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Wish
Bee’s brother, Tommy, knows everything there is to know about sharks. He also knows that his life will be cut short by cystic fibrosis. And so does Bee.
That’s why she wants to make his wish-foundation-sponsored trip to swim with a great white shark an unforgettable memory.
But wishes don’t always come true. At least, not as expected. Only when Bee takes Tommy to meet a famous shark attack survivor and hard-core surfer does Tommy have the chance to live one day to the fullest.
And in the sun-kissed ocean off a California beach, Bee discovers that she has a few secret wishes of her own. . . .
That’s why she wants to make his wish-foundation-sponsored trip to swim with a great white shark an unforgettable memory.
But wishes don’t always come true. At least, not as expected. Only when Bee takes Tommy to meet a famous shark attack survivor and hard-core surfer does Tommy have the chance to live one day to the fullest.
And in the sun-kissed ocean off a California beach, Bee discovers that she has a few secret wishes of her own. . . .
204 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
17 people are currently reading
896 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Monninger
39 books224 followersJoseph Monninger was an American writer and Professor of English at Plymouth State University. He lived in Warren, New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
September 5, 2017
This book was fast paced. I did like it, though the mother annoyed me. I get why she is that way, but still!
They are on vacation for their son's wish (similar to the make a wish foundation for cancer patients. He has cystic fibrosis) and the mother is flirting around and leaving them alone to go on dates. That just seemed unusual and cruel to the kids.
There are some moments that made me tear up. I love when books can give me strong emotional feelings and this one delivered.
Teen me: 5 stars
Adult me: 4 stars
*For the first book in a "child/teen/middlegrade/nostalgic" book, I am going with the rating younger me would have gone with, then if I read on in the series, I will rate the books what adult me believes it should be rated. If the book is a stand alone, I will go with whatever rating I feel most comfortable giving the book. Please note, I do not really think books should have an age limit. People should read what they want to regardless of the intended age group, except for kids reading erotica or something, of course.*
They are on vacation for their son's wish (similar to the make a wish foundation for cancer patients. He has cystic fibrosis) and the mother is flirting around and leaving them alone to go on dates. That just seemed unusual and cruel to the kids.
There are some moments that made me tear up. I love when books can give me strong emotional feelings and this one delivered.
Teen me: 5 stars
Adult me: 4 stars
*For the first book in a "child/teen/middlegrade/nostalgic" book, I am going with the rating younger me would have gone with, then if I read on in the series, I will rate the books what adult me believes it should be rated. If the book is a stand alone, I will go with whatever rating I feel most comfortable giving the book. Please note, I do not really think books should have an age limit. People should read what they want to regardless of the intended age group, except for kids reading erotica or something, of course.*
December 23, 2024
I write this review as a person with cystic fibrosis who was about the same age as Tommy when I was diagnosed. Keeping in mind that the book was published in 2010 and that every single person with CF has a different experience, I really tried to give the author the benefit of the doubt, and I get that he was more into the story for the sharks than the CF. But the CF portions felts like the author read two articles about CF and decided to write a character with it. Pulmozyme is never given in inhaler form, it is only nebulized, and for the most part, if we ever need a quick dose of something, it would most likely be Albuterol. The Vest we use for airway clearance is huge, cumbersome, and extremely difficult to travel with. Battery-operated Vests did not come out until 2013, which means at the time the book was written, Vests were a large vest, a huge and heavy compressor, hoses, and a cord. You couldn't just put it on whenever or wherever you wanted, like an airplane or on a beach. I would've liked to have read more on how Tommy and Bea struggled with that aspect of making sure he got his treatments done.
Again, I know everyone has different experiences, but it seemed a little strange to me that Tommy didn't have many friends just because of his CF. At his age, I was in and out of the hospital every few months, and all of my elementary school classmates were really supportive of me. I sometimes had to do IV transfusions in the middle of class, and if anyone cared, I didn't know it. I never felt strange or weird or like a freak and I didn't get left out of things strictly because of my CF. Maybe I was just lucky.
I'm the older sibling rather than the younger, and what I did appreciate was how it was touched on that when one sibling has a chronic illness, so much focus goes on them that the other sibling can sometimes get left out or fade into the background. I really wish that had been explored more.
On the other side of things, I did enjoy getting to see Bee and Tommy's friendships with the two surfers, even if the romance felt a little out of place.
I think this story had more potential, I just wish a lot more research had been done for the CF side of things on a personal level rather than just rehashing what can be found in a simple Google search.
Again, I know everyone has different experiences, but it seemed a little strange to me that Tommy didn't have many friends just because of his CF. At his age, I was in and out of the hospital every few months, and all of my elementary school classmates were really supportive of me. I sometimes had to do IV transfusions in the middle of class, and if anyone cared, I didn't know it. I never felt strange or weird or like a freak and I didn't get left out of things strictly because of my CF. Maybe I was just lucky.
