The Wish Sisters: The Pet Wish by Allison Rushby

Title: The Wish Sisters: The Pet Wish

Author: Allison Rushby

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: UQP

Published: 4^th July 2023

Format: Paperback

Pages:108

Price: $12.99

Synopsis: At the Pet Play Date, Flick and her little sister, Birdie, are helping local seniors group The Busybodies raise money for animals in need. There are some special pets waiting to find their fur-ever homes. But things turn wild when Birdie wishes to make the animals even more special in the hope they will be adopted.

How is Flick going to keep a rainbow cat and a dancing dog a secret with a pesky photographer hanging around?

~*~

The Wish Sisters – Flick and Birdie are back. And this time, Birdie’s wishing might just be noticed by Mrs Mortlake and other adults! Flick, Birdie, and Oli are heading to Pet Play Date to help the Busybodies raise money to help the local pet shelter. And with several pets who need a furever home – a cat with patchy fur, an older dog, and a dog who is very nervous – Flick hopes they can help them find a home. And they might – even with Birdie’s wish that makes one cat rainbow and also makes a dog dance. Flick must try to keep the photographer from the whimsical animals – and she has to find a way to make sure Imp isn’t discovered too!

The fourth book in the series is filled with animals and wishes, and an imp who feels like they don’t belong anywhere, and of course, thank to the imp and the wishes, we know there is going to be some kind of chaos. What would this series be without chaos and twisted wishes? I am loving this new series, which is perfect for early readers and upwards, allowing kids to gain reading confidence, or enjoy a fun series with friends or siblings. The key relationships in this book are between the siblings – Flick and Birdie, and between friends Oli and Flick. I liked that these relationships are filled with fun and disagreement because that is what real life is like – not everyone is always going to agree or think the same thing is right. In showing that Oli and Flick can disagree and still be friends, it reassures kids that it is okay to be yourself and have your own thoughts and feelings.

I also liked that this book advocates for adopting pets. Not all of us will have the chance to adopt or see a rainbow cat but showing that all pets have their own personalities and can fit in worked well. This is also a great book and series to open up discussions about various things like family, friends, having different interests, and responsibility – Flick has a lot of responsibility towards Birdie, and I think showing a sibling relationship with a big gap gives a different perspective, as often kids are all the same age or have a closer age gap as siblings in many books. The bigger age gap does give more scope for the stories as well and that makes the concept and delivery interesting – and as I said in my review of book three, has made me want to go back and read the first two books to get to know Flick and Birdie more.

This series is lots of fun and I like that each book has its own outcome and the perils of trying to keep the adults from finding out about the wishes, because Flick knows things wouldn’t end well. I love that she’s so thoughtful and protective, because it shows she is a great big sister and wonderful person – and her observance shows that she will always be the one to see when there is a problem. I think Flick is my favourite character in this series! I can’t wait to read more and hope everyone else who reads these books enjoys them.