the over-the-top silliness of Wonka, he has just enough of a grin in his words and a twinkle in his eyes to keep everyone guessing, and his 'writing factory' is the stuff of every bibliophile's dream (complete with Bird In Residence, Thurl Ravenscroft!)

Though I am emotional to the core, I rarely find a read that makes me laugh OR cry...and this one handily did both. Multiple times. This is the sort of book that once you MANAGE to put it down, you will not be able to stop thinking about it. I actually told myself to slow down MULTIPLE times while reading because I was just aching to savor it. Much like childhood, once you realize how magical it can actually be, it's just about gone. There's just something about the books you read at a young age that stirs something inside you, no matter how many years it's been, and I feel the same way about books like Charlotte's Web: I enjoyed it at 8 and would still enjoy it at 80. The Wishing Game has this same sort of transcendent, ethereal quality: it shines in 2023 and will STILL shine in 2123...and beyond.

One of my favorite reads of this year, and perhaps even the past few, The Wishing Game reminded me of the dedication at the beginning of the film adaptation of the Wizard of Oz: "For nearly forty years this story has given faithful service to the Young in Heart; and Time has been powerless to put its kindly philosophy out of fashion. To those of you who have been faithful to it in return ...and to the Young in Heart ...we dedicate this picture."

And if this is any indication of the future Shaffer has in store, she could just be the next effortlessly timeless writer we have ALL been waiting to find, somewhere at the end of the rainbow.

5 stars

I thought this was just okay. The premise is fun and sweet. Lucy and Christopher did have my whole heart. The writing was simple. The plot felt very YA, quite predictable.

What a great read! I went in blind and at first, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be in the mood for this type of book (not that I even knew what it was about yet). Thankfully, it all clicked soon enough and I was fully invested. This isn’t a YA book, but if you enjoyed The Inheritance Games you’ll enjoy this one too!

Welcome to Clock Island where wishes MAY come true. Meg Shaffer has created a whimsical environment and some devilish puzzles for her characters to solve if they want to win a contest that would make life so much easier. Jack Masterson, the island’s owner is the author of a highly successful children’s series. He has become reclusive and has not written anything for the last five years. His only contact is Hugo, the artist who has illustrated the covers of his books and lives in his guest house. Masterson surprises Hugo when he writes one more book. There is only one copy and he has devised a contest that would give the book to the winner. Entry is by invitation only for four adults that Masterson had met as children. Scoring points by solving riddles and completing tasks would help one of them achieve their greatest wish.

Lucy Hart knows what it is like to not have the love of a family. Now she is a teacher’s aide, in debt and sharing her apartment with several roommates. Her greatest wish is to adopt Christopher, a seven year old who is living in foster care. Lucy tutors him after school and he would love to be adopted, but her finances and living situation would never be approved for an adoption. When she receives an invitation to the competition it raises hope for their future. There are three other people, however, who also have their eyes on the prize. While the competitors are supportive of each other, temptations are presented that not everyone can ignore. Lucy is always mindful of what a victory would mean for Christopher. Hugo, who remembers her as the thirteen year old girl who showed up on the island one day, offers her support. Masterson often connected with the children who read his books and she had a dream of finding a home on the island. Hugo and Masterson have both experienced a tragedy that allows them to sympathize with the competitors. As I read The Wishing Game there was the warm relationship between Lucy and Christopher that had me smiling. There were also passage that brought me to tears, but Shaffer offers an ending that shows that wishes can come true. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for providing this book for my review.

Willa Wonka meets The Guncle with this sweet and heartwarming story. Loved the writing, the messages within and the ending. Recommend if you’re looking for a huggable book ♥️

Meg Shaffer's charming, endearing debut, THE WISHING GAME —an uplifting book within a book— explores the magic of books and reading. A reclusive children's author, a unique competition, a teacher's aide, and an orphan boy—lives are about to CHANGE.

Years ago, a reclusive mega-bestselling children's author, Jack Masterson, stopped writing under mysterious circumstances. Now he has resurfaced with a new book in the Clock Island Series with a prize-worthy competition and a sought-after prize.

Lucy Hart, a kindergarten teacher's assistant, supplements her income with her knitted scarves on Esty. At age 26, she is desperate to adopt an orphaned (former student), Christopher Lamb (foster care). Unfortunately, she does not have the income or wherewithal to do so.

By chance, there is a competition. A chance to compete in a game created by reclusive Jack Masterson (the Mastermind), a children's book author. Jack lives on a private island off the coast of Maine with his pet raven and his friend, Hugo Reese, his book illustrator.

Jack believed in wishing —or he had once upon a time—but Hugo didn't. Hugo came to Clock Island to stay with Jack until he was back on his feet. Five years later, he is still there. Time is up.

After years of silence —the highly anticipated Clock Island Series. One lucky winner will receive a book copy. If she wins, she can adopt Christopher!

The four hand-picked contestants are all adults, but when they were children, they ran away from home and appeared on Jack’s doorstep, wanting to live in the fictional world he created for them.

The heroine Lucy was one of those runaways, fleeing neglect in hopes of a new life with her favorite writer. Now she’ll get to live that childhood dream for a week.

If she wins the new Clock Island book, it’ll change her life, and Christopher’s forever.

You will be rooting for Lucy! There are four competitors. There are obstacles. There are riddles and clues. Jack also makes them confront their fears. This contest could change lives. Jack, Hugo, Lucy, and Christopher have all suffered love and loss.

Whimsical, absorbing, mysterious, mystical, and thought-provoking! An enchanting mix of literary, fairy tales, romance, and magical realism.

