This book is told in the perspective of the wishing tree as he is being threatened to get cut down. The last thing he chooses to do is try his best to grant the girls wish, that she would make a friend. This book touches on discrimination and friendship. This book would be great for fourth grade to either have in the classroom library or for a daily read-out-loud and discussion time about hard topics.

Loved this book! ( )

Everything about this book was beautiful- the size, the formatting, the font, the illustrations and most of all the story. A gift from my friend Bonnie, I raced through this and thoroughly enjoyed it. I will definitely read more by Katherine Applegate. ( )

Red, the oak tree has been standing in the yard for 216 rings and has been receiving wishes from hundreds of people. The tradition started with an immigrant who had a wish, and she put that wish on a scrap of fabric and tied it to Red, and through the years Red saw the wish come true. Now there is a Muslim girl who wishes for a friend and Red decides to make sure her wish will come true. ( )

So let me say right now that I adore Katherine Applegate. No longer is she the Animorphs author. Indeed she left that status long ago with "The One and Only Ivan." "Wishtree" feels like another sure-fire winner to me. However, due to its message of love, anti-bullying, and diversity among peoples....it is a polarizing book. It shouldn't be. But it is.

Told from the perspective of the tree, "Wishtree" is the story of an immigrant family who are made to feel bad for living in their neighborhood. The book introduces all different types of characters--from bigots, to those who are scared to stand up, to those who welcome with open arms. "Wishtree" is a book that shows the ripple effects hatred--and love--can have over generations. ( )

Generations of human and animal families grow and change, seen from the point of view of the red oak Wishing Tree that shelters them all.

Most trees are introverts at heart. So says Red, who is over 200 years old and should know. Not to mention that they have complicated relationships with humans. But this tree also has perspective on its animal friends and people who live within its purview—not just witnessing, but ultimately telling the tales of young people coming to this country alone or with family. An Irish woman named Maeve is the first, and a young 10-year-old Muslim girl named Samar is the most recent. Red becomes the repository for generations of wishes; this includes both observing Samar’s longing wish and sporting the hurtful word that another young person carves into their bark as a protest to Samar’s family’s presence. (Red is monoecious, they explain, with both male and female flowers.) Newbery medalist Applegate succeeds at interweaving an immigrant story with an animated natural world and having it all make sense. As Red observes, animals compete for resources just as humans do, and nature is not always pretty or fair or kind. This swiftly moving yet contemplative read is great for early middle grade, reluctant or tentative readers, or precocious younger students.

A deceptively simple, tender tale in which respect, resilience, and hope triumph. (Fantasy. 8-12)

-Kirkus Review

This book would be good for intermediate level students. This book is narrated from a tree's perspective. The story goes through a journey of Red, an oak tree who is 200 years old. Red is know to be a wish tree which is an old Irish tradition where people tie tie their red fabric wishes on a tree. While Red fights reality of being cut down. Red realizes the many families that were impacted and are still being impacted by the wish tree. The book would be good to use in the classroom to talk about important themes of fantasy, friendship, and community. ( )

Wishtree is about a tree named "Red" who watches over the neighborhood and has seen many things happen over the years. He knows many things but can't share them with anyone since he is not supposed to talk. Many animals have made Red their home. He doesn't know how old he is. He is so many rings old. Things change when a new family moves into the neighborhood and someone carves a mean word into his bark. He doesn't know if he will survive another year. Every year in May, people also make wishes and place them on the tree. Will the wish of survival come true for the people in the town? Will Red live to see another day? Will Red make any more dreams come true? ( )

It is about a talking tree and it's crow friend. Pretty much the best premise ever. ( )

Imagine.
Morning rush hour. Overpacked train. A person trying to hold back their tears while reading a book.
That's me.
Such an emotional mess it made of me, in a good way.

It's a good story. Not preachy. Full of kindness.

FINAL VERDICT : PLEASE DO TRY IT! ( )

Very sweet book. Trees and animals can speak, and do, even when it is forbidden. Would be a great read aloud. ( )

Kinda sappy, but this book grows on you. It leaves you with a well rooted tale of a busybody tree and the families (animal and human) that make up the neighborhood. Branch out and give it a try! Go for broak.