I'm the older sibling rather than the younger, and what I did appreciate was how it was touched on that when one sibling has a chronic illness, so much focus goes on them that the other sibling can sometimes get left out or fade into the background. I really wish that had been explored more.
On the other side of things, I did enjoy getting to see Bee and Tommy's friendships with the two surfers, even if the romance felt a little out of place.
I think this story had more potential, I just wish a lot more research had been done for the CF side of things on a personal level rather than just rehashing what can be found in a simple Google search.
May 14, 2018
Interesting and educational, this story is about a short trip that 11yr old Tommy, his 15yr old sister, Bee, and their single mom take to California in search of great white sharks. Tommy has cystic fibrosis and is quite smart about sharks. The trip is funded by a special group that does this type of tour for sick children in need of a wish being fulfilled, thus the title of book. Bee is very protective of her fragile little brother and seems most mature for her age. However, when the two siblings venture on side trip without their mom, Bee’s character reflects how young she really is when crisis happens. The mother was not likeable or caring IMO but then not every family is rosy so I think the author was painting flaws in her mothering for a reason. Overall good story for those interested in sharks and how humans interfere in their territory.
March 30, 2022
I’m not exactly sure why I’m on a CF kick lately, but this is like the third book in a row I’ve read about someone with Cystic Fibrosis.
Tommy is 11 and his sister Bea is 15. Tommy applies to the Make A Wish Foundation to go diving with the sharks. He’s big on sharks and that’s his dream. But when things don’t turn out the way he’d hoped they would and he doesn’t get to go diving, his sister is determined to make his day special, one way or the other. She has perfect intentions, but there are consequences no one thought about.
It seems like every book I read about CF, the person dies at the end of the book, but this book doesn’t follow Tommy to that point. It’s still a moving story. The relationship between Tommy and Bea is a beautiful thing, and although things didn’t turn out the way she’d planned, the idea to give Tommy that special day was admirable.
Tommy is 11 and his sister Bea is 15. Tommy applies to the Make A Wish Foundation to go diving with the sharks. He’s big on sharks and that’s his dream. But when things don’t turn out the way he’d hoped they would and he doesn’t get to go diving, his sister is determined to make his day special, one way or the other. She has perfect intentions, but there are consequences no one thought about.
It seems like every book I read about CF, the person dies at the end of the book, but this book doesn’t follow Tommy to that point. It’s still a moving story. The relationship between Tommy and Bea is a beautiful thing, and although things didn’t turn out the way she’d planned, the idea to give Tommy that special day was admirable.
June 10, 2018
I love going into the library and randomly selecting books purely on the basis of how appealing the cover is. This book was an absolute gem and to be honest, I didn't think much of the book as it really got off to a slow start. The story is about Tommy, a young boy with CF that has a fanatical obsession with sharks. His dream is to swim with a great white shark. It is along this journey, that he and his sister Bree, discover more about life as well as the sharks and people they encounter along the way. I would have gone for a 4 1/2 stars because of the slow start, but the fact that the author kept the story on point about Tommy and sharks makes up for it. A lovely story, with an ever nicer ending.
April 15, 2024
A solid YA novel. If I had read this as a teenager it would have hit all the marks. I was a little slow to get into it, but rushed through the end. The book has everything: an admirable set of siblings, an improbable and dangerous adventure, and a dash of PG romance that made me nostalgic for my tween years. An honest read.
April 24, 2019
Really enjoyed this book :) loved the relationship between Bee and Tommy!!
September 9, 2016
J'ai reçu ce livre dans une box livresque américaine, "The Book Drop", parce que j'avais envie d'essayer un peu ce concept. Sans la box, je ne pense pas que j'aurais entendu parler de Wish, ou alors je ne me serais pas arrêtée dessus. Il faut dire que je commence à être fatiguée des romans sur les maladies graves. Cependant, ce fut une lecture plutôt agréable et mignonne.
On rencontre ici Bee et son petit frère, Tommy, qui est atteint de la mucoviscidose, une maladie qui touche les poumons et qui écourte beaucoup l'espérance de vie. Il a donc droit à un vœu, et celui-ci est de voir des requins, animaux qui le passionnent. Avec leur mère, ils partent donc en Californie grâce à la fondation, afin de réaliser ce rêve, et peut-être se rapprocher.
