Wish by Barbara O'Connor

 Wish by Barbara O'Connor. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2016. Children's chapter book. Fiction.


Set in rural Colby, North Carolina, this tale of Charlie Reese and her search for family, friends, and a dog to love will capture your heart. Charlie goes to live with Gus and Bertha, her uncle and aunt who have no children, when Mama can't get "her feet on the ground" and while her father is in prison. She is not a great student and has a bit of a temper. But, an unlikely friend, Howard, is steady and helps Charlie figure out ways to catch the stray dog that she names Wishbone. Charlie is big on wishes and makes the same one every day.  How her story plays out is not like she thinks, but perfect, after all.


Like in her book, The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester, O'Connor weaves searches for a child's heart's desires with the age-old story of wanting to be loved just for yourself, or even in spite of yourself.  The dialog rings true and the story is filled with believable episodes. Charlie learns that you don't have to do everything right to have everything turn out right.

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

 The Woman in Cabin 10  by Ruth Ware. Scout Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, 2016. Adult fiction.


Lo Blacklock thinks it will be a career advantage as a travel writer to sail on the very exclusive yacht Aurora. While her own life has been careening sideways lately, she finds herself completely wrapped up in a mystery soon after the ship  sails. Lord Bullmer and his young wife, Anne, and several other guests provide much to wonder about...and who is the young woman in Cabin 10 and where has she gone? Was she there at all or is it Lo's imagination?


The atmosphere is captured well with lots of fog, splashes, and small spaces.  Ware makes each of the characters distinctive so it's easy to keep up with identities of guests and staff. The only downside to the book is a caveat to read it on dry land! You may not sleep at all if you take this tale on a cruise!