( )

Years ago, when Red was still a very young tree, a girl tied a wish to her branches. The girl said this was the tradition where she came from. Since then the wishtree has seen many families come and go over her long life. Red knows she’s not supposed to interact with the people who come to sit and wish by her. The animals that live in and around the tree have a close relationship and watch out for one another. When a new family moves into a nearby house and someone carves the word “leave” into the wishtree, Red becomes concerned. Who would do such a thing? Why? What does it mean? It’s soon apparent that a little girl is looking for a friend, and the wishtree wants nothing more than that for the girl, especially considering there seems to be people who want the girl and her family to leave the neighborhood. After Red hears that she may be cut down because of the vandalism and the trouble her roots are causing, she thinks she may have no other choice. What will Red do? Will she intervene? What will happen if she breaks the rule? And is it even possible for a wishtree to help a little girl make a friend? You’ll have to read this book to find out.

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate drew me in because the cover looks so magical. I have read other books by this author and enjoyed them. Reading a book from a tree’s point of view was definitely interesting, and it really made me think. I always feel like I can talk to trees, so I’m not surprised that they can hear us and listen to our wishes. I liked the lessons in the story as there were many- some about friendship, some about how we treat our planet, and others about understanding people from different cultures and places. This is a fast book and one that won’t take more than a few hours to read. I recommended this book to kids and adults ages eight and up who enjoy a good story about friendship. ( )

This book is a major contender for the Newberry award. It tells a beautiful, very original story with a sense of humor. ( )

Audiobook
2017

I hear such great things about Katherine Applegate - so many of her books become favorites among our patrons - like the One and Only Ivan and Crenshaw. I'd been wanting to read Wishtree for a while as it is yet another of her books that is frequently checked out. Knowing it was such a popular book, I could recommend it without a problem - however, I do try to read what my patrons and/or students are reading so that I can confidently - not only recommend - but also discuss their favorite books with them.

I think Wishtree would be on the upper register of juvenile fiction - in the 3rd-5th grade range if being read as a physical book, though I think younger readers may enjoy the audio. It is a tale that grabs your attention. The reader will want to know what the tree has to say, what she sees, and what, if anything, she can do about what is happening around her.

This audio has an engaging narrator in Nancy Linari - which can really make or break an audio book. It's hard for me to sell an audio if I didn't like the narrator. Plus, since the book is told from the perspective of the actual tree - the narrator really needs to convey those feelings.

In Wishtree, we meet Red, a Northern Red Oak. She talks about her many residents and how she even harbored a person within her. Red talks about how people always leave wishes for her around May Day - but that sometimes people leave wishes all through the year. We learn about the first person ever to leave a wish and how some of the wishes are silly (like chocolate spaghetti) and some are heartbreaking (like they wish their dad would get better) and some are wishes to be loved. Her best friend is a crow named Bongo - she discusses how they are best friends but that friends can have differences, agree to disagree, but still be friends. The overall theme of friendship and overcoming differences is very strong throughout the book.

We learn that Red sits between two houses. Steven and his family live in and Samar and her family - who have recently just moved in - live in the other. Samar often sits under Red's branches and is so clam and gentle that the animals that take up residence withing Red come out to play and interact with her. One day, Samar wishes for a friend. Red and Bongo decide they will intervene. However, there is a kid who comes by and carves the word Leave into Red's bark. This is a message for Samar and her family. We find out that Samar's family is Muslim. Once this happens, there is talk about cutting down Red. She has been defaced and the landlord for the two houses is concerned.

Will Red be cut down? Will Samar find a friend? Will her family have to leave due to the disturbances in the neighborhood because of their background? These are all questions you will have to read to find out.

This books hits a lot of points for me. I love that there is diversity, I enjoy the theme of friendship, I really like the idea of a sentient tree and talking animals. There is some great resolution at the end of the book, but not everything is perfect. I like it when books aren't wrapped up in a bow. There is a lot of good that happens, but there is not perfection - just like life. ( )

Look, I see the word "charming" thrown around a lot in jacket copy and reviews, but this book was, actually, charming and heartwarming to me. Yeah, it's all neatly wrapped up in a bow in the end, but sometimes that's just how middle grade fiction is. And to be honest, I need a little levity in my life at the moment between the current political situation and end of my master's program.

