Careful What You Wish For

Eshana is a socially awkward teenager who struggles to fit in at school. However, when she is online, she feels confident, and despite what she has learned about online safety, she starts communicating with the Wise One, who promises to grant wishes…but at a cost. Relatable issues and a South Asian female youth perspective allow middle school students to connect to this story, think critically, and reflect on strategies to avoid and respond to unsafe, abusive, and exploitative situations. This cautionary tale about the importance of thinking before acting highlights the potential dangers of online interactions. It lends itself well to independent novel studies or in-class literature circle readings in the classroom. The themes may provoke discussions about how young people can avoid and navigate unsafe scenarios online.