Wish, Miracle, Me!

A Modern Family Love Poem for Donor-Conceived Children

Children - Picture Book
38 Pages
Reviewed on 08/03/2021
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Wish, Miracle, Me!, written by Lindsey Coad and illustrated by Kim MacPherson, is A Modern Family Love Poem for Donor-Conceived Children. A young girl named Harvey narrates the journey of her life from conception to adulthood. She tells her story with profound honesty, love, and hope. The relationship between Harvey and her mother has incredible depth. Harvey's understanding of how her mother's love and the selfless support of a sperm donor gave her life is beautiful. When Harvey becomes an adult, she will have the opportunity to meet him if she chooses. Harvey also has a relationship with siblings that she shares with the same donor. Each page and stage of Harvey's experiences are brought to life in full color and vivid detail through the artwork of MacPherson.

I am in complete and absolute awe by the wonder of Wish, Miracle, Me! Lindsey Coad has a true talent for weaving the lyrical words of the donor-child experience through Harvey's soliloquy and leaves no doubt whatsoever about the beauty of her conception. Love practically drips from the page and the influence Harvey has over her choices and her life. Her outlook parallels with the woman who was determined to bring Harvey into the world: her mother. Leaning into this message of strength are the visual depictions of Harvey, her mother, her donor-father, and other children, who are all linked by a common thread. Through realistic traditional sketches and a fresh breath of whimsy, MacPherson's and Coad's talents shine. Together their pairing is a dream team of story creation, and I can't recommend it enough.

Cassie Widjaja

Wish, Miracle, Me! by Lindsey Coad is a heartwarming children's book about unconventional family ties. Expertly illustrated by Kim MacPherson, this story follows our protagonist Harvey as she explores what it means to be a donor-conceived person. Having started as a wish in her solo mama's heart, Harvey blooms into an artistic teen who shares her happy childhood milestones. Surrounded by her modern family, she thrives in her incredible life while holding onto hope that she would someday meet the person who is a part of her. Harvey embraces her identity and her past with a perfect blend of self-love, curiosity, vulnerability, and courage uniquely her own. Designed to open an honest conversation with your child about family, identity, belonging, and resiliency, this book is a must-read!

When I first read Wish, Miracle, Me!, I was intrigued by its concept as being a donor-conceived person is a rarity. Lindsey Coad has beautifully captured a little girl's journey of being different from her peers and loving herself regardless. She had taught me that our society's outdated social constructs should not define a family, and we should always embrace our identity as it's what makes us who we are. I adored watching Harvey mature into a young adult secure in her place in the world and her family. A child can easily understand the story's underlying themes of self-love, family, and belonging. The colorful and eye-catching illustrations capture a child's attention while the book's lessons are ingrained in them forever.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford

All life is a miracle. Two people come together in one way or another and create that miracle of love and joy. We all have parents, most of whom we know. But sometimes things happen a bit differently. A woman who has no significant other might wish to become a mother, a single mom, with the gift of donor sperm. It’s a difficult concept for young people to understand, but a child conceived in such a manner might want to know their missing parent who made his or her life happen. That’s what happened with Harvey. Her mother conceived her based on love for an unborn, unknown child that was yet to be. Harvey grows up basking in her mother’s love, but there's the father she’s never met and she wonders if she ever will meet him. There are so many things about Harvey that she believes came from her father – like her artistic talents.

Lindsey Coad’s picture book story, Wish, Miracle, Me! A Modern Family Love Poem for Donor-Conceived Children, is a touching look at another view of the family unit. The plot unfolds in an abstract, free verse poem with key bullet points that identify Harvey for who she is. For Harvey, family means more than just herself and her mother: there’s the unknown absent parent, of course, the father whose donation made her life possible, but there are also many donor siblings, another form of an extended family with everyone brought together by “genetic strings.” The poem is powerful, insightful, and full of love as Harvey grows up and becomes the woman she is meant to be: “the miracle that is/ Me!” Powerful words full of love. Beautifully told and presented.