Honey

Wishing Star #11

by Helen Cavanagh

Honey wishes she could have a pretty home and a mother who really cares about her. Ever since her father left them, Honey has been taking care of everything. She wishes someone would worry about her for a change. If only she had a friend she could talk to…Why does she feel so guilty about her mother? And why is she so mean to Danny when she knows how much he loves her? Suddenly Honey’s world is coming apart – her father is coming back to live with them! Can she ever forgive him?

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is precious. And should be read by ANYONE who has not read it..adult or child.

It makes me sad when I see so few reviews for novels that stirred me, even changed my life but have apparently not garnered to many reviews. It makes me sad.

I read so much as a kid. Maybe more even then now. And sometimes I think I learned more from some of the really special children's books then from anywhere.

The themes of this book are guilt..and forgiveness. Which are serious themes. The other theme is the "Mother Pie". I did not know what a mother pie was until I read this book but the mother pie exists for many of us..even as adults.

Honey Kaljanen is young. And she is angry. Many years ago, her father just left her and her mom..out of the blue..and they have not seen him since.

Her mom turned into a shell of who she once was. And that made Honey angry.

Honey lives with a "snake" inside her. It is a hissing snake that sometimes uncoils and comes snarling out, causing her to say hurtful things..to her mom especially. And her boyfriend. She doesn't get it. Why does she want to lash out and hurt the people she loves most?

Then she hears her dad is coming back to town. Honey does not want to see him. She is angry at him, angry at her mom and guilty.

She is racked with guilt..because she needs other people so much..such as the local librarian and the sweet old lady she helps take care of. Maybe even her boyfriend. But is she being disloyal to her mom by needing..and loving so many others?

Enter Van..the sassy and charming assistant to the Redmond's who are the next door neighbors. Honey is AWED by Mrs Redmond (Ivy). Ivy is a southern bell and Honey dreams that Ivy is in fact her real mom..causing her to feel more guilt.

Van does not take any crap from anyone. But beneath Van's tough exterior she sees and recognizes something in Honey..something that's breaking..and Van wants to tell her it is good to love others..

Everyone is just a slice in the "mother pie" and one cannot make it through with just one person to love and need. Each person in Honey's life is a slice in the pie that makes up her life. And that is perfectly normal, even wonderful.

This book will make you fall in love..with the characters and the themes AND the messages. I hope that people continue to read this and five stars for a book I will never forget.

[Wisty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those book my mom bought when she was twelve, and I discovered when I was younger in a wonderful set of drawers filled with her old books. The Wildfire/Wishing Star books ended up blurring together, but there were a few that stand out, and this was one of them. I remember reading this over a decade ago and tearing up at the end. So I picked it up, unable to recall what it was about or why I cried. And guess what? I cried again, probably harder than the first time!

Even those these books were written in the 70s and 80s, a lot of them have a timeless feeling (shout out to An April Love Story) and actually super quality writing.

At its heart, this is a book about the mother-daughter relationship, and it's a really wonderful, quick read. The talk between Van and Honey in the end is where I lose my cool.

[Noha Nasrat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favourite book growing up.

[alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

for my mom