Ce roman est plutôt court (à peine 200 pages), et donc je n'ai pas eu l'impression que les personnages étaient très développés. Je ne me suis pas sentie proche d'eux, et je ne m'y suis pas particulièrement attachée. Bee est plutôt réservée, elle m'a donnée l'impression qu'elle s'empêchait de vivre à cause de la maladie de son frère. Elle s'efface et fait en sorte que l'on ne s'occupe que de lui. Je pense que les frères et sœurs de personnes malades se comportent aussi ainsi, mais cela fait quand même bizarre de voir une personne aussi peu penser à elle. Tommy est plein de douceur, il n'a pas l'air du genre à se plaindre, et cela prouve sa force mentale. Mais c'est un petit bonhomme d'à peine 11 ans, qui a tout de même besoin qu'on prenne soin de lui. La relation avec sa sœur est très belle, de voir qu'ils tiennent beaucoup l'un à l'autre est touchant. Bee fait en sorte qu'il puisse vivre le mieux possible, et Tommy veut que sa sœur vive sa vie pleinement sans se préoccuper de lui. Leur mère est un personnage qui m'a plu : ce n'est pas la mère modèle, et cela permet d'avoir un aperçu de la façon dont les parents peuvent vivre la maladie de leur enfant.
L'écriture est simple, mais elle fait un peu enfantine à certains moments. Le vocabulaire est courant, donc je n'ai pas eu de soucis de compréhension. Tout se fait du point de vu de Bee, et cela est sympa d'avoir le point de vu d'une personne extérieure. Je n'ai pas ressenti de sentiments pendant ma lecture, les mots ne m'ont pas assez touché. Il m'a été assez facile de m'imaginer le décor, mais je ne pouvais pas m'imaginer aux côtés des personnages. Je reste un peu sur ma faim de ce côté.
On suit donc les petites "vacances" de la famille en Californie. Ils vont rencontrer certaines personnes, et faire certains choix. Ce que j'ai apprécié, c'est que le récit ne se concentre pas qu'autour de la maladie de Tommy, ce n'est pas juste sur le fait de réaliser son rêve avant de mourir, ou du moins avant que cela ne soit plus possible. Cela est juste autour de faire ce qui nous rend heureux, et autour du partage avec les personnes que l'on aime. Je ne peux pas dire qu'il y a réellement des rebondissements ou beaucoup d'action, et même si j'ai eu du mal à m'y mettre, je ne me suis pas ennuyée. Ce n'est pas l'histoire la plus passionnante, mais c'est intéressant, c'est une autre façon de voir la maladie, qui se centre plus sur la famille que sur l'individu touché.
En bref, Wish est un récit mignon qui offre une autre approche sur les maladies graves, et qui ne tourne pas qu'autour de ce sujet. Les personnages ne sont peut-être pas des plus attachants, mais le fond de l'histoire est ce qu'il y a de plus important.
On rencontre ici Bee et son petit frère, Tommy, qui est atteint de la mucoviscidose, une maladie qui touche les poumons et qui écourte beaucoup l'espérance de vie. Il a donc droit à un vœu, et celui-ci est de voir des requins, animaux qui le passionnent. Avec leur mère, ils partent donc en Californie grâce à la fondation, afin de réaliser ce rêve, et peut-être se rapprocher.
Ce roman est plutôt court (à peine 200 pages), et donc je n'ai pas eu l'impression que les personnages étaient très développés. Je ne me suis pas sentie proche d'eux, et je ne m'y suis pas particulièrement attachée. Bee est plutôt réservée, elle m'a donnée l'impression qu'elle s'empêchait de vivre à cause de la maladie de son frère. Elle s'efface et fait en sorte que l'on ne s'occupe que de lui. Je pense que les frères et sœurs de personnes malades se comportent aussi ainsi, mais cela fait quand même bizarre de voir une personne aussi peu penser à elle. Tommy est plein de douceur, il n'a pas l'air du genre à se plaindre, et cela prouve sa force mentale. Mais c'est un petit bonhomme d'à peine 11 ans, qui a tout de même besoin qu'on prenne soin de lui. La relation avec sa sœur est très belle, de voir qu'ils tiennent beaucoup l'un à l'autre est touchant. Bee fait en sorte qu'il puisse vivre le mieux possible, et Tommy veut que sa sœur vive sa vie pleinement sans se préoccuper de lui. Leur mère est un personnage qui m'a plu : ce n'est pas la mère modèle, et cela permet d'avoir un aperçu de la façon dont les parents peuvent vivre la maladie de leur enfant.
L'écriture est simple, mais elle fait un peu enfantine à certains moments. Le vocabulaire est courant, donc je n'ai pas eu de soucis de compréhension. Tout se fait du point de vu de Bee, et cela est sympa d'avoir le point de vu d'une personne extérieure. Je n'ai pas ressenti de sentiments pendant ma lecture, les mots ne m'ont pas assez touché. Il m'a été assez facile de m'imaginer le décor, mais je ne pouvais pas m'imaginer aux côtés des personnages. Je reste un peu sur ma faim de ce côté.
