What People are Saying about What We Wish For
"This story of a teen's life with a single mom fighting addiction is often harsh and tense, but it remains honest, believable, and quite engaging."--School Library Journal (Starred Review)
"Maysonet depicts the stark impact of addiction with compassion, emphasizing the toll it takes on sufferers and their loved ones alike. Layla's internal struggles with guilt and self-loathing offer a realistic glimpse into the emotional turmoil of those affected by substance abuse and poverty...The book's strengths lie in its rich character development and poignant narrative. Simultaneously tragic and hopeful and consistently authentic."--Kirkus Reviews
"[Maysonet's] first-person narrative is engaging, and the emotions generated are vivid...Convincing and satisfying."--Booklist
"Melody Maysonet’s What We Wish For is a testament to the horrors of addiction, the pain of betrayal, the power of tenacity, and the saving grace of friendship. It is brutal and enraging and heartbreaking and a little bit funny; and in the end, small-t triumphant. When you close the back cover, you will simply nod your head, knowing you have read something capital-T True."Chris Crutcher, author of Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, Whale Talk, and Deadline