I loved having the point of view of a long-lived tree, loved the slipped in little bits of nature education (I'm a big sucker for that, it's part of why I enjoyed [b:Catfishing on CatNet|41556068|Catfishing on CatNet A Novel|Naomi Kritzer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553558779i/41556068._SY75_.jpg|64836558] so much (and can't wait for it to publish!)), the wonderful personalities of all the animals, and heck, I loved the ultimate solution to the central problem of the narrative. Red's existential threat felt a little overdone, though.

Also, the illustrations are gorgeous. All my respect to [a:Charles Santoso|7205182|Charles Santoso|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png].

There are some publisher-y things I wish I could say about this book that maybe no one else would care about, but I will hold my tong-um, fingers, because yeah, disclaimer, I am a proud employee of the company that published this book.

I used to write such intelligent reviews. *Sigh*...

This is book is cute and clever and any reader above the age range who wants a quick, feel-good read should seriously give this a go.

Quote Roundup

p. 25) Hollows are proof that something bad can become something good with enough time and care and hope. ( )

Better than One and Only Ivan and Crenshaw, Applegate's newest novel is narrated by a 216-ring red oak tree, named Red, where people leave their wishes. A new Muslim family moves into the neighborhood, and a young, shy girl named Samar is lonely, spending time each evening with the local wild animals who live in the tree or nearby. Samar wishes for a friend, and Red decides to get involved, especially after someone carves "Leave" on the tree. Just as things take a turn for the better, Red is threatened with being cut down. A nice book, with a message of tolerance and friendship and lovely illustrations too. Like Wonder, another book that is great for middle schoolers of all ages. ( )

Even though it’s a bit Disney-esk in the sense that things just worked out because they were constructed to, it had a very beautiful message that makes it worth a read. The short and occasionally disjointed chapters told from an unusual character did make for an interesting read, as well.

This was the ‘adult’ version, but it still read more like a children’s book. But, I don’t think there’s anything wrong or weird with adults enjoying books aimed at children. Just something to take into consideration when choosing your next read.

If you’re looking for something optimistic that is trying to mask itself as realistic, that is also a short and simple read, this is good. ( )

A short sweet melancholic tale for younger readers, very similar in style to Applegate's The One and Only Ivan. As with Ivan and another book, Crenshaw, there's a dark issue driving the tale ad great emotional heart. The ending is as happy as it must be given the target audience.

Highly recommended. ( )

Beautiful book. Immediately recommended it to my teacher friends. So accessible and kind and funny. ( )

Samar and Stephen are neighbors, but not friends. When a boy carves the word LEAVE into a red oak tree between their yards (in fact, it's the tree - Red - who serves as the story's narrator), Samar's Muslim family considers doing just that. As Red schemes with her crow friend Bongo to bring Samar and Stephen together, Wishing Day approaches, and the tree's owner, Francesca, considers cutting Red down. At last, Red takes action, breaking the taboo against speaking to humans, and tells Samar and Stephen the story of the original Wishing Day, and its important role in Francesca's family's history. After this bonding experience, Stephen helps organize an effort at school: every student writes a single word on an index card, and brings it to the tree on Wishing Day: STAY.

The extraordinary kindness contained in this single word is the heart of the book. And although prejudice still exists, Samar and Stephen have their friendship; Samar's family decides to stay; and Francesca decides not to cut Red down. ( )

Hats off, once again to Katherine Applegate, and her ability to share some of the problems of the world with her young, and not so young, readers. Friendship, immigration, nature, and conflict are some of the themes in Wishtree, which Katherine tells with warmth, compassion, humor, and empathy.

The tagline for Feiwel and Friends (the publisher's of Wishtree) is: "Our books are friends for life" and Wishtree is destined to become a favorite book for life of many Applegate friends, both old and new! ( )

wow this was beautiful! sometimes moral stories can be somewhat dry for me, even when i was little i found 'em dry, but i loved this and cried TWICE.

powerful writing. ( )

Wishtree is subtly about racism, judgment, and the differences in everyone being pointed out, but wholly this book is about love, acceptance, and history. A history of unconditional love and embracing nature and the past as well as making room for the future.

This is a beautiful book, a book that will make you mist up, feel emotional, and hug a tree.

Cannot recommend this more. ( )

I'm getting tired of belabored parables masquerading as middle-grade fiction. ( )