On suit donc les petites "vacances" de la famille en Californie. Ils vont rencontrer certaines personnes, et faire certains choix. Ce que j'ai apprécié, c'est que le récit ne se concentre pas qu'autour de la maladie de Tommy, ce n'est pas juste sur le fait de réaliser son rêve avant de mourir, ou du moins avant que cela ne soit plus possible. Cela est juste autour de faire ce qui nous rend heureux, et autour du partage avec les personnes que l'on aime. Je ne peux pas dire qu'il y a réellement des rebondissements ou beaucoup d'action, et même si j'ai eu du mal à m'y mettre, je ne me suis pas ennuyée. Ce n'est pas l'histoire la plus passionnante, mais c'est intéressant, c'est une autre façon de voir la maladie, qui se centre plus sur la famille que sur l'individu touché.
En bref, Wish est un récit mignon qui offre une autre approche sur les maladies graves, et qui ne tourne pas qu'autour de ce sujet. Les personnages ne sont peut-être pas des plus attachants, mais le fond de l'histoire est ce qu'il y a de plus important.
December 5, 2016
The novel “Wish” by Joseph Monninger is an inspirational and amazing book. This book is about a girl named Bee who has a brother called Tommy that suffers from cystic fibrosis. This disease will shorten his life. Bee wants to help make his dream of diving with great white sharks come true. Bee, Tommy, and their mom travel to San Fransisco to make Tommy’s wish come true. After it was unsuccessful, Bee and Tommy don’t tell their mom and see a famous shark-attack survivor. He takes Tommy into the ocean to let him surf. Unfortunately, Tommy can’t swim well, and he is risking his life. Unexpectedly, Tommy surfs well. But suddenly a huge wave comes and knocks him off the board, but thankfully he resurfaces. Bee then takes him back to the shore unconscious on a jetski, on her way she sees a huge great white swimming below them. Tommy is then rushed to the Emergency Room and expected to be fine. Bee’s mom soon arrives, and she is furious that Bee and Tommy stole her money without her knowing when she was out on a date. When Tommy wakes up, Bee tells him that he surfed with a great white in the wild. In conclusion, this book is such an inspirational book and thanks to his sister Tommy will live a short life, but he will make the most out of it.
As I was reading this book, I felt that the characters in this book are very special especially Tommy. He was so courageous even though he had a lot to get through. He knew he was going to have a short life and thanks to his sister Bee she wanted to make his wish of swimming with great white sharks come true and make the most out of his short life. I truly think that also Bee is an inspirational character because I think that Bee is such a caring character that wants the best for her brother and help him make the most out of his short life. The characters in this novel seem real and believable because it is a story that seems to be real and can happen in real life. I can’t relate to the characters nor their predicament because I don’t know people that have dreams to swim with great white sharks and neither people who have the same sickness as Tommy. Thus, I think that this book is amazing that has amazing and inspirational characters.
For me, the book “Wish” is an amazing book that I enjoyed reading. I think it is very inspirational and has amazing and caring characters. I didn’t have any least favorite parts in this book. I think that all the parts in this book are so interesting. My favorite part of the book is when Tommy goes and surfs with the great white sharks even if he was unconscious, but he still did. It was so amazing to read that part of the book because it was his dream and it finally came true thanks to his sister. This book demonstrates how siblings can help each other and how Bee helped her brother that has cystic fibrosis and knows his life will be cut short. So Bee wants to make the most out of her brothers shortened life. I would recommend this book to everyone who likes reading fun and inspirational books because even though Tommy knows he will have a short life but he will make the most out of it. Overall, this is one of my favorite books, and I am looking forward into other people reading this book.
As I was reading this book, I felt that the characters in this book are very special especially Tommy. He was so courageous even though he had a lot to get through. He knew he was going to have a short life and thanks to his sister Bee she wanted to make his wish of swimming with great white sharks come true and make the most out of his short life. I truly think that also Bee is an inspirational character because I think that Bee is such a caring character that wants the best for her brother and help him make the most out of his short life. The characters in this novel seem real and believable because it is a story that seems to be real and can happen in real life. I can’t relate to the characters nor their predicament because I don’t know people that have dreams to swim with great white sharks and neither people who have the same sickness as Tommy. Thus, I think that this book is amazing that has amazing and inspirational characters.
