Winner of "Readers Favorite" Five Star Medallion
Winner of "Literary Titan Book Award" for Excellence
"Friends are everywhere if you have a big heart and know where to look."
It's 1959 in California, and ten-year-old Rose O'Reilly has sworn an oath to stay friends always with her best friend from birth. Then, boom, Linney moves 2,000 miles away.
She worries that she will never find another friend like Linney and turns to Grandpa, who just lost his wife and best friend, Mawnie. They hold weekly chat cafes in the kitchen, and Rose discovers your grandpa can be your friend. Or a boy with cerebral palsy, a lost dog, or a classmate who comes to school with unexplained bruises. Still, there's that achy hole in her heart Linney left behind.
She wishes on Venus, the Evening Star, for a new best friend to take Linney's place, for Grandpa to come to live with them, and for a dog. She may as well wish for a dog, too. Wishes Are Free.
Reviews
"Howell creates deep, caring relationshipsWishes Are Free evokes a classic children's novel feel with a beautiful mixture of heart and life lessons sprinkled throughout" ~ Book Life
"An often-engaging workReaders will find Rose's friendship journey to be a refreshing thrill" ~ Kirkus Reviews
"The bond between a young girl and her grandfatherserves as the emotional core of the storythemes of friendship, love, and coming of age are woven throughout" ~ Literary Titan
"Diana Mercedes Howell has presented an unforgettable, pure, and powerful story." ~ Jessica Barbosa, Readers Favorite
"This 'Wonder Years' meets Anne of Green Gables is a not-to-be-missed story for lovers of excellently written, sweet coming-of-age stories of pre-teen angst and wonder." ~ Goodreads, Terry Birdgenaw, author of The Antunite Chronicles
"Howell strikes a fine balance between sentimentality and humor, adding layers to the story that make it both relatable and captivating." ~ Literary Titan