Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb

I was looking around on Amazon for a Kindle book that would be interesting and still not expensive.  I came across a Wally Lamb novella.  It was only $1.99.  I am not going to pass up a chance to read a Wally Lamb story for only $1.99.
The story is set in the 1960's.  The story revolves around Felix Funicello.  A fifth grade student in St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parochial School.  He is the second smartest student in his class.  The story is told through Alex but it is about the students and times.  It is about attending Catholic school.  The nuns, the priests, confession. 
It is a story about people finding their way.  A replacement teacher who is not a nun.  She is teaching the children and loves to speak only French.  She has huge ideas.  She is filled with drama.  Madame Marguerite over dresses for a Catholic school.  Dreams big.  She has decided to have the students do a live nativity scene for the Christmas Program.  She is able to talk the Mother Superior into going along with her idea.
It is the era I was in school.  Felix would have been four years older than I am.  Felix is related to Annette Funicello and that is his claim to fame.  I was a big fan of Annette.  Loved her beach movies.  Can relate to Felix having a crush on her.  I wanted to be Annette.
Wally Lamb makes the characters come to life.  The poor kid, the rich girl, a girl that comes into the school from Russia.  It is a story that really does not have a plot.  It ended abruptly.  The story is about the people.  The kids and how the make their way.
I enjoyed it.  Glad I only paid $1.99.  I like to read stories where the author does something completely unique to how they normally write.  If you have read it, let me know what you think.  I rate the book a 3.