For me, the book “Wish” is an amazing book that I enjoyed reading. I think it is very inspirational and has amazing and caring characters. I didn’t have any least favorite parts in this book. I think that all the parts in this book are so interesting. My favorite part of the book is when Tommy goes and surfs with the great white sharks even if he was unconscious, but he still did. It was so amazing to read that part of the book because it was his dream and it finally came true thanks to his sister. This book demonstrates how siblings can help each other and how Bee helped her brother that has cystic fibrosis and knows his life will be cut short. So Bee wants to make the most out of her brothers shortened life. I would recommend this book to everyone who likes reading fun and inspirational books because even though Tommy knows he will have a short life but he will make the most out of it. Overall, this is one of my favorite books, and I am looking forward into other people reading this book.
October 31, 2012
Likes:
A major character is living with CF. I enjoy books that recognize physical and mental diagnoses with taste and a realistic point of view.
Having lived in the San Francisco area, it was nice to "visit" it by reading.
With the movie "Chasing Mavericks" coming out, I enjoyed reading about Mavericks.
I also went on a whale watching tour while reading the book, and it was amusing to read about a similar tour at the same time.
Dislikes:
The banter between Bee and Tommy is only mildly amusing and sounds extremely forced.
Bee is very self-centered, except her sense of self is directly over Tommy. She's Tommy-centered. For example, her attitude toward "the challenged kids" on Tommy's boat ride was particularly distasteful. She tried to excuse herself, and I understand her feeling that Tommy was being lumped in with their group because of his own personal challenges, but the way she talked about them made me hate her a little bit.
There was no closure at all.
I felt that Tommy's Shark Facts disrupted the narrative. They were, however, informative.
Overall, I thought the book was a decent read, but I can't say that I would necessarily recommend it. I read it because it's on the Texas Lone Star Reading List, but there are better books on that list.
A major character is living with CF. I enjoy books that recognize physical and mental diagnoses with taste and a realistic point of view.
Having lived in the San Francisco area, it was nice to "visit" it by reading.
With the movie "Chasing Mavericks" coming out, I enjoyed reading about Mavericks.
I also went on a whale watching tour while reading the book, and it was amusing to read about a similar tour at the same time.
Dislikes:
The banter between Bee and Tommy is only mildly amusing and sounds extremely forced.
Bee is very self-centered, except her sense of self is directly over Tommy. She's Tommy-centered. For example, her attitude toward "the challenged kids" on Tommy's boat ride was particularly distasteful. She tried to excuse herself, and I understand her feeling that Tommy was being lumped in with their group because of his own personal challenges, but the way she talked about them made me hate her a little bit.
There was no closure at all.
I felt that Tommy's Shark Facts disrupted the narrative. They were, however, informative.
Overall, I thought the book was a decent read, but I can't say that I would necessarily recommend it. I read it because it's on the Texas Lone Star Reading List, but there are better books on that list.
September 25, 2016
I started this book because it was short and I just wanted something "light" to read. I really didn't know what to expect, and at first I didn't even think I'd like it. I don't care for sharks nor do I really care about learning about sharks (and it's laden with shark facts). But I gave it a try anyway.
The beginning is the main reason why it's not getting a rating higher than a 3-star. The author kept using the term "challenged kids" in reference to children with intellectual or physical disabilities. He did not describe the children, just kept saying "challenged kids." This just really bothered me because for a good 10-15 pages, it was mentioned at least once on each page!
It was only during one scene, so I continued to read despite all that. Wish was actually a really cute read. I love the way Bee cared for her brother. Usually older siblings think their little siblings are total dweebs and want nothing to do with them. I think if you took out the fact that Tommy had CF . . . you would still be able to see the dynamic they have with one another. This is something you don't see in books often - siblings devoted to one another.
I really loved when the book picked up, and Bee and Tommy met Ty. This changed the entire course of the book and it was so fun. The phrase "you only live once" definitely came into play and Tommy finally got his wish. Of course Bee had a little bit of fun, too.
I have lived near the beach my entire life and have never really enjoyed it, but reading about the surf and the waves really made me wish I appreciated the beach(es) more often. A cute, fun, and easy read for anyone who loves summer and the beach.
The beginning is the main reason why it's not getting a rating higher than a 3-star. The author kept using the term "challenged kids" in reference to children with intellectual or physical disabilities. He did not describe the children, just kept saying "challenged kids." This just really bothered me because for a good 10-15 pages, it was mentioned at least once on each page!
It was only during one scene, so I continued to read despite all that. Wish was actually a really cute read. I love the way Bee cared for her brother. Usually older siblings think their little siblings are total dweebs and want nothing to do with them. I think if you took out the fact that Tommy had CF . . . you would still be able to see the dynamic they have with one another. This is something you don't see in books often - siblings devoted to one another.
I really loved when the book picked up, and Bee and Tommy met Ty. This changed the entire course of the book and it was so fun. The phrase "you only live once" definitely came into play and Tommy finally got his wish. Of course Bee had a little bit of fun, too.
