Richard spends a month every summer at the beach with his family. He finds that this summer is going to be different from all of the others when his usual partner in crime, Dylan informs him that he will be working all summer. Richard realizes he will be on his own and goes to the abandon house called Wish House, where they used to hang out and discovers a very unusual family living there.

This ensemble of people will change Richard's life forever. The father, J. A. Dalton is a moody artist who is living in the house with his current wife and two children. The house is usually full with their artistic friends visiting along with Dalton's previous wives and children. Richard does not know what to make of these people and the way that they live. He becomes infatuated with his daughter Clio. She is a free spirit that makes Richard uncomfortable and curious at the same time. He wants to be with her all the time but he feels that she is not being completely honest with him even though they have become extremely close.

The story is set in the seventies and the care-free, promiscuous attitude is prevalent. Richard is hesitant in the beginning but soon finds him self taking risks at Clio's urging such as nude sunbathing. She is subtle in her psychological control over Richard and he often does not realize what he is doing until he has already done it. Clio wants to live in the moment but Richard wants concrete answers.

Richard soon finds himself posing for Clio's father. The author creates doubts in the reader's mind as to the intentions of Dalton with Richard as his subject. There's an underlying feeling that Richard is being manipulated by the entire family. Each member seems to have their own agenda and Richard is a pawn to each of them.

Richard's relationship with his own parents is strained and the author hints at his mother's mental illness. Richard's lack of attention from them is magnified by his elation at being included with the group living at Wish House.

The author is able to maintain the suspense of what is really going on at Wish House throughout the entire book. The actions of this eclectic group will change Richard forever but the reader does not realize the extent of it until the very end when Richard comes face to face with Clio some years after their first encounter at the beach.

© 2007 Amy Ridley

Amy Ridley received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Boston University.

Categories: Children