Reminiscent of Willy Wonka, a fictional character in British author Roald Dahl's 1964 children's novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its 1972 sequel Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. In THE WISHING GAME, a "book factory."

I LOVED this delightful, uplifting book —both heartfelt and heartwarming at the same time. The Clock Island illustration at the front of the book was adorable! An ode to the magic of books and storytelling!

A winner out of the gate, an author to watch. THE WISHING GAME is highly recommended for CS Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia fans and authors: Patti Callahan Henry, Sarah Addison Allen, and Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Thanks to #RandomHouse for a gifted ARC via #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Review Posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: May 30, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars
May 2023 Must-Read Books
The Best of May

Years ago, a reclusive mega-bestselling children’s author quit writing under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly he resurfaces with a brand-new book and a one-of-a-kind competition, offering a prize that will change the winner’s life in this absorbing and whimsical novel.

This book centers around Lucy Hart. She is a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, who desperately wants to foster to adopt one of her former students that she had grown really attached to - seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy knows first hand what it is like to grow up without parents who loved her. Her childhood was a childhood of neglect and abandonment, until her grandparents stepped in and she went to live with them. Her one solace was the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now she has passed on the love of that series to Christopher, and it is helping him just like it helped her.

Just when Lucy is about to give up on her dream of adopting Christopher, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy. For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.

This book was magical. Jack Masterson gave off distinct Willy Wonka vibes. The island was as magical as Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, as well. Jack loves poems and riddles, and I had a lot of fun trying to guess the answer to the riddles myself. I was even wishing Clock Island was real, and I could go there. This is perfect for anyone I think. After all, doesn't the inner child in all of us still wish for a little fun and adventure in our lives?

The Wishing Game
Pub date May 30th 2023
This was one of the sweetest books ever! I looooved it! It gave me Willy Wonka for grown ups kind of feel.
I don’t want to give too much away. It’s a sweet story about Lucy who’s down on her luck and Christopher, an orphan that Lucy would give anything to adopt. They share a love of books especially The Clock Island books written by “the mastermind”. A competition is held and the winner is given a grand prize. Will Lucy win? Will she get her wish? Will Christopher get his wish?
I loved this book and I might just re read it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5

Thank you @netgalley and Ballantine books for the early opportunity to read this fun book!
#netgalley #bookrecommendations #bookreview #kindlebooks #kindle #ilovereading #bookworm #bookstagram #booklover #thewishinggame #debutbook #alwaysreading #bibliophile #biblio

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the ARC of The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. This is an absolutely delightful read that is perfect for book lovers and puzzle lovers and a must for summer reading (pub date is this Tuesday, May 30th!). I gobbled up this story–there is so much to love: the cover (it’s beautiful), the puzzle (so fun), the characters (I wanted to hug so many of them), and the journey (I was right there with the characters, cheering them on). If found family stories give you heart eyes, then pick this one up right away. You won’t be disappointed. So lovely.

🤞🏼The Wishing Game - Meg Shaffer

5 ⭐️ - I loved this one more than I thought I would. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory meets Amazing Race meets The Wizard of Oz, but instead of chocolate or money as the prize, it’s a beloved children’s book. This book was heartbreaking, heartwarming, funny, adventurous and spontaneous. It made me feel like I was a kid again while also being a full grown adult.

Lucy Hart knows what it’s like to grow up in a difficult family situation, with parents that don’t love you. She found solace in books - specifically the Clock Island series. She is now a kindergarten teachers aide who has fallen in love with a child, Christopher, who needs a new foster home. When she finds the dream of becoming a family far away, her and Christopher play a game about wishes while reading Clock Island books. These books were about rebellious children going on adventures and being brave while making wishes and hoping they’d come true. Jack Masterson, the author, stopped writing years ago, but has suddenly resurfaced with a new book AND a new one of a kind competition. When Lucy finds out she’s one of the lucky four contestants, she must work her hardest to be brave and courageous to hope her biggest wish comes true.

This book was magical. I enjoyed it so much more than I expected. It was light with heavy topics. It was funny but serious. It was childlike and playful while still centering around adult main characters. It broke my heart and melted it all back together again. I think I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time. If you’re looking for a fun, playful, uplifting book, this one’s for you!

This lovable book hits shelves on 5/30! Keep your eyes open for it! Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the early ARC!

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer is destined to be one of my favorite books of the year. It is such a fun, unputdownable story, inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and with the feel-good vibe of The House in the Cerulean Sea. I loved every minute of reading this book, even the teary-eyed parts!

The story of Lucy and Christopher had me rooting for them from the first page, and though the story itself is fairly predictable (though not completely cookie-cutter), it was a lovely journey. The book is a reminder that the love of parents and family is critically important, and found family is real family. I really liked the riddles and the structure of the game, and I was especially pleased to feel that Jack felt genuinely protective of each contestant, a pleasant difference from the Willy Wonka character.

This book is almost certain to be a popular read this summer, and for good reason. It is absolutely wonderful!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the digital ARC of The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. The opinions in this review are my own.

I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book, but it didn't turn out to be as engaging as I thought it would be. There is an aspect of the story that is sweet and a nice message about holding onto hope, but it felt a little too simplistic to me. It read more like a middle grade book than a book for adults.

The Wishing Game was a storyline I have never read before. Several people are invited to Clock Island and one person will be declared the winner. Each person was changed by the Clock Island series and the writer himself Jack Masterson. The Wishing Game mainly centers around Lucy who is a teaching assistant who wants to adopt a little boy named Christopher. However, she can't afford her own place and doesn't have enough funds to afford keeping Christopher. Several things happen while at Clock Island that affects the different players. It's a heartwarming story with an interesting twist.