I have lived near the beach my entire life and have never really enjoyed it, but reading about the surf and the waves really made me wish I appreciated the beach(es) more often. A cute, fun, and easy read for anyone who loves summer and the beach.
January 5, 2011
3 1/2 stars. 15-year-old Bee's brother Tommy, eleven, knows everything there is to know about great white sharks. He also has cystic fibrosis and is often sick. That's why she wants his wish-foundation trip to California to dive in a cage among the sharks to be perfect. But when the dive is cancelled because of rough water and her irresponsible mom stays out all night with a man she met on the plane flying over from New Hampshire, Bee decides to take matters in her own hands. She wants to give Tommy his wish. Tommy has been in contact via email with a surfer, Ty, who had once been attacked by a white shark, so she and Tommy head out on a bus to meet him. Ty and his surfer brother, Little Brew, get along with Tommy and don't condescend to him. They also set up a surfing session for him.
Interspersed with the story are Tommy's shark facts including how sharks feed on seals and sometimes think that surfboards are seals. Interestingly, although sharks have killed people, the tone of the book and even of those who have been attacked, is that the seas belong to the sharks and that attacks have gone up because of increased recreational swimming and surfing.
Part adventure, part strength of spirit and even some romance.
Interspersed with the story are Tommy's shark facts including how sharks feed on seals and sometimes think that surfboards are seals. Interestingly, although sharks have killed people, the tone of the book and even of those who have been attacked, is that the seas belong to the sharks and that attacks have gone up because of increased recreational swimming and surfing.
Part adventure, part strength of spirit and even some romance.
February 23, 2012
Reading Level: Grades 6 and up
Bee: 15 years old, class president, good grades, takes care of her little brother Tommy; excited about the family trip to San Francisco’s shark coast.
Tommy: 11 years old, has cystic fibrosis, incredibly smart, obsessed with great white sharks; given the chance to dive with great whites in a cage through a make-a-wish foundation.
Their Mom: constantly flirting, a little distant; ruining their trip to San Francisco by going on a date and not coming back.
Ty Barry: 21 years old, survived a shark attack a few years ago and has become young Tommy’s pen pal; takes Tommy and Bee in when they run away from their inattentive mother after a failed shark dive excursion.
Little Brew: Ty’s extremely hot younger brother; has a crush on Bee.
Charcharadon carcharias: the great white shark, eater of seals and sea lions, biter of Ty’s surfboard (miraculously not Ty); according to Tommy, a misunderstood animal.
You might also like:
Shark Girl by Kelly L. Bingham
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls
Hippie Chick by Joseph Monninger
For more book reviews from the HPPL Youth Department, click here.
Bee: 15 years old, class president, good grades, takes care of her little brother Tommy; excited about the family trip to San Francisco’s shark coast.
Tommy: 11 years old, has cystic fibrosis, incredibly smart, obsessed with great white sharks; given the chance to dive with great whites in a cage through a make-a-wish foundation.
Their Mom: constantly flirting, a little distant; ruining their trip to San Francisco by going on a date and not coming back.
Ty Barry: 21 years old, survived a shark attack a few years ago and has become young Tommy’s pen pal; takes Tommy and Bee in when they run away from their inattentive mother after a failed shark dive excursion.
Little Brew: Ty’s extremely hot younger brother; has a crush on Bee.
Charcharadon carcharias: the great white shark, eater of seals and sea lions, biter of Ty’s surfboard (miraculously not Ty); according to Tommy, a misunderstood animal.
You might also like:
Shark Girl by Kelly L. Bingham
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls
Hippie Chick by Joseph Monninger
For more book reviews from the HPPL Youth Department, click here.
November 19, 2015
Bee's little brother Tommy got CF. His biggest passion are sharks. A wish foundation makes it possible that he with his sister and mother can go to California on a boat trip to see sharks but bad weather makes it impossible to go under water. But a visit to Ty and his brother, a surfer who is the survivor of a shark attack, gives the disappointing trip a turn...
Ocean, Sharks, Surfing the book had everything to interest me. Overall it was a neat little book but I had expected more out of it. I recently read Whipporwill and it honestly irritated me quite a bit that the main character sounded the same as the main character in this book. While I appreciated the shark facts between the chapters (I had many moments where I thought I have to google this) I'm not sure if it will support the authors intention to love and respect sharks more. The main focus was about shark attacks which will put even more fear for sharks into people and this will not be the best thing when it comes into protecting these creatures unfortunatly its the opposite...
And on a side note, I was wondering that somebody with CF would be allowed to dive and it seemed very odd to me that there was no type of diving training before they went on the boat.
