The Boy Whose Wishes Came True - Helen Rutter

 

Archie Crumb lives with his mum, although since his dad left and now has a new family, she struggles to get out of bed so Archie is forced to look after himself for much of the time (as well as look after his mum).  He spends every Sunday evening at his best friend, Mouse's house, where he has dinner and always leaves with a container of left-overs for his mum.  It is on one such Sunday evening that Archie is cycling home, trying to balance left-over shepherd's pie on his bike, when he hits a pot-hole that sends him flying. He hits his head and blacks out, but when he comes round, he is greeted by his football idol, Lucas Bailey who helps him up and grants him 9 wishes.  Archie has always felt himself unlucky: he is terrible at football, can't do maths and he's picked on in school so the thought of nine wishes fills him with utter joy as he feels he can start to turn his life around.  But things aren't as simple as they seem and he soon begins to realise that you have to be careful what you wish for.

Helen's first book, The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh, tackled children who stammer (and did so brilliantly) and it came as no surprise that The Boy Whose Wishes Came True tackles more subjects that many children have to face: divorce and its effects on families, as well as being a child carer (due to depression in this instance) and all the secrets and burdens that this places on children.  Bullying and friendship issues are also tackled with sensitivity and humour, and I love this about Helen's writing.  One minute you're laughing at events, and the next you realise that life really is a daily struggle for Archie who spends much of his time feeling isolated and alone.  Even with his best friend Mouse, he doesn't feel like he can really open up.  The one thing he has is his love of football stickers, in particular his collection of Lucas Bailey stickers.  As a local boy who managed to make a success of his life, Lucas is Archie's hero so he is utterly awe-struck when it is Lucas who helps him after his accident and then gives him his nine wishes.  He feels this is just what he needs to help him.  The result is a series of wishes made (with Mouse's help) and the knock-on effects they have.  Whilst chuckling along and longing to discover what the next wish will entail, you also begin to realise that there are bigger messages subtly being woven in.  

Archie is the sort of character you find yourself rooting for from the very beginning: he feels he is terrible at everything, he lacks self-confidence and doesn't feel he really has anybody fighting his corner for him.  Mouse (a brilliant character who doesn't feel that being female should stop her from doing exactly what she wants) has his back but his embarrassment of the state of his house and the fact that his mum spends so much time sleeping, means that he is too scared to tell her what is really happening.  This must be something many child carers go through and to see it tackled here so sensitively will help these children to realise they are not alone and may even help some to find their voice and to ask for help.  Books like The Boy Whose Wishes Came True do so much more than simply entertain, and for that I will always be grateful to authors like Helen.  She manages to perfectly weave tricky issues with the humour and heart that will make you root for Archie (and yes, you will want to give him a hug and make everything better for him).

Due for release on the 3rd February, The Boy Whose Wishes Came True is another triumph of a book for Helen and I can't wait to see what her next book has in store for us.