How does the author use symbolism in the novel, The Wishing Game?

The author uses sharks to represent unbroken promises. Early on Lucy tells Christopher that she will paint sharks on his bedroom walls when they can finally live together. She takes her promise to Christopher very seriously, and by the end of the novel, Hugo has painted sharks on Christopher’s fall. The novel revolves in some ways around water because the main events of the novel happen on an island. Sharks are also commonly loved by children. As such, they are a fitting symbol for the dreams of childhood.