Ocean, Sharks, Surfing the book had everything to interest me. Overall it was a neat little book but I had expected more out of it. I recently read Whipporwill and it honestly irritated me quite a bit that the main character sounded the same as the main character in this book. While I appreciated the shark facts between the chapters (I had many moments where I thought I have to google this) I'm not sure if it will support the authors intention to love and respect sharks more. The main focus was about shark attacks which will put even more fear for sharks into people and this will not be the best thing when it comes into protecting these creatures unfortunatly its the opposite...
And on a side note, I was wondering that somebody with CF would be allowed to dive and it seemed very odd to me that there was no type of diving training before they went on the boat.
July 11, 2012
Bee's younger brother, Tommy, has Cystic Fibrosis which makes it a job just to breathe. He gets the opportunity to have a wish granted. Tommy chooses to swim with a great white shark- an subject he is infatuated with and quite an expert too. The wish falls short when conditions and weather turn his life long desire into a hokey boat ride. He still manages a life altering experience with his sister when they look up a friend who takes them surfing. Against his mother's wishes and his sister's better judgement, Tommy gets to swim with the Great Whites after all.
I picked up this book since it was on the Lonestar Reading list 2012-13. I finished it in 2 days because it was so compelling. The front cover does not do the high adventure with blood spilling story justice.
I would give this book to any boy who dare carry it around (the publisher put a girl on the front with a swirly font highlighting the title). They must love a good adventure story and have a strong stomach for blood too.
I picked up this book since it was on the Lonestar Reading list 2012-13. I finished it in 2 days because it was so compelling. The front cover does not do the high adventure with blood spilling story justice.
I would give this book to any boy who dare carry it around (the publisher put a girl on the front with a swirly font highlighting the title). They must love a good adventure story and have a strong stomach for blood too.
March 8, 2011
Bee: 15 years old, class president, good grades, takes care of her little brother Tommy; excited about the family trip to San Francisco’s shark coast.
Tommy: 11 years old, has cystic fibrosis, incredibly smart, obsessed with great white sharks; given the chance to dive with great whites in a cage through a make-a-wish foundation.
Their Mom: constantly flirting, a little distant; ruining their trip to San Francisco by going on a date and not coming back.
Ty Barry: 21 years old, survived a shark attack a few years ago and has become young Tommy’s pen pal; takes Tommy and Bee in when they run away from their inattentive mother after a failed shark dive excursion.
Little Brew: Ty’s extremely hot younger brother; has a crush on Bee.
Charcharadon carcharias: the great white shark, eater of seals and sea lions, biter of Ty’s surfboard (miraculously not Ty); according to Tommy, a misunderstood animal.
Tommy: 11 years old, has cystic fibrosis, incredibly smart, obsessed with great white sharks; given the chance to dive with great whites in a cage through a make-a-wish foundation.
Their Mom: constantly flirting, a little distant; ruining their trip to San Francisco by going on a date and not coming back.
Ty Barry: 21 years old, survived a shark attack a few years ago and has become young Tommy’s pen pal; takes Tommy and Bee in when they run away from their inattentive mother after a failed shark dive excursion.
Little Brew: Ty’s extremely hot younger brother; has a crush on Bee.
Charcharadon carcharias: the great white shark, eater of seals and sea lions, biter of Ty’s surfboard (miraculously not Ty); according to Tommy, a misunderstood animal.
January 23, 2012
This is a very interesting plot centered around an 11-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis and his older sister. Their mother is a bit of a flake, but she does get them a dream tri[p to "swim with the sharks" through a Make-a-Wish-LIKE organization. The Whale and shark watching day trip is something of a dissappointment to shark-fanatic Tommy, tho they do see a shark. But flaky Mom flakes overnight, so the kids take an adventure on their own to visit an e-friend/surfer dude that results in the excitement of a lifetime AND a near death experience. The book is light and the perspective unique - espeically the insights into the sibling relationship and the intensity of life with a disease like CF. I think middle schoolers will enjoy the quick read.
July 4, 2012
What does Surfing (off California's coast),romance (hot surfer dude with east coast girl), Great White Sharks and an eleven year old boy with CF (Tommy a.k.a Snow Pony) have in common?..."one day, filled all the way up..."-- that's what. Tommy knows that his days are numbered by his cystic fibrosis but that only makes his one "wish" to go down in the cages off the coast of Ca. to swim with the great white sharks with whom he is obsessed that much sweeter. An organization grants his wish and Tommy, his sister Bee and his mom head off for an adventure of a lifetime giving a young boy the opportunity to..."shed his sharkness...and...he had risen up, a surfer, a boy again, triumphant despite everything...". A gem of a read.
February 4, 2011
This is a lovely book about an eleven years old boy who has cystic fibrosis and he is passionate about sharks. A wish foundation sends him on a trip to swim with great white sharks. His sister Bee vows to make it an unforgettable memory.
It’s a short story, which tells us a bit more about the lives of children with this disease,(their families) and interesting facts about sharks. The characters were lovely and real. The story was sometimes a little bit predictable but I have a good time reading it. Good for those who want to read something smooth, and quick.
I give it Two stars. It was ok.
It’s a short story, which tells us a bit more about the lives of children with this disease,(their families) and interesting facts about sharks. The characters were lovely and real. The story was sometimes a little bit predictable but I have a good time reading it. Good for those who want to read something smooth, and quick.
I give it Two stars. It was ok.
June 12, 2015
This book was decent. I liked how it added in a character with a life-threatening illness to add reality to the book but also how the older sister always felt responsible for her younger brother due to his CF. Being a Special Education major, I see this alot with siblings who have younger or even older siblings with health issues or disabilities where they have to grow up a little too fast & you see that within this book.
The real issue I had with this book & this could be just me is that the focus on sharks was a little too much than what I expected. I was more into the relationship between the brother & sister, not the sharks. It's still a pretty decent book though & not that long.
The real issue I had with this book & this could be just me is that the focus on sharks was a little too much than what I expected. I was more into the relationship between the brother & sister, not the sharks. It's still a pretty decent book though & not that long.
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March 7, 2011A touching story about a young boy (Tommy) with cystic fibrosis and his obsession with sharks. Tender characters, really liked the interactions between Tommy and his sister. Lots of great shark facts. The mother was an interesting character, definitely struggling with raising her children and trying to have her own life. I'd love to see teachers encourage their students to read this book - will help MG have an appreciation for the struggles some kids face when they have health issues. There's a lot of heart to this book.
December 14, 2011
Bee loves her little brother more than anything. She knows his time is limited. He suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and she is determined to make his wish come true. He wants to swim with the great white sharks. But when their trip to California to swim with the sharks turns into a big disappointment, Bee is more determined than ever to see his wish come true. Even if this means ditching their mother to go and find Tommy's idol - a surfer who had survived a shark attack. But Bee soon finds out that this trip is more than just a wish come true for Tommy.
September 17, 2015
Amazing story of a young boy with CF who's dream it is to swim with the Great White sharks. His adventure begins in an unsatisfactory way when he finds out he's sharing the tour boat with other school-aged challenged children, but culminates into (a nearly fatal) his lifelong dream when he surfs in California with one of the few survivors of a surfing encounter with a shark that he has befriended. Many metaphors as to who is the shark and the circle of life, etc. Masterfully told from the sister's POV.
April 23, 2012
Good book. It's the story of a girl whose younger brother has cystic fibrosis. She's very dedicated to him, and he's practically a saint but even given that standard setup, you can't help but be captivated by them both. She is determined that he have this Wish (granted by a foundation) and makes sure he does everything he has wanted to do. But does she risk too much? Lots of information about sharks all along the way. Touching and highly readable.
September 6, 2012
I was a bit disappointed. I thought the set up took too long at the beginning and I really just wanted the story to get going. But, I really loved the concept of this story and I realize it would be difficult to tell without setting up the story. I didn't fully understand the relationship between Bee and her mom. I guess one of those love/hate ones. Not a terrible story. It I just wish the beginning moved faster.
December 7, 2010
I really liked this book...the main character Bea had a great relationship with her little brother, Tommy. I enjoyed the romance between Bea and Little Brew, the friendship between Ty and Tommy, and how 3 dimensional the characters seemed. I thought it was very well done and different from anything I've read recently.
March 9, 2011
Wish is a wonderful and dramatic read about the relationship between Bee and Tommy. Bee's deep understanding of Tommy's emotional needs leads her to take a large risk in order to fulfill a dream for her brother. Tommy knows more than most adults about...(click here for full review: http://www.storysnoops.com/detail.php...)
October 9, 2011
This book really held my interest. The main character was typical of a lot of boys I see in my school library -- really into sharks (or snakes, or dinosaurs, or cars, etc.) His older sister was loving, yet impulsive and the situation in which they found themselves can happen all too soon to young kids.
October 28, 2012
This book was pretty good. I was sad at the end, but I'm not exactly sure why. It was a good read, definitely not a favorite, or one that I would say is my type exactly, but it was a book that made me think and so I recommend it to anyone, especially someone that's not particularly familiar with sharks-great white to be specific.
-J
-J
July 25, 2014
Story of Tommy and Bee and there day of adventure on the CA coast. Tommy has cystic fibrosis and has a wish to swim with a great white shark. They do the next best thing and go out with a surfer who has been attacked by a great white and lived to tell about it. The day is not what they expected. Another great read by Monninger. He knows how to spin a tale about ordinary kinds of people.
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